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Peanut Allergies

ONE HEALTH CONCERN THAT WE KNOW MANY OF YOU STRUGGLE WITH IS ALLERGIES. YOU CAN BE ALLERGIC TO ALMOST ANYTHING, BUT ONE OF THE MOST COMMON IS A PEANUT ALLERGY. ABOUT TWO PERCENT OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES SUFFER FROM PEANUT ALLERGIES AND THAT NUMBER IS CONTINUING TO GROW, BUT SOME NEW GUIDELINES ARE HOPING TO CHANGE
THIS…LECIA BUSCHAK HAS THE STORY.

For years, peanut butter was off-limits to children under 3 years old – parents were told by health organization that peanut products could hurt their young children, and they should introduce peanuts to their toddlers with extreme caution.
But no more! New guidelines from the National Institutes of Health are now recommending introducing peanuts into children’s diets as early as possible, to protect them against peanut allergies later in life. Scientists say there’s an early window where the immune system is still forming and you can basically vaccinate your child with small doses of peanut products. Good news, babies!

THANKS LECIA. ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO NOTE: ONCE YOU’VE DEVELOPED AN ALLERGY, IT’S IMPORTANT TO STAY AWAY FROM WHATEVER CAUSES IT. SO, IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A PEANUT ALLERGY, EATING PEANUTS AT THIS POINT WON’T HELP – SO DON’T EVEN TRY IT! TRUST ME, THAT WON’T END WELL.

Instructional Links

Website Article: KidsHealth, Nut and Peanut Allergy

Website Article: National Institutes of Health, Preschoolers Benefit from Peanut Allergy Therapy

Website Article: My Plan, Allergists and Immunologists