The most allergenic foods for children. Allergenic foods for children: what should you avoid? Allergenic foods for children after one year

Hello, dear readers. Today we are looking at a question that interests many mothers: which foods are the most allergenic for children.

Which allergenic foods should be completely excluded from the diet of children under one year of age, and which – for children two to three years old.

And at what age can allergenic foods be introduced into a child’s diet?

Allergenic foods for children

Pollution environment, low-quality products, oversaturation of our everyday life with chemicals (household, cosmetic, agricultural) - the body responds to all these “stresses” with immune failures.

Plants, animals, household items - all this can cause allergic reactions. But most often (up to 80%) it is fixed.

How to protect against food allergies the most precious thing we have - our children? What foods are called allergenic?

Products - allergens

All the foods we eat can be divided into three groups: hypoallergenic, moderately allergenic and high-risk allergenic foods.

Hypoallergenic products are easily absorbed by the body; they contain virtually no substances that can cause allergies. This:

• dairy products(kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, yogurt, feta cheese),
• cereal porridge (buckwheat, rice),
• green and white vegetables and fruits (zucchini, squash, apples),
• rabbit meat, veal.

Allergenic products of medium risk include those that, with a sufficient degree of safety, can cause unwanted reactions organism in certain people under certain circumstances.

These are lean fish, offal, legumes, bananas, berries, herbal decoctions, etc.

High-risk allergenic foods include citrus fruits, red and orange vegetables, berries and fruits, honey, nuts, and seafood.

Let's take a closer look at the rules for consuming allergenic foods for children.

Allergenic foods for children under one year of age

Infants have a very high risk of developing allergies.

There are factors that increase the risk: genetic predisposition, non-compliance with the mother's diet during pregnancy and pregnancy, taking antibiotics during pregnancy, early weaning from breast milk, disruption of intestinal microflora.

But even if you managed to avoid these risks, you should know: up to six months, any new product for a child can become an allergen!

The baby’s gastrointestinal tract does not produce enough enzymes to “recognize” a new product.

The following allergenic foods are most dangerous for a child under one year of age:

• Cow's milk. Allergies can also apply to formulas based on cow's milk. Therefore, if you have to switch to artificial feeding, be careful when selecting the mixture. If you have allergies, switch to mixtures based on goat or soy milk, they are less allergenic.
• Eggs. They are also known to contain protein. Therefore, only the yolk and preferably quail eggs can be very carefully introduced into the diet of a child under one year old - they are less allergenic.
• Exotic fruits. Perhaps everyone knows that citrus fruits are allergenic foods for children under one year of age: oranges, tangerines, grapefruits. Our grandmothers knew about this. But citrus fruits are an allergenic product not because of some element, but because they grow in tropical countries and are alien, exotic for our body. Therefore, doctors recommend introducing fruits native to our region (for example, apples) into complementary foods for children under one year old and to be careful not only with citrus fruits, but also with bananas, mangoes, pineapples and other overseas guests.
• Red and orange vegetables, berries and fruits. Products of these bright colors are allergenic, as they have a complex structure that is difficult for a child’s body to digest. Therefore, children under one year of age cannot be fed with these products.
• Honey. Of course, everyone knows that honey is very healthy and very delicious product. But bees collect pollen for honey from various plants, including those that cause allergies. This makes honey an allergenic product.
• Chocolate. Too many allergenic products are included in chocolate: milk, protein, cocoa beans. The child's body is unable to process this explosive mixture.
• Nuts, especially peanuts. The high protein content makes nuts a particularly dangerous allergenic product for children.
• Seafood and sea ​​fish. The protein contained in seafood and fish is no less dangerous for the baby. These products must be excluded for children under one year of age.
• , jams, preserves. They contain a lot of sugar, and sugar consumption should be kept to a minimum for children.

If your baby shows signs of allergies, he needs it. Please discuss the introduction of new foods into your diet with your pediatrician.

With a healthy reaction to complementary feeding in children's second or third year of life, you can carefully experiment with more allergenic foods.

Remember the rule: you need to introduce only one new product gradually, starting with small doses, in the morning or afternoon for several days, carefully observing the child’s reaction.

You need to start with moderately allergenic foods (low-fat fish, legumes, offal, bananas, light berries, watermelon).

If the reaction is healthy, you can also carefully try to give your child some allergenic foods: milk, eggs, confectionery, nuts (walnuts or almonds), jams, honey.

By the age of three, you can try introducing citrus fruits into your child’s diet.

The most allergenic foods - chocolate, strawberries, seafood, peanuts - are best not given to children under five years of age.

Important to remember

1. The best protection against allergies for a baby is mother's milk.
2. In the first year of life, it is necessary to introduce only hypoallergenic products into the child’s diet; you cannot experiment with allergenic ones.
3. New foods should be introduced gradually, carefully monitoring the child.

We wish you and your children health!

It is not surprising that young children often get sick various diseases. Allergies take first place in this ranking. Statistics show that out of five children, two suffer from this disease.

A child's immune system can respond to almost any food product with an allergic reaction. The symptoms are as follows: the child’s body and face become covered with a rash, which is accompanied by severe itching, peeling and redness. skin. Very often, a frivolous attitude towards allergies allows it to develop into quite serious illness, for example, asthma.

Allergens for children under one year old

Up to 6 months, an infant’s body can react with allergies to various foods. From the first days of life until one year, many food products for children are allergens, but this does not mean that they will remain allergens for the child in the future. The only thing that is well tolerated is breast milk and special infant formula. This only indicates that digestive system The child’s body is not yet mature enough and does not produce the necessary enzymes to digest certain foods.

