Avoiding peanuts may be causing more peanut allergies
In another of those annoying reversals (what? you mean butter's actually better for me than this yucky margarine you made me switch to?!?), researchers now think that keeping our kids from eating peanuts early in life may actually be causing more peanut allergies, not less.
Even if you don't have kids yourself, you've probably noticed that severe peanut allergies have gotten to be a much bigger deal lately. The child care facility at my gym has large signs informing parents that no peanut-containing snacks may be brought in because so many kids have peanut allergies.
Last year, I was even on a flight where they couldn't serve peanut snacks because there was a child on board with a peanut allergy so severe that having a packet of peanuts open on the plane would be enough to cause a grave reaction.
If you have kids, then you've probably been told not to give your children peanuts or peanut butter before the age of nine months. Your OB may even have warned you not to eat peanuts during your pregnancy. The idea is to prevent peanut allergies. But now, researchers have found that kids (and mothers) who eat peanuts sooner actually have fewer peanut allergies.
Isn't that ironic? Here's a link to a summary of the study and to the study itself.
The experts feel that more research needs to be done before the guidelines are revised. So check with your pediatrician before you go off-road.
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Posted by: barb | Feb 21, 2009 4:27:57 PM
There are two possible causes of the dreadful peanut allergy. One is "leaky gut syndrome" (usually caused by an antibiotic killing off all the good bacteria resulting in an overgrowth of yeast) and vaccinations. It has been known since 1839 that injections can cause food allergies.
Children received:
1960 – 1-2 vaccines
1980 - 8-9 vaccines
1990 - 10 vaccines
2000 - 33 vaccinations
2007 - 48 doses of 14 vaccines by age 6
Vaccines contain an adjuvant that increases the body’s immune response to the protein in the vaccine. Something that the public and most physicians don’t realize is that the adjuvant can contain a trace of food protein. This is a protected trade secret and does not have to appear on the package insert. Soy, sesame, peanut, wheat germ, corn, shellfish, and fish oils are listed as ingredients in the patents. The pharmaceutical industry is exempt from labeling medicines that may contain trace amounts of peanuts or nuts.
Posted by: Andrea Adams | Jan 26, 2009 5:25:19 PM
I don't find this credible. My children both ate peanut butter and crackers as one of their first foods and frequently. My husband and I grew up eating peanut butter sandwiches often. But, my 15 year old developed anaphylactic allergy to peanuts followed one year later by me having the same. My other child did not, nor did my husband. If it were simply a result of exposure, or lack thereof, then there should be some consistency to the allergic responses. I think it is primarily a genetic response to repeated exposure.
Posted by: K | Dec 4, 2008 1:08:15 PM
IMO, Anyone having a difficult time with being underweight should be tested for Celiac. I was asymtomatic when I was diagnosed and I know several other biopsy diagnosed Celiacs that also did not show the classic symptoms. Unfortunately, docs don't typically think to test for it.
Posted by: MS Nutrition Student | Dec 4, 2008 7:19:05 AM
Actually, I would recommend consulting a registered dietitian for nutrition counseling and a doctor to rule out weight loss due to a medical condition. Eliminating exercise isn't necessarily heart healthy. I agree that balanced meals are probably the best way to go. A dietitian will be able to calculate your specific calorie needs and give you a plan to help you achieve your weight goals.
Posted by: nonalesa | Dec 2, 2008 9:53:03 AM
for amandeep if you are going to the gym you need to ift weights do as little cardio as possible and eat six meals a day three small snacks and three healthy well balaced meals hearty meals if you will. green veggies, potatoes, meat for lean, and bread for girth will do the trick that is the army's way of gaining weight plus have a fatty cake or two it wont kill you
Posted by: AMAN | Nov 28, 2008 10:41:00 PM
HI,
I SEEN YOUR SITE & GOT A HOPE FOR WELL.
I WANT TO GAIN WEIGHT AS MY HEIGHT IS
5'11''ft.WEIGHT ONLY 63KG.
WHAT I NEED IS 78KG.
SHOULD I CONTINUE TO GYM.
KINLDY GIVE SUGGESSTION.
AMANDEEP.
Posted by: Layla | Nov 22, 2008 6:28:59 AM
Yup, just read it...
I wonder if what they say on this site is true:
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/04/12/12/peanuts-most-are-carcinogenic--amp-pesticide-contaminated-but-there-are-safe-sources.htm
That peanuts from dry areas (Israel...?) are safer because there's no (or less) mold..? & maybe less pesticides too??
This would definitely have to be something taken into account too.. in any study like that..
Posted by: Layla | Nov 22, 2008 6:24:28 AM
Was the study with organic or conventional/pesticide-laden peanuts?
& were there any iffy food additives involved?
Posted by: dreiter | Nov 14, 2008 12:52:59 PM
"you mean butter's actually better for me than this yucky margarine you made me switch to?!?"
Personally I would rather have non-hydrogenated veggie oils in my body than loads of saturated fat from butter. :)
Posted by: Tsaiah | Nov 12, 2008 1:42:47 PM
This reminds me so much of recent "hay fever" type allergy studies, too. Kids that are exposed from the time they are very young to potential allergens, such as found outside from dirt, plants, and animals, DON'T usually develop any allergies to them, in these studies. It's the kids who are kept away from such early exposure that DO eventually develop the allergies. (Makes me wish my mom hadn't tried to raise me in such an immaculate "clean-room" environment as a baby, heh. But at least she fed me peanuts!)
Posted by: LA | Nov 12, 2008 8:26:18 AM
When will we all realize it is moderation in everything. Every one of the so called "scientific" studies and ultimate pronouncements with food seems to have been reversed to some degree as far as I can tell. Food products and additives aren't tested long enough to ever know the real long term effects so we should all use a little common sense. OK - maybe we don't all have common sense, but don't regulate me because someone else can't think for themselves.
