Speaking of peanuts…
Recent research has found that regular consumption of nut products during pregnancy raises the odds of your child having asthma symptoms by nearly 50 percent.
About 4 percent of American children have food allergies, and roughly 3 million people in the U.S. are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts. It’s already recommended that children under 3 not be given nuts or nut products, because their immune systems are still developing and may be more susceptible to allergens.
Daily consumption of nut products increases the odds that a child will have wheezing by 42 percent, shortness of breath by 58 percent, and steroid use to ease asthma symptoms by 62 percent.
Overall, the odds of developing asthma symptoms for a child whose mother ate nuts daily are 47 percent higher.
Sources:
* U.S. News and World Report July 15, 2008
* American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine July 15, 2008; 178(2):113-4
