01/02/2023
🥜Preventing food allergies and early allergen introduction🥜
A common question on 4–6-month-old babies’ moms’ lips are which foods they should avoid when starting their babies on solids. Much research has been done on this topic, and recently, many old recommendations on allergen introductions have changed.
🥜What is a food allergy?🥜
A food allergy happens when the body’s immune system sees a particular food as dangerous. The immune system then releases substances in the blood that causes an allergic reaction. These reactions can vary from being very mild, like a rash, to vomiting, swelling, or even anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening.
🥜What is the difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy?🥜
A food intolerance occurs when someone has uncomfortable symptoms when eating large amounts of a particular food. A food intolerance is not dangerous and is not driven by the immune system. Usually, people can tolerate eating a small amount of that specific food with only mild discomfort.
A food allergy is much more severe as it involves the immune system. A severe reaction can occur with minimal exposure. It usually occurs within 2 hours of ingesting a particular food.
People commonly mistake the two concepts. About 20-30% of people wrongly believe they have a food allergy. In reality, studies have shown that only about 2-5% of people have an actual food allergy rather than an intolerance.
🥜How much food is needed to trigger an allergic reaction?🥜
This differs from person to person. It may only need a trace of a food particle or protein to induce the reaction in some people.
What are the most common allergenic foods?
🥛Cow’s milk
🍳Eggs
🐟Fish
🥜Peanuts
🦐Shellfish
🧋Soy
🌴Tree nuts
🌾Wheat
🥜Are food allergies on the rise?🥜
Definitely! Experts are calling it the allergy epidemic. More eczema, asthma, hay fever, and food allergies are diagnosed than ever before. Many theories exist as to why this occurs, including living in a cleaner environment and changes in our gut microbiome (the good bacteria in your gut).
A child with no family history of allergies is at a 15% risk of developing an allergic reaction within the first few years of life.
🥜Will my child be more prone to food allergies if there are allergies in the family?🥜
Unfortunately, genetics play a significant role in allergies. If a parent has an allergy, it increases the child’s risk of developing an allergy by up to 50%; if both parents have allergies, it rises to 80%.
🥜What else will increase my child’s risk for allergies?🥜
❗️Smoking during pregnancy and exposure to second and third-hand smoke will increase a child’s risk for allergies.
❗️Delaying solid food introduction beyond 6 months and delaying introducing allergen-containing foods beyond 12 months has also been shown to increase the allergy risk.
🥜How can you protect your child from allergies?🥜
✅Omega 3 fatty acids found in oily fish and supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding have been shown in studies to prevent eczema.
✅Studies have proven that breastfed babies are less allergy-prone. At least 4-6 months of breastfeeding have been shown to reduce food allergies and eczema. Extended breastfeeding after solid food introduction has also been shown to be protective.
✅If the mother cannot breastfeed, hypoallergenic formulas have been shown in a few studies to be beneficial in allergy-prone high-risk families to reduce allergies in babies. This has, however, not been shown to reduce allergies in healthy babies. The choice of your baby’s formula should preferably be discussed with your child’s healthcare provider.
✅Solid foods should not be introduced before 17 weeks until the gut is mature enough. The child should be showing signs of readiness. See my post on solid food introduction here: https://www.facebook.com/1442008255941830/posts/1917441025065215/?d=n
✅Do not delay solid food introduction in your baby past 6 months; it has been proven to increase the allergy risk.
✅The use of probiotics is showing promising results in a few studies in preventing allergies. A lot more research is needed to prove the association. Since probiotics hardly have side effects, it’s a feasible preventative measure.
🥜What has no benefit in preventing food allergies?🥜
🌀Avoiding certain “allergenic” foods in pregnancy has not been proven to reduce an allergy risk in the child.
🌀Avoiding certain allergenic foods while breastfeeding your healthy baby. If your child has been proven to have a specific food allergy, rather discuss your diet with their doctor, as it may be safer to avoid those foods with a proven allergy.
🌀Soy or goat milk formulas have not been shown to reduce allergies in healthy babies when not breastfed.
🥜Are there certain foods that need to be avoided at a certain age for allergy prevention?🥜
Studies have proven that the early introduction of allergenic foods like nuts and eggs reduces allergies. These can be given from 4-6 months onwards. They should preferably be introduced by 12 months of age. If, however, your child shows a reaction to these foods, let them see a doctor as soon as possible.
If your child is a high risk for food allergies, like having a strong family history of allergies or having eczema, consult an allergy specialist before introducing solid foods.
🥜What is the best way to introduce solid foods?🥜
After 17 weeks of age and your child shows signs of readiness, you can start your baby on solid foods. Whether you introduce the baby to purees or use the baby-led weaning method, it does not matter when it comes to food allergy prevention.
Start with single ingredients, one at a time, with about 3-5 days delay between starting a new food. Vegetables like green veggies, sweet potatoes, and carrots are favourites. Fruits like apples, pears, pawpaw, and banana are also yum. Keep exposing your child to the same food even if it looks like they don’t enjoy it at first. The 3-5 day delay between starting new foods allows you to identify any food intolerances and allergies before starting a new food.
Allergenic foods, as mentioned before in the post, can then gradually be introduced from 4-6 months, after less allergenic foods have been given and tolerated without reactions.
You can smear some peanut butter on the child’s inner lip and watch for any reactions. After that, smooth peanut and other nut butters are great to mix with your baby’s veggies. Do not give peanut butter to a small child on its own, as it may be a choking risk.
Scrambled eggs are also a firm favourite when introducing eggs. Never give your child raw eggs to eat, as this may increase the risk of a Salmonella infection. If your child reacts to these foods, let them see a doctor as soon as possible.
Have a walk around the grocery store’s fresh food aisle and try to buy uncommon fruit and veg. Think brussels sprouts, spinach, strawberries, oranges, melons, asparagus, etc. By allowing your child a varied diet with many tastes, smells, and textures, you will prevent picky eating in the future.
🥜What should you do if your baby has an allergic reaction?🥜
If your baby develops any swelling of the lips, eyes, or face, has a severe skin rash or reaction, vomiting, or the child becomes very unsettled after giving a particular food, they might be having an allergic reaction.
Stop feeding your baby that food and consult a medical professional straight away.
If the child has difficulty or very noisy breathing, loses consciousness, or you notice the tongue swelling fast, call an ambulance straight away.
🥜What about a red rash around the mouth?🥜
A baby’s skin is very sensitive and may react when it comes into contact with certain foods like citrus, tomatoes, berries, and other fruits. Note that redness or a rash around the mouth is often just a skin irritation to the food and not an allergic reaction.
It is important to note that some babies may still develop a food allergy even if the above advice is followed. Always discuss your food allergy concerns with your healthcare professional.
Photo by Hannah Tasker on Unsplash