When a product enters the body, containing in its composition something that is not yet known for the child’s digestion, and the amount of enzymes that is available cannot cope with digestion. A large release of immunoglobulin (IgE) occurs in the body, then those external symptoms appear that we already see and understand that the child is allergic to something. But this only happens with products containing strong allergens, and there are those that contain them, but in small quantities, then at first it is not even noticeable that the child has an allergy. The mother continues to feed her child and herself foods with slow-acting allergens and has no idea what harm they cause. Therefore, children's allergens need to be known almost by heart, this will help preserve the baby's health.

Feeding a child with breast milk is very beneficial, but some allergens of children under one year old can enter the child’s body along with it, so it is also important for the mother to adhere to a diet and exclude from her diet anything that can intensify the illness in her child.

As for transferring the child to solid foods, more mature ones, you need to start feeding with hypoallergenic food for children, these include oatmeal, cabbage, pumpkin, apples, and others. Then we periodically add new products to the feeding, only in small portions, monitoring the reaction of the child’s body, but this should be done in parallel with the maturation of the enzymatic system.

Allergenic products

You need to know allergen products for children; to do this, you need to carefully study them in the lists given below and then create a menu for your baby.

Allergens for children can be strong, which provoke allergies, and weak. You need to know the strong ones and pay special attention to them when feeding your baby.

Strong allergens in food for children:

1. Dairy products and milk. The highest percentage of allergies among other products. It's all about protein; it is difficult for a small, immature body to digest.
2. Eggs. Especially chicken ones. The allergen is egg white.
3. Fish. Fish caviar and all seafood. Canned fish.
4. Meat. Allergies are caused by very fatty meats.
5. Berries. The most dangerous among them are red.
6. Fruits and vegetables. Those that are red are dangerous.
7. Citrus. All orange-colored fruits and fruits of exotic origin are at increased risk.
8. Nuts. Everything except walnuts.
9. Semolina and wheat.
10. Coffee. Chocolate, cocoa, coffee.
11. Confectionery.
12. Products containing preservatives, artificial flavors and colors.

List of allergenic foods for a child with varying degrees activities:

Increased activity:

• dairy products, eggs, meat products (chicken);
• different types of fish;
• bush berries, black currants;
• pineapples, melons, grapes, all citrus fruits;
• pomegranate, cocoa, chocolate, honey, nuts, mushrooms;
• red vegetables, carrots, celery, rye, wheat.

Average activity:

• turkey, pork and rabbit meat;
• potatoes, all legumes, green peppers;
• peach, apricot, banana, pear, red currant, cranberry;
• rice, corn grits.

Low activity:

• lamb meat, beef;
• squash, zucchini, radish, green cucumbers, cabbage;
• green and yellow apple, plum;
• white cherries, white currants, watermelons;
• pumpkins are not dark in color;
• almond.

Here are some food allergens that pose a high risk for children. It is important to remember them and give them to your child with caution, or avoid them altogether.

Sometimes even mildly allergenic foods can cause a rash if the child eats them in excessive quantities. It is necessary to establish a measure and observe it during feeding.

Laboratory study of allergens

Laboratory studies have shown that the list of allergens for children does not end with food products. There are also other types:

household, pollen, fungal and epidermal allergens.

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Products with a high degree of allergenicity:

• whole milk (cow, goat, sheep);
• freshwater fish and all dishes made from it;
• seafood and caviar;
• chicken eggs;
• cereals (wheat, rye, barley);
• citrus, Exotic fruits, persimmon, melon;
• tomatoes, bell peppers (red and yellow), carrots and celery;
• chocolate, cocoa and all its derivatives, coffee;
• nuts;
• mushrooms;

Whole milk can cause allergies in both children and adults. Dairy intolerance, particularly lactose, and milk allergy are two different things.

Allergies can only be caused by one type of milk, for example cow's milk. But in most cases this ability has goat milk. The protein found in this milk is somewhat different from the proteins found in other types of milk. Goat's milk is not recommended for children under one year of age, as frequent consumption can cause anemia.

Resources human body not limitless. Over time they dry up. The quality and quantity of enzymes capable of digesting food changes. Adults, especially those over 60 years of age, lose the enzymes that break down lactose. Therefore, they are not recommended to consume whole milk. It is better to cook porridge with half-boiled milk. The exception is fermented milk products.

People suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular colitis, are not recommended to eat whole milk and dishes prepared from this product. With this disease there is almost complete absence enzymes that process lactose. If we take into account the frequent dysbiosis that accompanies colitis, fermented milk products will the best way out, because they contain lactobacilli, which are natural bacteria in the human body and help digestion processes.

Fish is a fairly strong allergen, exposure to which can even lead to anaphylactic shock. River fish is less allergenic than sea fish.

Eggs, combined with chicken meat and broth, cause quite severe allergy attacks. Protein has this feature. Chicken egg yolk causes allergies to a lesser extent. Therefore, it is the yolk that is introduced into complementary foods for babies, starting with a very small amount. Quail eggs are hypoallergenic.

Products with a moderate degree of allergenicity:

• beef, veal, chicken and broths made from it;
• cereals (oats, rice, buckwheat);
• legumes;
• root vegetables (potatoes, turnips, beets);
• nectarine, peaches, apricots;
• wild berries (cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries, blackberries);
• rosehip, cherry and black currant.

In meat, during any heat treatment, the protein changes and is well broken down by gastrointestinal enzymes. The exception is meat fried in a large amount of fat.

