The Buzz on Allergies

By Melissa Bosslet, RD, LN, CPT

Time Magazine published an article last week on allergies, specifically food allergies. Many of you have probably noticed the increase in allergies over the last generation. We never worried about sending our kids to school with a good old PB & J before and we definitely expected a pack of peanuts during air travel. These days there are peanut free zones in planes and some school classrooms have outright banned peanuts.

The article discusses an increase in IgE antibody allergies. These are the allergies that create a histamine response, or pose a threat of anaphylactic shock. There has also been a rise in the harder to diagnose IgG antibodies, creating a delayed response. Symptoms such as headache, frequent infection, stomach pain, sinuses, and joint pain often do not surface for 24 to 48 hours later, making it hard to realize that a food was the culprit. These antibodies are a reaction of the digestive system compared to an immune reaction of the IgE antibodies. EB Nutrition tests for these antibodies through ImmunoLabs. The test panel checks for antibodies for 115 foods. Bercause 95% of the population is sensitive or intolerant to atleast one food or food family, Immunolabs will refund the test cost if the results are completetly negative. The most common allergens I've noticed with this panel are yeast, wheat, cow's milk, soy, nuts, and garlic.

Why the increase in allergies recently? There are a few speculative hypotheses. The most probable explanation is termed the hygiene hypothesis. We have become too clean. We treat conditions with antibiotics, prevent disease with immunization, kill germs with antmicrobial soap, etc. Our bodies end up producing antibodies for food instead because it has no foreign invaders to attack.

Another hypothesis points the finger at early exposure to certain foods, even in utero or through breast milk. On the other hand, one study showed that children who ate wheat, one of the most common allergens, before 6 months of age were less likely to develop an allergy. There is also argument for both sides of the birth process - C sections cause more allergies vs. vaginal births see an increase in allergies. Other researchers believe that an increase consumption of vegetable oils has led to more allergies.

Personally, I side with the hygeine hypothesis but think our food supply also has a lot to do with it. Our food is a lot more processed and chemically treated these days, so allergic reactions are the body's way of defending against those foreign substances. I also think that a lof of these allergies existed in previous generations and just went undiagnosed. We now have the technology to determine why our stomach might hurt after eating pasta or why we have chronic sinus infections. This hypothesis corresponds to the increase diagnosis of Celiac's disease in the last few years.