Allergies to food, including peanuts but but not limited to them, are an increasing problem among young children. Pediatricians have been concerned that introducing potentially allergenic foods too early might predispose babies to develop allergies later. Up until now, however, there have been few studies to show whether such caution is justified.
Research from the UK suggests that babies who are exposed to a wide range of fresh foods including plenty of fruits and vegetables are less likely to develop food allergies in childhood. Those whose parents stuck with commercially prepared or packaged baby foods were at higher risk. The researchers encourage parents to feed their babies home-made meals and avoid highly processed foods to reduce the risk of allergies later in life. This practice will also set a child’s taste and expectations for healthy eating throughout life.
[Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, online July 25, 2013]