Berries that have a coloring pigment can cause allergies in both children and adults. But with heat treatment (compotes, jams, jellies and other dishes), their tendency to cause allergies decreases.

When eating root vegetables and legumes, you should take into account your digestive characteristics, as these foods can cause flatulence.

Products with a low degree of allergenicity:

• low-fat fermented milk products;
• lean pork and lamb, rabbit and turkey meat;
• cereals (pearl barley, millet, corn, oatmeal);
• cabbage (cauliflower, broccoli, white cabbage);
• cucumbers and zucchini;
• parsley, dill, caraway seeds;
• white currants and cherries;
• yellow varieties of plums and cherries;
• apples and pears of white and green varieties.

Eating these products can cause allergies only in rare cases, and mainly in adults. It is these products that are recommended first of all to be introduced as complementary foods for babies up to one year old.

If you buy ready-made products in a store, pay attention to their composition. Dyes, preservatives, emulsifiers and fragrances can cause allergies, even if they are part of products that are already familiar and do not cause a reaction.

Dairy products and meat may be treated with chemicals or medicines to extend shelf life. These can be antibiotics, sulfonamides, formaldehydes. They will be strong allergens and will cause an immediate reaction even in an adult, not to mention children.

Vegetables, fruits and grains may contain residual amounts of pesticides, fertilizers and chemical substances, with which they are processed to extend shelf life.

Pay attention to the container in which the product is enclosed. After all, substances that can cause allergies can also get into food from it. Also look at the expiration date and storage conditions. If they do not comply with the established rules, they may contain decay products or mold fungi. These are also powerful allergens that can cause severe poisoning and lead to anaphylactic shock.

How to recognize food allergies. If you notice that your body has somehow begun to react in a special way to seemingly familiar things, try to determine for yourself the reason for such strange behavior of your body.

You may be worried about organs that are completely independent of digestion. But the insidious thing about food allergies is that they can masquerade as other problems, the treatment of which will not bring any relief.

Symptoms of food allergies:

• on the skin: rash, itching, redness, swelling, formation of small blisters with liquid;
• from the respiratory side: runny nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, bronchospasm, asthma attacks;
• from the visual side: lacrimation, conjunctivitis, severe itching, swelling;
• from the digestive system: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in taste;
• from the nervous system: dizziness, loss of orientation, confusion, loss of consciousness.

If you find yourself with the above symptoms, analyze what foods you ate. These may be familiar foods, but which you have not eaten for a long time.

If you have found out exactly the cause of your ailments, then you should simply exclude the allergen product from your diet and the symptoms will go away.

But it often happens that allergies are caused by several foods at once. Then the best solution would be to keep a food diary. In it you will write down every day what exactly you ate and your body’s reaction to the product you ate. In this way, the cause of the malaise can be accurately determined.

There are products that give a quick, almost instantaneous, allergic reaction. Then identifying them is very simple. But there are products that give a remote allergic reaction. That is, you may experience allergy symptoms even a few days after eating such a product. This is where the difficulty lies.

Allergies, food allergies in particular, are a very insidious disease that requires serious treatment. After all, you can get not just watery eyes, rashes and itching. The consequences are much more tragic. Products, causing allergies, can not only undermine health, but also take life.

If you notice any allergic reactions to any food product, immediately eliminate it from your diet. The next stage in your fight against this insidious disease should be a visit to an allergist. It is the specialist who will be able to determine the cause of such reactions and prescribe adequate treatment. All recommendations and prescriptions of the doctor should be followed. Only then will you be able to keep your body under control and avoid the sad manifestations of food allergies.

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Causes

Intolerance to certain components is often genetic, for example, an allergy to gluten. In a severe form of the disease, the child’s body reacts violently not only to the use of oatmeal or cookies, but also on products where only traces of gluten are found. Even breaded cutlets or waffle bars are dangerous for allergy sufferers with this form of the disease.

Children with cow's milk intolerance need lactose-free hypoallergenic mixtures. Allergy sufferers should not consume not only whole milk, but also cream, sour cream, and any products containing lactose.

Factors that increase the risk of allergic reactions to food:

• dysbacteriosis;
• decreased immunity after serious illness, frequent stress, taking antibiotics;
• poor nutrition, excess of highly allergenic foods in the diet;
• introducing complementary foods ahead of schedule;
• during pregnancy future mom consumed highly allergenic foods;
• disruption of the digestive tract.

Main allergens

Each person reacts in his own way to the consumption of certain products: even highly allergenic items in the absence of hypersensitivity of the body do not appeal negative reactions. In patients with a hereditary predisposition to food allergies under the influence of provoking factors, on the contrary, the body’s response to even a couple of orange slices or one egg is acute, with pronounced symptoms.

Find out the instructions for using Eden tablets to relieve allergy symptoms.

Read about the symptoms and signs of atopic bronchial asthma in children at this address.

Potential allergens:

• Nuts (especially peanuts, hazelnuts).
• Dairy products: whole milk.
• Honey and bee products: propolis, pollen.
• Cocoa, chocolate, candies, cakes, pastries containing cocoa butter.
• Citrus fruits: orange, grapefruit, tangerine, clementine, lemon.
• Cereals with gluten: oats, rye, wheat.
• Cheeses. Hard and semi-hard varieties are not suitable for allergy sufferers; processed cheese also causes a negative reaction in the body.
• Meat. Fatty pork, strong meat broth, beef is less dangerous for allergy sufferers.
• Seafood: clams, mussels, lobsters, lobsters, squids.
• Products in original packaging: concentrates, semi-finished products, canned food, ready-made mayonnaise, packaged sauces.
• Items with synthetic components: products with artificial flavors, dyes, harmful emulsifiers, sweeteners.
• Caviar of sea and river fish.
• Vegetables: tomatoes, beets, carrots, red salad peppers.
• Fruits: red apples, less often apricots.
• Exotic fruits: kiwi, persimmon, banana, pomegranate.
• Berries: raspberries, strawberries, strawberries, black currants.
• Eggs. The most allergenic components are chicken eggs. Goose, quail and duck eggs are less likely to provoke a negative reaction.
• Melons: melons.
• Other names: mushrooms of all types, mustard.

