Comments on: Why are there so many more food allergies today?

By: Shelby Oxenford

Shelby Oxenford — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 03:14:00 +0000

Both my pregnancies with my two girls (3 years old and 4 months old), were developed while I took a regimen of homeopathic pre natal care. My first born I didn’t start the regimen until I first knew at almost 10 weeks along, and my second I knew at roughly 3 weeks along and immediately raided the cupboards for the regimen again. Just about everything I took was made by Standard Process (https://www.standardprocess.com/Home). So far, neither of my kiddos has a food allergy It costs about $1,500-$2,000 in pre natal care per kiddo, however I have been very impressed by their overall development and health!

By: Alan Greene

Alan Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 21:04:00 +0000

Laura – I’m a big fan of skipping white rice for babies altogether (see http://www.drgreene.com/whiteout/) as well as skipping the coal-based artificial colors — and introducing common food allergens early (after 6 months old). Yes, heredity plays a big role in allergies – but the cool thing is that healthy habits can help turn on and off different genes we inherit. Often, heredity influences the outcome, but doesn’t determine it.

By: Cheryl Greene

Cheryl Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 21:02:00 +0000

Aprrove

Cheryl Greene
Co-Founder & Executive Producer, DrGreene.com & KidGlyphs
925.964.1793 Office
925.639.5517 Cell

By: Alan Greene

Alan Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 20:57:00 +0000

I also agree, Jules, that heredity plays a big role in allergies (though not in their rapid increase) and that foods eaten during pregnancy have not been proven to be an allergy problem for the baby (though other exposures, like tobacco smoke, have). There has been some research, though, showing some foods that might decrease the allergy risk, including eating fish – and choosing organic over conventional milk.

Changes in the healthy, beneficial bacteria in our children’s guts is likely another significant factor in the increase of food allergies, as well as other allergies. Here’s a bit I wrote foreshadowing this a decade ago (and the research keeps getting stronger) http://www.drgreene.com/qa-articles/surprising-benefits-yogurt/.

By: Alan Greene

Alan Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 20:46:00 +0000

I haven’t seen that type of research, Morgan, but agree it would be interesting and valuable information to have. My colleague and friend Dr. Kari Nadeau at Stanford has been doing some promising work on reversing peanut allergies. There was a big NY Times article about this not long ago (calling her the Allergy Buster). Here is her letter in response to that article, a gracious reality check: http://foodallergies.stanford.edu/letter.html. Peanut allergies have gotten much more common since 1996 – but some children became allergic to peanuts long before GMOs.

By: Cheryl Greene

Cheryl Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 19:50:00 +0000

Jules,

Good points. I wonder if it’s a combination of things? And perhaps some things for some people and other things for other people?

My biggest issue with GMOs is that we don’t know what the long term impact will be. Some GMOs may prove in the end to be benign while others have huge consequences. But right now we don’t have the information to know which ones are safe (if any) and which ones are not (if any). We just don’t know, so do we want our kids to be the guinea pigs?

By: Cheryl Greene

Cheryl Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 19:45:00 +0000

Hi Andrea, I had breast cancer with no family history. I can’t help believe what we eat and what we’re being exposed to in the environment played a big part. We changed our diets after that diagnosis. We eat largely organic foods now and that really helps to avoid GMOs.

By: Cheryl Greene

Cheryl Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 19:42:00 +0000

Vitamin D deficiency is a huge issue. Dr. Greene has written a lot about that on the site. Here’s one piece I really like http://www.drgreene.com/vitamin-benefits/. Also, William Grant, one of the nations leading Vitamin D researchers has a great series on Vitamin D. You can find the links here – http://www.drgreene.com/author/william-grant-phd/

By: Cheryl Greene

Cheryl Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 19:39:00 +0000

Eating whole foods (as opposed to processed foods) is one of the best ways to eat healthy. So often it’s the hidden ingredients in food that sneak up on us.

By: Cheryl Greene

Cheryl Greene — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 19:37:00 +0000

I agree — it’s as consumers demand change that change will really happen. The “Just Label It” campaign is essential so consumers will know which products NOT to buy. Once that happens, big companies will change. Of course, all organic is grown and packaged without GMOs so buying organic is a great way to vote with your $.