Nourishing a Child – Introducing Foods in the first years.

How to reduce the likelihood of allergies and “atopy” in children

For the first 6-months of life, breast milk is the only food required by most infants. We expect a child’s birth weight to double at about 6-months old. Breast milk has essential antibodies that provide powerful immune function to the child as well as balanced nutrients to optimize growth. Children who have been breast-fed in these first 6-months are at lower risk for numerous diseases. Notably, a Finnish study found that exclusively breast-feeding an infant to 6-months of age resulted in significant prevention of allergies in infants of allergic parents. Of course, the mother’s diet and nutritional intake is paramount to making healthy breast milk!

Occasionally, a child on breast milk will react to allergens from the mother’s diet. Having the mother eliminate the food in question can treat the child effectively. Usually the foods are one or several of the “sinister seven“foods: Cow’s dairy protein, soy protein, chocolate, wheat, corn, egg whites and peanuts. [Extras might be potatoes, citrus and coffee].
Introducing an infant to solid foods too early or to allergenic foods too early will increase the susceptibility to allergies in a child. A child does not have a fully developed digestive capacity and cannot effectively digest some foods – especially grains. Therefore, less allergenic foods should be used to nourish the child while reducing the likelihood of allergies.

When not severe, these allergies are usually caused by the delayed-type IgG cells or the IgA cells – that live in all the mucous membranes of the body such as the sinus, lungs and gut. The symptoms can be negligible to severe but these 2 immune cells, while technically involved in the allergic response, are not going to cause life-threatening reactions. These may be better defined as sensitivities. This allows the word “allergy” to be reserved for the more acute and possibly anaphylactic-causing IgE immune reactions. For our discussion here we are referring to sensitivities.

Sensitivity reactions that a child might have to foods:

Rashes and hives (esp. around mouth and anus)
Hyperactivity or lethargy
Runny nose & mucous production
Frequent infections (esp. ear)
Allergic shiners
Stomach aches
Diarrhea or constipation
Dyslexia or changes in handwriting or drawing

At no other time in life is nutrition so important to a person. Our goal is not to treat allergies at this young age. Our goal is to provide a nutritional diet that promotes a healthy digestive system, a strong immune system and an intelligent and well-developed nervous system. Following a proper introduction schedule, you will do this while preventing the development of allergies.