Is It Possible to Prevent Food Allergies?

"There weren't so many allergies before" or "kids these days are allergic to everything." These are expressions we hear repeatedly, perhaps more from the older segments of the population.

Food allergies are not a fad, and while it is true that the excess of processed foods, or excessive processing in foods that don't require it, can influence the body's reactions to certain products, there are still countless people suffering from one type of allergy or another, and they can't do anything to avoid it.

Defining the Enemy: What Is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the body to a food. It can also occur in response to one of its components, which would be the allergens. Any of these components triggers the immune system, leading to a series of chain reactions, such as the formation of antibodies to attack that substance the body considers foreign.

And that's how, almost immediately, conditions appear on the skin, in the digestive system, and even throughout the body. Sometimes it happens after eating the food, other times after touching it, and sometimes the reaction is triggered by inhaling the steam produced during cooking.

Food allergies or their components are usually hereditary and appear in the early years of life.

It's Not the Same as Food Intolerance

Food intolerance does not cause an immune system reaction but directly affects metabolism. The reaction is much milder than in the case of an allergy, and often, the person is not aware that they cannot eat a certain food because it does not sit well with them.

In other words, food intolerance occurs when the body is unable to digest a food or one of its components. The most common ones are lactose and gluten intolerance, although there are also cases of intolerance to eggs or soy protein.

Preventing Food Allergies from Childhood

The debate has been intense, but it seems that consensus is being reached. The Spanish Society of Immunology recently acknowledged that there is no evidence that delaying the introduction of foods into the diet is an effective way to prevent allergies.

In fact, pediatricians advise introducing almost all foods as soon as babies start eating solids. It doesn't matter if it's strawberries, the big no-no from years past, or nuts—except for peanuts, which are still the arch-enemies—or fish, milk and dairy products, wheat flour, and eggs. Young children eat almost everything, and by consensus, it seems that this is the way to prevent future allergies and intolerances.

What If the Allergy Has Already Manifested?

In this case, the only way to prevent reactions is to eliminate the food or component that causes them. It is important that this food not only disappears from the diet but also from the affected person's environment.

In the case of intolerances, it is necessary to limit the portions of the food in question to avoid reaching the limits that the body can no longer process.

In any case, it is very important to teach children from a young age to read the labels on packaging so that they have an idea of what they contain, not only for possible allergies and intolerances but also to have the appropriate information about the nutritional components of what they eat.

Whenever there is a doubt about a food or component, it is necessary to consult with a specialist. The Allergology Unit at Juaneda Hospitals has an expert medical team to address any questions that may arise.

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