posted by Kaysha Thomas
The UK is one of the top three countries in the world with the highest incidence of allergies. Here, 50 percent of children suffer from an allergy of some kind in the first 18 months of their lives. The term allergy means “altered response”. During an allergic response the immune system launches an attack on a seemingly innocent substance. When this occurs, these substances are called allergens. Common allergens include milk, soy/soya, egg, seafood, wheat, peanut and tree nuts. The attack is usually aimed at a specific protein that the allergen contains. For example, casein, one of the proteins found in milk, is a common allergen. The only way to cope with allergies throughout childhood and beyond is with knowledge—and what you do with that knowledge.
Allergy symptoms
Common allergy symptoms include rashes, runny nose, diarrhoea, and itchy eyes, skin, tongue, throat and ears. Eczema dermatitis and asthma are inflammatory conditions that are usually linked to an allergy. Symptoms can take anywhere from seconds to a few days to show up. The safest and easiest way to diagnose an allergy is to test; ask your GP to refer you to an allergy specialist.
Why some children develop allergies
Child allergies are not likely to be the result of any one risk factor. A few areas are thought to be associated with an increased risk of child allergies and are currently under research, including:
- Genetics (particularly where mum suffers from allergies)
- Smoking during pregnancy
- Being breastfed for less than the first four months
- Not enough (natural) exposure to environmental bacteria
- Diet low in fresh fruit, vegetables and healthy fats during pregnancy and in early childhood (i.e., the first two years)
- Limited exposure to potential allergens during early years
Eating potential allergens during pregnancy
Welcome to the grey area. There isn’t any strong evidence to suggest that avoiding potential allergens during pregnancy (or early childhood) decreases the occurrence of child allergies. On the other hand, some studies suggest that if mum and dad have allergies, then it may be beneficial to avoid common allergens during the last trimester. My view is that the most important thing is to eat a wholesome and varied diet throughout pregnancy and avoid foods that you are allergic to. If you do decide to cut anything out, consult a qualified health professional who will tell you how to do so whilst avoiding nutrient deficiencies.
7 natural ways to cope with child allergies
1. Use nature’s antihistamines. These include quercetin (found in apples, onions, kale), vitamin C (fruit and veg) and nettle tea (if you add a fruity tea bag and sweeten it with some honey, you should get away with it). Local honey could also offer relief to hay fever sufferers (children under age one shouldn’t have honey).
2. Minimise external toxins. The liver is left to mop up the waste products produced after an allergic response. Lessen the liver’s workload by eating organic, and by using natural skin care and cleaning products. This tip works in conjunction with tip 3
3. Look after their digestive system. Frequent exposure to allergens weakens the gut wall. This makes it easier for food allergens and undigested food particles to pass directly into the bloodstream. Both place an extra burden on the liver and cause inflammation (e.g., eczema, asthma, dermatitis). It could also mean key nutrients are not utilised. We can approach this in two ways:
- Aid the breakdown of foods by increasing digestive enzymes. These can be found in raw fruits and vegetables. Pineapple and papaya are particularly good for protein digestion.
- Good bacteria protect the gut wall. We can increase their levels by eating foods that feed good bacteria, such as bananas, garlic, onions, asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke. I’ll show you ways to sneak veggies into kids’ favourite foods in my next post!
4. Educate. It is important that children know which foods they must avoid. Use visual aids and gradually educate over time from as early as possible. Be conscious of the language you use when doing so. Being told they cannot eat this or that could simply tempt rebellion. Instead, link the food to their symptoms or if possible a time when they had an allergic reaction.
5. Read the label. Always read the label (I’d even go as far as saying read it twice). What might have been a “safe” food may no longer be. From the 13th December 2014 pre-packed foods will no longer use a warning box to highlight the allergens in the food. Instead, allergens will be listed in bold with the rest of the ingredients (another incentive to eat fresh!). Also look out for other variations of the allergen:
| Milk | Egg | Soy/Soya |
| Casein | *Egg lecithin (E322) | *Soya lecithin (E322) |
| Caseinates | Albumin | Textured vegetable protein (TVP) |
| Hydrolysed casein | Ovalbumin | Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP) |
| Whey | Globulin | Hydrolysed Plant Proteins (HPP) |
| Whey syrup sweetener | Ovoglobulin | Vegetable protein |
| Milk sugar solids | Livetin | |
| Lactose | Ovomucin |
*E322 could be from egg or soy
6. Avoid. As difficult as it is not to give a growing child seemingly healthy foods, I promise you, you are doing the best thing for their health. The more their bodies are exposed to allergens, the more sensitive it becomes. That “one bite” just isn’t worth it.
7. Replace. Be sure that any vitamins and minerals removed are replaced. For example, with a dairy allergy, seek calcium and magnesium from alternative sources such as spinach, kale and broccoli. Then look at substitutes, e.g., hemp or rice milk. Small children diagnosed with allergies should be referred to a dietician or nutritionist who will be able to devise a tailored dietary and supplement plan.
Allergies beyond childhood
As their immune systems develop, it is certainly possible for a child to outgrow an allergy (and even develop new ones). When a child is diagnosed with an allergy, their allergist will retest yearly up until around 16. Speaking from experience, living life with (multiple) allergies isn’t as hard as it sounds. In fact, having to be mindful about what I eat has been nothing but a blessing.
Helpful resources:
- Allergy UK is the leading UK charity—visit their website for the latest advice, news and food alerts
- Green People natural skin care
- Method natural cleaning products
- Dr Adam Fox is a top London-based paediatric allergist
- Local honey suppliers
- Children’s book: Patty’s Secret: A tale about living with food allergies (available at Amazon)
About the author
Kaysha Thomas is the Nutritional Therapist at the Lucerne clinic in Notting Hill Gate. She specialises in hormonal health, weight management and eating for energy. Find out more at www.zingnutrition.co.uk
photo credit: Daniella Segura
