Preventing Allergies and Asthma with Diet

Why are nasal allergies and asthma so uncommon in children in Crete – even though genetic susceptibility to these conditions is moderately high? Researchers at the National Heart and Lung Institute in the UK did a detailed analysis of the children there, aged 7 to 18 years, and found some very exciting results that will be published soon in the journal Thorax. Unlike in America, 80 percent of the children in this study ate fresh fruit at least twice a day. And 68 percent ate vegetables at least twice a day. And those who did enjoyed clear benefits. For those in the study, eating grapes, apples, oranges, and fresh tomatoes (the main local produce in Crete) all appeared to be protective against both wheezing and hay fever symptoms. Eating nuts also appeared helpful, cutting the odds of asthma symptoms in half! On the flip side, eating trans fats, such as margarine, every week more than doubled the chance of experiencing asthma symptoms and more than doubled than chance of experiencing seasonal allergies! Overall, those who stuck closest to a traditional Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of symptoms of asthma, eczema, and seasonal allergies.

Asthma has skyrocketed in the last twenty years in many developed countries. This change has paralleled the move away from natural, fresh meals to fast foods with chemically altered ingredients. Intake of many protective nutrients found in foods has been falling, leaving kids more vulnerable to unhealthy exposures. Meanwhile, intake of processed foods has soared.

When taken together with earlier studies, it’s very motivating to help our kids learn to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables and nuts. Even once or twice a week appears to be significantly protective, compared to less often. And of course, getting the recommended daily amounts is even better. Meanwhile, let’s wean our kids off trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, chemical dyes, and other ingredients that do nothing to help them thrive.

Alan Greene MD FAAP