PREVENTING ALLERGIES IN CHILDREN THROUGH PRENATAL NUTRITION
As a prenatal dietitian and a mum of four, I have certainly seen the increase in food allergies in Australia. It’s a topic I believe we should be raising awareness of, before women conceive. This is largely due to the growing link that diet and lifestyle choices and the long term health of a child are impacted before conception and during pregnancy. Emerging research into early life nutrition now highlights key life exposures that have a profound impact on both fertility, the health of offspring and reducing the risk of allergies in babies.
A closer look at allergies in Australia In Australia according to the ASCIA the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand reports that Food allergy occurs in around 1 in 20 children and 2 in 100 adults. Furthermore hospital admissions for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) have doubled over the last decade in Australia, USA and UK. So this begs the question what are these food allergies and can diet really play role in reducing the risk of developing a food allergy? The short answer is yes!
Let’s delve deeper into the science The 9 most common food allergens are: • • • • • • • • •
egg cow’s milk peanut tree nuts seafood sesame soy fish wheat
How can nutrition reduce the risk of allergies in babies? The health of both the mother and the father of a baby are incredibly important for optimising fertility, pregnancy and the long term health of a baby. A critical time of positive influence on reducing risk of chronic disease and allergies is found to be within the first 1000 days of life (preconception through to toddlerhood. This is because of the influence on epigenetics has on a growing foetus. We know at conception, genetic material is passed on from both parents so too is the epigenetic material, this includes but is not limited to: • Life exposures of environmental factors: toxins and pesticides • Nutrition: nutrient deficiencies and over nutrition characterised by high body fat percentage and weight • Negative lifestyle habits: excessive alcohol intake and smoking This can trigger changes in the growing fetus associated with a greater risk of following conditions: • • • •
Obesity Type 2 diabetes Heart disease Allergies