First group

Products that are easy to avoid without harming your health. The absence of melon, nuts, mushrooms, chocolate, and seafood in children’s diets does not cause dangerous complications and developmental delays. The beneficial components contained in highly allergenic products can be easily obtained by using safe brands.

Second

High nutritional value, a rich set of useful vitamins and microelements does not allow removing the product from the diet. Eggs and milk fall into this group.

If you are intolerant to cow's milk protein, you will have to completely stop using all products containing a dangerous component. For mild to moderate reactions, doctors allow the consumption of a minimum amount of milk, but before drinking it must be boiled for 10-15 minutes.

The same situation with eggs:

• Cooking for half an hour is required;
• replacing chicken eggs with a quail product, with a lower risk of allergic reactions;
• eating only the yolk: the protein containing albumin, after entering the body, causes increased production of immunoglobulin, which leads to a negative response, acute skin reactions.

Diagnostics

Identifying a food allergen is quite difficult. At proper diet, including dozens of items, it is not always easy to understand which products caused skin rashes, swelling and itching.

On a note:

• in some cases, with high sensitization of the body, the reaction is acute, negative signs appear half an hour to an hour after eating chocolate, citrus fruits, honey or other types of food;
• in other cases, the allergen accumulates over two to three days, a delayed-type reaction puzzles patients who do not understand why blisters appear on the skin, the tissues are slightly swollen, and the body itches.

To identify unsuitable products, you will need the help of an allergist. The doctor will conduct skin tests and, based on the reaction to small doses of the irritant, will find out which types of food cause a negative response in the body. It is not advisable to take it before skin tests. antihistamines so as not to blur the picture. Skin tests Do not do it to children under 3 years old. To accurately diagnose the type of irritant, another, more progressive and safer method is used. It will be discussed in the next section.

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Manifestations of food allergies

• rashes on various parts of the skin;
• swelling;
• signs of dyspepsia - vomiting, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea;
• feeling of pain in the abdominal area.

Sometimes food allergens provoke the phenomena of anaphylaxis, bronchospasm and allergic vasculitis. Therefore, it is important to exclude potentially dangerous foods that cause allergies.

Causes of hypersensitivity

• hereditary predisposition;
• load of maternal antibodies to the components of the product during fetal development;
• reducing breastfeeding time;
• increased permeability of the mucous lining of the intestinal wall;
• dysbiosis.

These factors, as well as products that cause allergies in children and adults, together determine the risk of developing hypersensitivity.

Main groups of food allergens

1. Products with high allergenic activity. This includes: milk, eggs, fish, nuts, citrus fruits, grapes, strawberries, melon.
2. Products with average allergenic activity. These include: apricots, peaches, legumes, nightshades, rice, corn, cranberries, green peppers.
3. Products with weak allergenic activity. These include: turnips, apples, bananas, almonds, watermelon, lamb, turkey.

All foods that cause allergies in adults and children should be excluded from their usual diet.

Examples of hypersensitivity

Allergies to foods can be triggered wide range food components. The most aggressive allergen is cow's milk protein. Strong allergens for children start their list with this. Therefore, if you need to choose a formula for feeding infants, you need to focus on food that does not contain cow's milk components. To reduce the likelihood of allergies in a child, preference should be given whenever possible. breastfeeding in due time, since this contributes to the formation immune system. A child's allergy to milk protein allergen manifests itself in the form of rashes on the skin.

• egg white;
• berries and fruits with small seeds, such as raspberries;
• products using fungi in preparation (kvass, kefir, cheeses);
• preservatives, dyes, fibers - all non-natural components used in production.

It is important to know what causes allergies, since eliminating the main allergen from the diet promotes recovery. Allergies in a child should be treated when the first symptoms are detected. clinical symptoms. Caution should be exercised if there is a family history of hypersensitivity.

Features of a hypoallergenic diet

What is a hypoallergenic diet? This is a diet that is considered the main element of food allergy therapy. It is important to exclude allergenic foods from the diet for children and adults. Allergies in a child often disappear as they grow older. When compiling a diet, it is necessary to include foods that do not cause allergies.

It is important that you should exclude not only the main allergen, but also products that are highly allergenic. This contributes to the success of treatment for the condition. The diet should be selected by an allergist, taking into account the characteristics clinical case. It is important to select products from a group with low allergenic activity; you should also choose products with a minimum content of preservatives and coloring substances.

A strict diet that excludes allergenic foods is followed for 7-10 days for children, and for two to three weeks for adults. As the condition improves, foods with moderate allergic activity can be introduced. When following a diet, it is worth making the diet varied so that there is no accumulation of the same substances. This reduces the likelihood of developing allergies to other products. With the correct approach, food allergies will not manifest themselves.

You need to understand that allergens are substances and particles that can provoke severe clinical symptoms of hypersensitivity, so you should avoid contact with them as much as possible.

