The
mechanisms of allergy and other sensitivities are well understood, however
medical science is still in the discovery phase as to why in some cases our
immune systems become over-sensitive and decide to attack what would otherwise
be innocuous proteins. Why, for example, are there more allergy sufferers in
the US than in Europe, where the cities are as heavily air-polluted or more so
than comparable US cities? Could it really be, as some alternative
practitioners have suggested, that our reliance on antibiotics and
early-childhood vaccinations are actually counterproductive with regard to
allergies? How are we to resolve the fact that without vaccinations, children
are left open to serious illness, but with them may be left open to
life-threatening asthma attacks? For that matter, what is the right thing to do
when we know that mothers who have serious allergies can pass on the antigens
and antibodies to their newborns through breast milk, when we know that
otherwise breast milk is the most beneficial for baby?s nutrition and immune
function? What can be done for allergy prevention for children?
Aside from
these difficult decisions, the old adage ?an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure? is particularly apt with regard to allergies. The best practices
for allergy prevention will be presented in this section, along with cautions
and other considerations.
Allergy
Prevention for Children
Breast Feed
Your Infant
Long-term
research has proven that the best way to equip your newborn to cope with
assaults from illness and for allergy prevention for Children is to feed him
with mother?s breast milk exclusively for the first few months of life. It is
the only substance that was designed by evolution to be the perfect food for
immature human digestive systems. That said, what of the evidence that even
newborns fed exclusively on breast milk can exhibit signs of food allergy?
Anecdotal evidence would suggest that if the mother removes foods from her diet
to which she and baby both react, baby?s sensitivities would clear up
relatively quickly. Once again, the best way to determine to what the baby
might be reacting is to keep a food diary along with a diary of baby?s
reactions. There is no scientific evidence that allergies are inherited, while
there is plenty of such evidence that mom?s immunities are passed through her
milk. Significantly, IgG antibodies are passed through the placenta to the
developing fetus? blood supply. The best way to avoid these unintended
consequences is for mom to address her allergies and sensitivities before
becoming pregnant, and to avoid allergens while pregnant and nursing.
Some
mothers find themselves unable or, more rarely unwilling, to breast-feed for
one reason or another. If you find yourself in this situation, certainly there
are nutritionally adequate formulas on the market. We would suggest you start
with a hypoallergenic formula to avoid development of allergies to the
ingredients of other formulas.
Introduce
Solid Foods Later
The longer
you can delay introducing solid foods to your infant, the more mature her
digestive system will be and the less likely to develop food allergies or
sensitivities. Several decades ago, it was common to breastfeed exclusively
until the infant was six months old, up to one year. However, with more and
more moms attempting to work full- or part-time while pumping breast milk, it
seems that it is less practical, and that baby is demanding something more
filling at an earlier and earlier age. Some mothers introduce baby cereals as
young as six weeks, either because baby does not seem to be satisfied with just
breast milk, or in an attempt to induce sleeping through the night. Given the
fact that some cereals (wheat, in particular) are among the most allergenic
eight foods for children, introducing these foods early is tailor-made for
allergy disaster.
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