If one parent has food allergies, the risk of the children having food allergies may double; the risks are even higher if both parents are allergic. Yet, a child may have a completely different food allergy than that of the parent. If you and your spouse are passing along genes that will place your children at high risk for developing food allergies, the following prevention regimen can lower the child’s risk by around fifty percent.
- Prevent allergies prenatally. Some studies suggest that mothers who are allergic to certain foods, especially dairy products, can lessen the chances of their infants being allergic to that food by limiting the child’s exposure prenatally. Avoid bingeing on common allergens during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
- Breastfeed your baby as long as possible. The longer you breastfeed, the less chance your child has of developing allergic diseases, such as eczema and asthma. Breastmilk is rich in an immunoglobulin called secretory IGA, which acts as a protective paint, coating the intestines and keeping food allergens out of the bloodstream. Breastmilk keeps the intestinal lining healthy and better able to break down proteins into individual amino acids. The amino acids themselves are not likely to cause allergies when they get into the bloodstream. Intestines that are damaged due to infection or inflamed by foreign milk or formula may allow whole protein molecules to seep through, setting up an allergic reaction in the bloodstream. To further decrease the risk of developing food allergies, it would be wise for a breastfeeding mother to keep the most allergenic foods out of her diet until her baby is at least one year of age.
- Delay introduction of solid foods. Mature intestines are better able to screen out potential allergens and keep them from entering the bloodstream. If you feed your infant solid foods (especially those containing protein, such as wheat, soy, and dairy) before the intestinal lining is mature, food allergens can seep into the bloodstream, causing baby to build up antibodies to those allergens and later become allergic to those foods. When you do start solids, introduce the least allergic (lowest protein) foods first, such as fruits, vegetables, and rice. Wait until at least eighteen months before introducing potentially-allergic foods, such as egg whites, tomatoes, shellfish, and peanut butter . Make citrus fruits the last fruits you introduce. Also, if you’re formula-feeding, discuss with your doctor the use of hypoallergenic formulas (a partial whey hydrolyzed formula), such as Alimentum or Nutramigen. Avoid soy formulas . Also, delay introducing cow’s milk products until at least a year of age. By twelve months of age, your child’s intestines are mature enough to screen out most of the food allergens. (See Starting Solid Foods)
- Variety, variety, variety. The less children eat of one particular food, the less likely they will become allergic to it, since most food allergies are dose related. Encourage your children to eat a variety of foods. Continuing to bombard the body with the same food risks turning on the food- antibody response. Rotation diets make good sense for every eater, and especially for the allergic person.
- Be a pure parent. During the early years, make your child’s diet as fresh and as additive-free as possible. The fewer cans, boxes, and packages you open, the less likely your child is to be exposed to allergens. Be especially vigilant to keep food colorings out of your child’s tummy, namely yellow dye #5 and red and blue dyes.