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Details Healthy eating Proper nutrition

Food allergies is any allergic reaction to normal, harmless food or food ingredients. Any one type of food can contain many food allergens. As a rule, these are proteins and much less often - fats and carbohydrates.

The term “allergy” was first proposed by the Austrian pediatrician Clement Von Pirket at the beginning of the twentieth century, when he noticed that hypersensitivity in some patients was caused by the same substances.

In a simplified form, the mechanism of allergy development looks like this: a foreign protein that first enters the body causes a protective immune reaction the body, which naturally tries to fight it. After the first contact, the immune system “remembers” the type and structure of this protein (allergen) and upon repeated contact, a pathological, overly enhanced (hyperreactive) type of response is triggered, when, in addition to excessive activation of blood cellular elements - mast cells and basophils with immunoglobulins E, a pronounced inflammatory response also occurs general- blood flow increases, the permeability of cell walls increases, tissue swelling occurs, temperature rises, etc., which can lead to life-threatening acute and chronic conditions: anaphylactic shock, bronchial asthma, vasomotor rhinitis, urticaria, false croup, Quincke's edema, etc.

True food allergies are rare (less than two percent of the population). Most often the cause is heredity. In children, allergies usually appear in the first years of life. Among adults who believe they have a food allergy, approximately 80% actually experience a condition that experts have dubbed "pseudo-food allergy." Although the symptoms they experience are similar to those of a true food allergy, the cause may be a simple food intolerance. Moreover, some people may develop psychosomatic reactions to food because they believe that it is an allergen for them.

However, allergies are much more common these days than half a century ago. This may be due to environmental pollution, the use of pesticides, as well as the abundance of other chemicals that we use or encounter in the world. Everyday life. It is estimated that we are exposed to about 3 thousand different chemicals every year - so the increase in the number of allergic diseases is not surprising.

Our immune system is exposed every day to chemicals we eat and drink, as well as potentially toxic molecules we inhale. This constant battle leads to liver overload and, as a result, increased allergic reactions.

Food allergies may be a cause acute conditions, such as anaphylactic shock, severe forms of bronchial obstruction (obstruction), allergic vasculitis, and can also support chronic and recurrent lesions of the ENT organs, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, nervous and cardiovascular systems. It can appear like thunder among clear skies, after a person has eaten everything throughout his life and without any restrictions. Fortunately, such sudden allergies are very rare. Much more often, people suffer from intolerance to a particular food or from excessive sensitivity to it, but recognizing the causes of these types of allergies is much more difficult.

Causes of food allergies

Although allergies can develop to almost any type of food, the most common allergens are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat and tree nuts, especially peanuts.

There is also a cross allergy, which develops following a reaction to any one allergen. Thus, people who are allergic to peanuts may also become allergic to other legumes, including peas, soybeans, lentils. Also, patients with a cantaloupe allergy may develop a reaction to cucumbers and pumpkin over time; and similarly, those allergic to shrimp become sensitive to crabs.

Some people develop allergies to sulfites, chemicals used to preserve the color of food, such as in dried fruits and vegetables. Reactions to them include shortness of breath or allergic shock after eating food containing sulfites. Sulfites can also cause severe asthma attacks.

Genetic factor in food allergies

A child whose parent has allergies is twice as likely to develop allergies as one whose parents are not allergic. If both parents have an allergy, the child's risk of developing an allergy doubles, making it four times greater. However, substances that are allergens for a child may differ from the allergens of his parents. Although it often turns out that children suffering from allergies inherit this disease from their parents, allergies are not always inherited. It has been established that children of parents suffering from asthma, eczema or hay fever (atopic forms of allergies) themselves have increased sensitivity, especially if these allergic diseases occur in both parents. The culprits are the genes that determine the suppression of the formation of IgE, immunoglobulins, which are mediators of acute inflammatory reaction on specific allergens. However, genes are not the only cause of allergies. For example, genetically identical twins do not necessarily develop allergic reactions to the same allergens. This proves that other factors also play a role in the occurrence of allergies, such as environmental factors, bacterial and viral infections, stress, etc.

Allergenic products

In general, according to the degree of allergenic activity, three groups of food products can be distinguished:

High: cow's milk, fish, eggs, citrus fruits, nuts, honey, mushrooms, chicken, strawberries, raspberries, strawberries, pineapples, melon, persimmons, pomegranates, blackcurrants, blackberries, chocolate, coffee, cocoa, mustard, tomatoes, carrots, beets , celery, wheat, rye, grapes, etc.

Average: peaches, apricots, red currants, cranberries, rice, corn, buckwheat, green peppers, potatoes, peas, pork, turkey, rabbit, etc.

Weak: zucchini, squash, turnips, pumpkin (light colors), sweet and sour apples, bananas, almonds, white currants, gooseberries, prunes, plums, watermelon, lettuce, horse meat, lamb, etc.

Sometimes allergic reactions are caused not by the food product itself, but by various nutritional supplements: colours, flavourings, emulsifiers or preservatives. In addition, most people with food allergies react not only to food allergens, but also to other allergens, so Lately doctors great importance give development cross reactions between food and non-food allergens. Knowledge possible options cross-reactions ultimately help to create the right diet and thereby avoid the development of allergies.

5 Common Types of Food Allergies

Peanut

There has been a lot of talk about this lately. Peanut allergy is the most common food allergy, and probably one of the most dangerous. Anaphylactic shock can occur from the peanut itself or from peanut dust particles in those people who are hypersensitive.

These allergies are usually lifelong, not ones that can be outgrown, and they increase the likelihood that you will be allergic to other nuts such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews...

People with severe allergies should avoid anything containing peanuts, such as candy, cookies, and ice cream.

