Children's Nut Allergy - Could There Be a Bacterial Link?
Rae Witt is a Mum of four children who is passionate about creating a healthy internal and external environment for her family to grow and be themselves naturally.
As an Eco Entrepreneur she supports and promotes Organic Health and Well being as an Organic Lifestyle and Ethical Business Consultant.
Have you noticed how many children are suffering from nut allergies ranging from mild reactions to severe anaphylaxis? Maybe your child is one of them? Ever wondered what has caused this huge rise? Our ancient ancestors ate nuts for survival!
Treatment focuses on the management of symptoms with medications such as EpiPen (intra-muscular injection of adrenaline) and antihistamines if reactions occur.
What side-effects do such drugs have on our children long term and will they always work?
The foods in question are usually completely avoided at all costs, for the fear of another life threatening reaction. Schools have adopted a nut-free policy and some children are so severe that they do not enjoy the privilege of attending school at all.
Is this good enough? Should we look further to see what is the cause of such reactions? Is there a way this may be corrected?
After researching the intestinal tract and bacteria, I started to wonder if perhaps there is a direct link with these types of allergic conditions. Nuts, fish, eggs, milk and wheat the most common allergies, are all foods that are very high in protein.
Could it be a protein processing problem?
Foods high in protein require good bacteria to be present in the gut to break the proteins down into microscopic sizes before the food particles are deposited into the bloodstream. If this does not happen then the result is an allergic reaction.
The healthy balance of bacteria in the gut should be at a ratio of 85% good 15% bad, unfortunately for many this is actually in reverse.
Why? What kills off the good bacteria?
The bad bacteria begin to dominate as a result of our modern lifestyle - antibiotics, stress, preservatives and for many babies born via cesarean who miss out on the bifidus bacteria they would have received via a natural birth process.
Add to that the fact that today's conventionally farmed foods are grown in soil that lacks nutrients and good bacteria, we cannot rely on this source for replenishment.
Would you consider the supplementation of probiotic bacteria for your child?
Maybe you would like to ask yourself these questions:
*Did I take antibiotic medication while I was pregnant or at delivery?
*Was my baby born via cesarean?
*Does my child eat foods high in preservatives?
*Has my child had antibiotic therapy?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then perhaps it is something to consider?
All information in this article is based on the writer's opinion and is not intended as a replacement for professional medical advice.