Nutrition for Preventing Allergies in Children

Finally! Spring is in the air! But wait,,,so are so many of those other "things" that exacerbate allergies. But what is an allergy anyway? Why do I suffer from them?

Typically the immune system is meant to protect your body against potentially dangerous invaders such as molds, bacteria, viruses and other critters. In the case of allergies, the immune system is overly reactive to potentially harmful and non-harmful compounds. The mucus membranes (like surfaces of our intestinal tract, nasal passages, lungs, etc) are the home of mast cells. Mast cells create antibodies (immunoglobulins) that bind with and release inflammatory molecules like histamine. This process occurs when the mast cell-immunoglobulin complex is exposed to an allergen. Then the fun begins, we get all those familiar allergy symptoms. However to make things worse, these immunoglobulins have a memory and can cause these symptoms each time you are exposed to the allergen.

An allergen can be a number of natural or synthetic compounds: the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breath, the clothes we wear, or the cosmetics/creams we spread on our body! Some well-known allergic symptoms include: sinus and nasal congestion, asthma, hives and the like. Some of the not so well-known allergic symptoms include: poor attention, headaches, eczema, joint pain, frequent respiratory infections, chronic diarrhea, chronic ear infections, fatigue, and bed wetting.

Because children and infants are in the process of developing their immune system they are even more vulnerable to the development of allergies. So what can you do to help your children avoid developing allergies or lessen the symptoms once they develop? Start by teaching, by example, to eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet will build a strong immune system much less likely to run amuck. But how do you identify this "healthy diet"? A good rule of thumb is to eat foods closest to the way they occur naturally. This is often called a "whole foods diet." No that does not mean you have to swallow your foods whole. It means that we should eat real food, not foods that have been processed, stripped of much of their nutrition, and have had truckloads of salt, sugar, and other unfriendly items added.

Children should have healthy protein sources such as lean meats, chicken, fish, and soy. These sources should be organic whenever possible. Wild game is a particularly nutritious source of protein. Protein is needed for proper functioning of the immune system. Encourage your children to eat foods that contain healthy fats such as cold water fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, etc.), raw nuts and seeds, raw nut butters, flax oil, fish oil, ground flax seed, and beans. Healthy fats are part of a healthy immune response and they can decrease the inflammation associated with allergies. Encourage your children to eat liberal amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain products. If you suspect that your child has a milk allergy try experimenting with other types of "milk" like soy or rice milks. Organic yogurt is often a good idea because it contains friendly bacteria that help support immune function in the intestines. This type of diet will give your child (and you) higher levels of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, selenium vitamin B6, and flavonoids- all compounds that are needed build a happy and obedient immune system.

In addition try to get your children away from all sources of hydrogenated oils and deep fried foods. Hydrogenated oils are to your immune system what kryptonite is to superman. Hydrogenated oils are found in most margarine, commercial baked goods and some candies and ice creams to name but a few goodies. Deep fried foods are often fried in polyunsaturated oils that mutate under high heat causing particularly nasty compounds. Step away from the French fries. High sugar intake is suppressive to the immune system and processed foods can offset mineral balance, making allergies (as well as many other problems) more likely over the long term. It is also good to choose organic foods whenever possible. Pesticide residues on conventionally grown foods can provide further assault to the immune system and may contribute to many other health problems.

Once the foundation of a good diet has been laid, there are many nutritional and herbal supplements that can be safely used to prevent or treat allergies in children who's allergies still dare to rear their ugly head. Any supplement program should be custom- made for each individual. Given the plethora of supplements available, I recommend scheduling an appointment with a naturopathic doctor to plan a program that meets the specific needs of your child.

Bert Mathieson N.D.
Pinewood Healing Arts
255 Route 108
Somersworth, NH 03878