Dairy products, beef, lactose

Typical symptoms are respiratory (asthma, difficulty breathing, narrowing of the throat), gastrointestinal (heavy gas, diarrhea, vomiting) and dermatological (hives, rash). If you have a dairy allergy, beef protein sensitivity, or lactose intolerance, you need to be very careful when checking the ingredients in everyday foods.

There are the obvious ones - milk, ice cream, yogurt and cheese. Can also be hidden - bread, cereals, soups instant cooking, powdered breakfast drinks, margarine, meats, pancakes, cookies, muffin mixes and more.

Look beyond milk on the ingredient list to casein, whey powder, rennet, lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate, lactoglobulin, lactoferrin, lactulose, hydrolysates, and even things like cheese flavorings and artificial butter flavorings. So read the ingredients on the labels carefully.

Alternatives include soy products (milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, goat milk products), mocha formulas and other non-dairy liquids, Lact-AID or Dairy Ease milk, rice milk, almond milk.

Make sure you get enough calcium, it is important for the formation of bones and teeth in children and the maintenance of bone tissue as they age.

Shellfish

This type of allergy is not common in children early age, develops into at a young age and later. This is the most common allergy in adults; people do not “outgrow” it and do not lose sensitivity to it.

As soon as it appears, this means excluding gumbo shrimp, crab cakes and tasty little crayfish. Although, this rule is not for every day and shellfish are not staple foods like milk, eggs and wheat.

Usually people experience severe allergies for shrimp, crabs, lobsters, langoustines, crayfish. But allergies can extend to bivalves (clams, mussels, scallops, oysters) and other types of shellfish (squid, octopus).

Wheat Allergy (Gluten Intolerance) or AKA Celiac Disease

Wheat allergies are caused by wheat grains. Celiac disease is autoimmune disease, which affects the body’s ability to digest gluten (the proteins inside the grain).

People diagnosed with a wheat allergy have about a 20% chance of developing allergies to other grains. If you have Celiac disease, you should also avoid barley, rye and oats.

It is possible to outgrow a wheat allergy, however, those suffering from Celiac disease will have to eliminate wheat gluten from their diet for life.

Celiac disease can lead to severe malnutrition if misdiagnosed, as it will require lifestyle changes.

Be careful with baked goods, bread crumbs, cereals, grains, couscous. Wheat can also be found in various incarnations in beer, breaded foods, sausages, sauces, ice cream, salads and soups.

Eggs

Egg allergy is second only to cow's milk allergy in children, but many children outgrow it. The allergy occurs to the protein in the white part of the egg, but it is recommended to avoid all egg products, including eggs from other birds.

Ingredients to exclude are: albumin, egg, globulin, and any component starting with OVA-. Foods containing eggs: mayonnaise, meatloaf and meatballs, baked goods, salads, icing and meringues, marshmallows, custards and puddings, and some soups.

Symptoms of food allergies

Allergic reactions usually develop within a few minutes to two hours after eating. But for patients with severe allergies, simply touching or smelling food can trigger an allergic response.

Typical early symptoms include swelling and itching of the lips, mouth and/or throat.

Once in the digestive system, irritating foods can cause nausea, vomiting, intestinal colic and diarrhea.

Itching, hives, eczema and redness of the skin often begin.

In some patients, food can cause allergic rhinitis, which is characterized by a runny nose, cough and shallow breathing.

Sometimes a delayed allergic reaction may occur, ranging from several hours to two days after the allergen is ingested. Compared to the immediate response, symptoms of a delayed allergic reaction are less severe and may include eczema, hives, and asthma.

Anaphylactic shock is a rare but life-threatening condition in which several organs and systems of the body are affected by an allergic reaction. Symptoms include intense itching, hives, sweating, swelling of the pharyngeal mucosa, difficulty breathing and decreased arterial pressure. If this condition is not treated quickly and correctly, it can progress rapidly, leading to loss of consciousness or even death.

Allergy treatment

An allergic condition has set in. What to do? Firstly, it is necessary to immediately stop contact with the allergen and immediately give the patient antihistamine antiallergic drugs - Zyrtec, Telffast, Tavegil, Suprastin, etc. - the list of drugs is very long. Secondly, it is necessary to alleviate the manifestations of local symptoms, for example, with skin itching lubricate these areas with salicylic alcohol or another alcohol tincture. If you want to urgent Care, for example during the development anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema, then in addition to calling an ambulance, it is necessary to ensure maximum air access to the lungs before its arrival. You should not use various products with a strong odor, which can only increase bronchospasm. The ideal would be to immediately give an injection of adrenaline, which can help hold on until the ambulance arrives (in fact, this is what they will do first, along with intravenous administration prednisolone).

Allergy remedies

Allergy medications are divided into three generations. First generation products have been known for quite some time. These are Diphenhydramine, Tavegil, Diazolin, etc. Unfortunately, they have relatively low efficiency, and most importantly they cause side effects: dry mouth, drowsiness and slow reactions. Therefore, if you plan to drive a car, you should not take these drugs!

Antihistamines of the second (Zyrtec, Claritin, etc.) and third (Erius, Telfast) generations no longer cause such an effect.

Calcium is also prescribed to treat allergies to reduce the level of histamines and increase vascular tone, hormonal drugs (corticosteroids). Diuretics and various sorbents may be prescribed ( Activated carbon, polyphepan, enterosorbent, etc.).

And don’t forget about the liver, any allergy is a consequence of a violation metabolic processes in the liver.

