This has become an I told you so issue for me and I feel some what vindicated with the results of the latest research.
For many years doctors and other health professionals have warned pregnant woman and mother's of young children to avoid a whole range of foodstuffs to
avoid the child developing allergies.
It now seems that by avoiding these foodstuffs, parents may be creating the allergy problem.
Allergies, in simple terms, are a bodies intolerance to any substances that enter the body. Those of us that can eat, say peanuts, do so because our bodies have developed a tolerance to that substance.
How do we develop that tolerance? Very simple. We expose the body to the substance.
For pregnant women, this really means continuing to lead a normal life. If you eat peanuts, or use peanut oil or peanut paste; keep using them - don't avoid them. This goes for many foods particularly fruits and vegetables.
While breastfeeding, continue with your normal intake of these foods. There are times when a little caution is required, particularly with fruits, coffee and chocolate as some of the substances found in them could cause problems such as over stimulation and diarrhea.
As your baby develops into a toddler, don't be afraid to experiment with a range of foods. Once your child starts to eat sandwiches, trial them on foods such as peanut paste. Just a little spread very thinly to start with and if there is no reaction, slowly increase to normal amounts.
The House Of Lords in the UK has had a request before the British Government for almost 12 months now aimed at changing the current recommendations to pregnant women relating to foodstuffs. The UK government has yet to act on the issue.
Children's hospitals in the UK and Australia have all reported an almost tripling of the number of food allergy emergencies reported since these recommendations came into effect.
In the United States where these recommendations are not widely made, the incidence of food allergy emergencies have only grown marginally. In developing countries, the incidence of these types of food allergies are almost unknown.
Common sense would suggest that every child needs exposure to substances used in everyday life. Sometimes we become too cautious and the effects have the reverse to those intended.
There are certain foodstuffs that should be avoided when pregnant such as deep sea fish (mercury leading to miscarriage) and many drugs that have been shown to affect the unborn. Check with your doctor at all times, however ask him about recent reports on allergies and whether or not avoidance really is the policy.
To prevent your child from developing food allergies, expose them to these foods while they are still in the uterus, whilst breastfeeding and when they start to eat solids. Give your child the chance to develop their own tolerance to foods.
(April 2008) (
