Food allergies usually develop very early in childhood and the general consensus as to why they occur (according to the medical industry), seems to be primarily due to a sensitivity to a particular food that has been introduced into the diet too early. Cases of food allergies in children are growing every year with nearly 1 in 12 children suffering with a food allergy. With this rising health issue, more and more parents are becoming increasingly concerned about the diet that they provide for their child and if there is anything they could have done or could do to prevent food allergies. Fortunately, there are effective practices to help reduce the risk of your child developing a food allergy while providing them with a healthy and balanced diet.
 

 

What is a Food Allergy

 

A food allergy develops when the immune system views a particular food as a threat to the body and uses it’s force to rid the body of this “allergen”. Soon after the food has been eaten, this over-reaction of the immune system will cause allergy symptoms to appear. These symptoms include, rashes, itchy skin, swelling among others (see below). There are varying degrees of severity in food allergies with some only producing a little rash to the most serious where the mouth, tongue and throat swell, causing breathing difficulties (anaphylaxis). This type of allergy is most commonly associated with nut allergies.

 

 

Nut Allergies and Pregnancy

 

There are many foods that a mom-to-be should avoid, such as soft cheeses, pate, undercooked meat and so on to avoid becoming ill and causing harm to the baby. However, there has been some research indicating that eating nuts during pregnancy (when there is a history of nut and other food allergies in the family), may increase the risk of the infant developing a nut allergy. That said, even though there have been some conclusive results in a few studies on this matter, not all major health organizations agree. So, my advice would be, if there are allergies in the immediate family, it may be worthwhile avoiding nuts during pregnancy and (if you choose to), while breastfeeding. However, I would also advise that you talk to your doctor/nurse or health visitor about this controversial subject first before you make up your mind.

 

Food allergies that develop in Childhood

 

If one or both parents have a history of atopy, a condition which includes, food allergies, eczema, asthma and hayfever, their child will stand a higher chance of developing one or two or even all of these aspects of the condition. However, there are ways you can reduce this risk considerably. Research has indicated that breastfeeding for at least six months or more significantly reduces the risk of atopy. When it is time to begin weaning, you might want to consider leaving high-risk allergy foods such as, wheat, eggs, cows milk, nuts & seeds and fish & shellfish until later on in the weaning stage. Of course nuts should be left till very late in the weaning stage, not least as they are a choking risk. Health experts believe that these foods can cause sensitization in the child when they are introduced too early while the immune system is still forming. Sensitization means that the immune system becomes “sensitive” leading to an over-reaction to a particular food and the potential formation of a food allergy.

 

Hidden Allergy Products

 

Unfortunately, many food manufacturers still insist on using lots of unhealthy additives and preservatives, which are also in the high-risk allergy category. If your child is showing signs of a food allergy but the cause doesn’t seem to be due to the most common allergenic natural foods, it may be down to additives in food. The best bet in this scenario, is try to opt for natural foods where possible and avoid processed foods, (remember that some drinks also contain food coloring and other additives too). A quick way to find out if food or drink contains additives, check the ingredients for “E” numbers, Mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) and nitrates.

 

Some types of additive can be a little trickier to detect and they can have pretty complicated names too including:

 

Sodium benzoate, calcium propionate, ascorbic acid, citric acid, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite, calcium sorbate, potassium sorbate, BHA, BHT, EDTA, tocopherols (Vitamin E), hydrolyzed soy protein, autolyzed yeast extract, disodium guanylate or inosinate. (ref. FDA, 2015)

 

There are so many other types of additives and preservatives, it would take pages to list them all. However, a good rule of thumb is, when a non-organic food product comes with a large ingredient list that sounds like a check-list for a chemistry lab, then the chances are, that food contains a wide selection of additives and therefore is a potential allergy-inducing risk.

 

Food Allergy Signs and Symptoms

 

The signs and symptoms of food allergies are usually pretty standard and quite easy to spot once you are aware of them. The following symptoms are the most common and 2-3 symptoms are usually experienced for each food allergy and only occasionally more for severe allergic reactions:

 

• itchy skin, rashes and hives (urticaria)
• itchy tongue and irritation in the throat
• shortness of breath and wheezing
• coughing
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• itchy eyes
• swollen lips and throat
• blocked-up nose
• Tummy ache (this is often characterized by the baby raising their knees to the tummy)

 

Some allergies are a little more difficult to spot as the reaction can be delayed. These symptoms include:

 

• eczema
• colic
• diarrhea
• reflux
• poor growth

 

 

Food Allergy Testing

 

If your child is beginning to show signs of a food allergy or has a higher risk of developing food allergies due to a family history, your child can be tested using a food allergy test kit. These tests will be carried out by a doctor or health practitioner and are relatively quick and simple to perform. The knowledge that you gain is invaluable and can be a huge benefit to the health and comfort of your child. However, food allergy tests are generally more useful for food allergies that produce an immediate reaction. If your child has a delayed reaction food allergy, you may need to follow an exclusion diet where suspected foods are individually removed from the diet for a short period of time to help confirm where the food allergy lies. This type of diet should also be followed under close supervision of a health professional.