If you are at risk (i.e. if you have a family history of allergies), be vigilant about how your body reacts to any new food. When trying an unknown food, start with a small portion or avoid it altogether, especially if you are far from home and civilization.

You must be well aware of what you are eating. Read the labels on the products you buy. If something you typically buy is advertised as “new” or “improved,” double-check the label.

Eat only fresh foods. Avoid eating dried, canned or processed foods.

Introduce new foods to your child's menu gradually, especially if you and your husband both suffer from allergies.

Each time you feed your baby something new, give him a very small portion and increase it gradually.

If you have ever been diagnosed with a food allergy, the only effective method to overcome it, identify the irritating agent and avoid it. Following a strict diet helps many people recover from food allergies. One study found that after 1-2 years of diligent compliance hypoallergenic diet approximately one-third of older children and adults are no longer sensitive to offending foods. But allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish can often be lifelong.

Food allergies and intolerances may disappear as mysteriously as they appeared, but in the future you should avoid the food that was causing you problems. If you are allergic to cow's milk, try switching to goat's milk and cheese, or try soy products.

If you are allergic to wheat, switch to rice bread and make sure you eat enough starch. To do this, you need to eat more rice, barley and other grains.

Don't forget that wheat and milk powder are present in many canned foods, so read labels carefully.

The risk of dying from an allergic reaction increases if you have asthma. If this is the case, you should always have a dose of epinephrine (adrenaline) on hand to take quickly if an allergic reaction occurs. You should know in what cases and how epinephrine is injected. Taking antihistamine tablets sometimes helps, but using epinephrine may be life-saving.

An allergist will be able to diagnose accurate diagnosis based on an analysis of your medical history, an objective examination and laboratory tests.

Our century is unfortunately different from the previous one bad ecology and poor quality food. Many products contain artificial colors, flavor enhancers, preservatives, sugar substitutes, etc.

It is not surprising that young children often begin to suffer from various diseases. Allergies take first place in this ranking. Statistics show that out of five children, two suffer from this disease.

A child's immune system can respond to almost any food product with an allergic reaction. The symptoms are as follows: the child’s body and face are covered with a rash, which is accompanied by severe peeling and redness of the skin. Very often, a frivolous attitude towards allergies allows it to develop into a rather serious disease, for example.

Up to 6 months, an infant’s body can react with allergies to various foods. From the first days of life until one year, many food products for children are allergens, but this does not mean that they will remain allergens for the child in the future. The only thing that is well tolerated is breast milk and special infant formula. This only indicates that the child’s digestive system is not yet mature enough and does not produce the necessary enzymes to digest certain foods.

When a product enters the body, containing in its composition something that is not yet known for the child’s digestion, and the amount of enzymes that is available cannot cope with digestion. A large release of immunoglobulin (IgE) occurs in the body, then those external symptoms appear that we already see and understand that the child is allergic to something. But this only happens with products containing strong allergens, and there are those that contain them, but in small quantities, then at first it is not even noticeable that the child has an allergy. The mother continues to feed her child and herself foods with slow-acting allergens and has no idea what harm they cause. Therefore, children's allergens need to be known almost by heart, this will help preserve the baby's health.

Feeding a child with breast milk is very beneficial, but some allergens of children under one year old can enter the child’s body along with it, so it is also important for the mother to adhere to a diet and exclude from her diet anything that can intensify the illness in her child.

As for transferring the child to solid foods, more mature ones, you need to start feeding with hypoallergenic food for children, these include oatmeal, cabbage, pumpkin, apples, and others. Then we periodically add new products to the feeding, only in small portions, monitoring the reaction of the child’s body, but this should be done in parallel with the maturation of the enzymatic system.

Allergic reaction to infant formula

You need to know allergens for children; for this you need to carefully study them in the lists given below and then create a menu for your baby.

Allergens for children can be strong, which provoke allergies, and weak. You need to know the strong ones and pay special attention to them when feeding your baby.

Strong allergens in food for children:

1. Dairy products and milk. The highest percentage of allergies among other products. It's all about protein; it is difficult for a small, immature body to digest.
2. . Especially chicken ones. The allergen is egg white.
3. Fish. Fish caviar and all seafood. Canned fish.
4. Meat. Allergies are caused by very fatty meats.
5. . The most dangerous among them are red.
6. Fruits and vegetables. Those that are red are dangerous.
7. . All orange-colored fruits and fruits of exotic origin are at increased risk.
8. Nuts. Everything except walnuts.
9. Semolina and...
10. Coffee. Chocolate, cocoa, coffee.
11. Confectionery.
12. Products containing preservatives, artificial flavors and colors.

List of allergenic foods for children with varying degrees of activity:

Increased activity:

• dairy products, eggs, meat products (chicken);
• different types of fish;
• bush berries, black currants;
• pineapples, melons, grapes, all citrus fruits;
• pomegranate, cocoa, honey, nuts, mushrooms;
• red vegetables, carrots, celery, rye, wheat.

Average activity:

• turkey, pork and rabbit meat;
• , all legumes, green peppers;
• peach, apricot, banana, pear, red currant, cranberry;
• rice, corn grits.

Low activity:

• lamb meat, beef;
• squash, zucchini, radish, green cucumbers, cabbage;
• green and yellow apple, plum;
• white cherries, white currants, watermelons;
• pumpkins are not dark in color;
• almond.

Here are some food allergens that pose a high risk for children. It is important to remember them and give them to your child with caution, or avoid them altogether.

Products that cause allergies

Sometimes even mildly allergenic foods can cause a rash if the child eats them in excessive quantities. It is necessary to establish a measure and observe it during feeding.

