Increase Of Peanut Allergy:
The Long Road To Find
Some Healthy Snacks
With the many names and uses of peanuts, the increase of peanut allergy while trying to find some healthy snacks seems like a foregone conclusion. Other than the term peanut, it is also possible to call them ground nuts, goobers, pandas, monkey nuts and chinese nuts. Each of these names in other parts of the world designate the lowly peanut. Other than the whole peanuts or peanuts in the shell, low grade peanuts can also be found in peanut oil (cooking oil) and in birdseed. Peanut by-products then go into paint, varnish, lubricating oil, leather dressings, furniture polish, textile fibers, insecticides, skin creams and cosmetics. The shells only are used in the manufacture of plastics, wallboard, abrasives, cellulose and glue products. This only furthers the increase of peanut allergy. Possible Reasons Which May Influence The Increase of Peanut AllergyThe following are issues that my influence the increase of peanut allergy: - Hygiene/Microflora hypothesis: Many doctors and researchers feel that because of the increased "cleanliness" factor in our society, we are not keeping our immune systems strong by having to work to fight off disease and germs. We are therefore training our immune systems to "forget their purpose" in the human body
- Increase in the rate of breastfeeding: As a complete turn-around from a few years ago, now more women are breastfeeding their newborns. This some people feel may be linked to the increase in peanut allergy because the mother has peanut protein in her system.
- Increase in "grab and go" breakfast and lunch bars many women consume as a time-saving technique
- In some countries where processing of peanuts is still done by frying or baking predominantly, the incidence of peanut allergy is much lower.In the United States where most of our products are dry-roasted, it is conjectured there is not enough heat to de-activate the peanut protein as in the frying method.
- Greater and more widespread use of cosmetics, skin creams and lotions which have peanut oil as an ingredient
- Ingestion of more peanut particles in the air because of more popularity
- Changes in the diet of the mother and infant where allergens (solid foods) are introduced later in age, therefore preventing any kind of immunity build-up in a baby's system. This results in less resistance to many allergens.
Outgrowing a Peanut AllergyIt is very rare to out-grow any peanut or tree nut allergy that is acquired in early childhood or beyond. Only 10 to 20% of the people which do show a sensitivity to peanuts ever obtain any kind of relief from their allergy. It has also been determined, after following these individuals from the increase of peanut allergy for many years, if they do continue to avoid the peanut or tree nut, often they will begin to show sensitivities to them again in later months to years. It has therefore been suggested and is now in the testing stages, a continuous exposure(a few servings each week) are ingested. This may help prevent a return of the intolerance to these foods.Should Peanut Allergic Individuals Eat Tree NutsBecause of the increase in peanut allergy in the world today, many feel there is no definitive answer to this question by today's research methods.It is highly recommended do not ever chance feeding a young child (under 5) tree nuts if they already have a peanut allergy. Reasoning for this is not because of the difference in botanical family's, but it is because peanuts and tree nuts have two of the most highly potent protein markers of any allergens. Therefore if a child is already stressed by a peanut allergy, it is not safe to assume another allergic response will not develop in the future. As the child ages though into its teenage years and as a more responsible age is reached, if the patient expresses the desire to have tree nuts, currently the patient is being asked to undergo an oral challenge or a skin prick test to verify the results are negative. Then, while under a doctor's supervision, introduce one tree nut at a time to verify its safety. Remember, at all times have an Epi-pen on your possession. Just because you get to ingest nuts several times with no reaction, eventually you may not be so lucky. Remember to stay safe- not sorry!
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This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
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