Laboratory study of allergens

Laboratory studies have shown that the list of allergens for children does not end with food products. There are also other types:

household, pollen, fungal and epidermal allergens.

Household:

• , dogs, horse, cow;
• parrot, canary;
• cockroaches, ;
• house dust, pillow, blanket;
• household chemicals.

Pet hair

Pollen:

• ragweed, wormwood, hay, nettle, quinoa;
• poplar, white acacia;
• plant fluff;
• wheat.

Fungal:

• echinococcus;
• schistosome;
• roundworm

Epidermal:

• synthetic fibers.

Among this list, household and pollen are strong allergens for children. They most often cause an allergic reaction.

Threats to the health and well-being of a child arise from various sources. Allergenic foods also cause many problems. Out of ignorance or simply due to inattention, parents do not take this into account. As a result, an allergic reaction develops, the elimination of which is sometimes quite a difficult task. There are many foods that can potentially cause allergies. You should at least look at the most allergenic foods for children in order to exclude them from the diet.

Why foods cause allergies in children

To decide on an allergenic food, you will first have to understand how it affects children's body. The main mechanism of allergies is an inadequate response of the immune system to certain pathogens. Normal if the child is infancy received a sufficient amount of breast milk and developed correctly, an allergic reaction is unlikely. Or at least it will disappear with age, because the digestive system will “ripen”.

But in situations where the baby did not receive breast milk in the required volume, or the mother did not eat correctly during the feeding period, there is a tendency to be allergic to certain foods. It also occurs if the child is switched to artificial formula too early. And, of course, one cannot ignore the factor of heredity. The functioning of the immune system also depends on it.

What foods are the most allergenic for children?

We now understand how allergies arise. And you can begin to consider the products for which it appears especially often. Each of these products can be given to children. But this must be done with caution and in small quantities. What foods are the most allergenic? The main ones are presented below.

The most allergenic foods

If you wish, you can divide all products that threaten children with allergies into several categories. Let's start with the most popular foods that are included in the daily diet.

1. Cow's milk. Proper milk itself does not harm children. But this drink (or product) contains protein, which the body of preschool children has difficulty digesting. What then can we say about children who are not yet 2-3 years old?
2. Fish, primarily sea fish, and seafood. This is a product that the ancestors of most compatriots were not aware of. That is, he is “alien.” Of course, unless many generations of your relatives lived near the sea. It is better not to give such an allergenic product to a child until he is approximately one year old.
3. Any eggs. It doesn’t matter whether eggs are chicken or quail, eggs can still cause allergies if the child is less than one and a half years old. The reason here is the same as in the case of cow's milk.
4. Chicken meat. In principle, almost any meat is allergenic for children. But chicken in in this case especially dangerous. Even when the child is two years old, chicken must still be introduced carefully. The skin, which is the most allergenic “part,” must be removed from it.
5. Mushrooms. Another product containing a large amount of protein, albeit vegetable. Mushrooms, in addition, are difficult for children to digest. This means that you will have to stop using them. Moreover, doctors recommend not giving this allergenic product to children before school age.
6. Nuts. Not all, but mostly peanuts. The same problem is an excess of protein, which the child’s body is unable to break down and absorb.

It turns out that all the main products can be called allergenic. This does not mean that they should be abandoned completely. But it is important to add them to your child’s menu carefully. Then the allergenicity of this food will not be as pronounced as it could be.

The most allergenic fruits and vegetables

Parents try to include vegetables and fruits in their child's diet, as they contain many vitamins. Only here you should be careful. There are an incredible amount of fruits, vegetables and berries that threaten an allergic reaction. It’s easier not to list them, but to identify them common feature. This is red. Products in this category, which have a red tint, are mostly allergenic.

But there remains a wide range of alternatives - many other fruits and vegetables. Green apples, yellow pears, and white zucchini will not harm your baby's health. This is the set you need to start with. But carrots, red apples, currants - it’s better to wait with them. And from fruits it is necessary to exclude any citrus fruits. There is no need to give them to your child, at least until he is three or four years old.

The most allergenic desserts for children

Almost all sweets can cause allergies. But the risk can be reduced if you give your child under three years of age marshmallows or natural marmalade. Again, these products must be natural. If they contain foreign dyes or flavors, the product already becomes allergenic. Chocolate should not be given until the child is 3 years old. Moreover, before adolescence It is better to give only delicate milk chocolate, but not black and white.

Honey for children: allergenic or not?

Under no circumstances should children under three years of age be given honey. Yes, porridge and other dishes will taste better with this product. But the danger of allergies, which will then haunt the child for quite a long time, is incredibly high. Actually, an allergic reaction occurs not to honey itself, but to pollen. But the essence does not change: you should stop drinking honey.

When you decide to introduce it into your child’s diet, you will first have to add only minimal portions. We're not talking about a teaspoon, but literally just one drop!

If the allergenic product does harm the child

No matter how closely parents monitor their children’s diet, allergies can occur. What to do then? The following remedies will help neutralize the harm from allergenic products:

• taking absorbents: the simplest is activated carbon, 2–4 tablets at a time;
• taking antihistamines: you should always keep a couple of antihistamines for children in your first aid kit at hand;
• enema: this is a last resort if you urgently need help and there is no doctor nearby.

All this seems very dangerous only at first glance. But Komarovsky claims that parents themselves are primarily to blame for the formation of food allergies. How does he explain this? If you want to know the answer, watch the video. Madame Georgette, in turn, says goodbye to you for now... There will be a lot more interesting things here soon.