Why are more people developing allergies to common foods and insect stings?

Answer 1

People are developing allergies to common foods and insects bites, due to several contributing factors.
First of all, many foods which we eat are no longer grown the good old fashioned way. Agriculturists have come up with ways to grow foods quickly and to look more appealing by changing the genetic codes in fruits and vegetables and by injecting hormones into meats. The end result is that our bodies have to evolve with these changes and basically when anything new enters our system our body's natural defense is to fight it off--hence the allergies.
Also you have to remember that many of our immunizations that receive are derived from various plants and animals, as well as live cultures. Anything that is genetically altered has to go through an evolutionary or adaptation stage. which in essence means that our bodies have to go through changes and reactions in order to accept these alterations to nature. Because these changes come so quickly, our bodies are not given time to adjust to one change before a new one is made available. Therefore, our systems are thrown into a state of confusion and allergies are a way for our bodies to 'warn' us to avoid certain foods.
In the case of insect bites the "allergies" that you refer to have always been around. It is the body's natural reaction to the insects poison entering our system by either the initial sting of the insect or when we physically move these poisons through our system by scratching or irritating the site where we were bitten.

Answer 2

Simply put, we don't/can't modify/change our physical make up as quickly as insects, we are much more complex. Fact is, we introduce all manner of chemicals into our food chain in order to make better, bigger, longer lasting products - like chicken or pork, or apples, or wheat, etc - we continue to eat the food but it takes time for us to assimilate these new introductions. A few years ago a chemical - I forget the name - was added to chips so we would not absorb unwanted fat from the cooking oil. Soon after it was introduced to us chip eaters, the medical ppl said that same chemical was also blocking the absorption of needed vitamins and minerals. They discontinued it's use.

I think insects have merely adapted to their world, which we try to control by using "new" insecticides. They have "learned" to protect themselves and are simply doing what all live organisms do, survive. The same can be said about germs in general, they are much better at adapting to an introduced threat than we are. The result is more allergies and over-sensitivity.

Answer 3

The underlying reason that has not been posted is at an immunological level. The antibody that mediates an allergic reaction is IgE. In less sanitary conditions that antibody is made for attacking parasites that can enter the body...and will generally keep itself busy battling parasites and never get around to attacking substances known as "allergens." Therefore, because most people do not live in conditions to get parasites, IgE is left floating around our bodies without something it is supposed to attack. IgE then binds to molecules from our food or insects and mounts an immune response to it, which becomes known as an allergy. Every time thereafter the IgE molecules will "remember" the type of food or insect venom and continue to attack it.

Answer 4

Because we are all to clean. Small children need exposing to normal everday dirt to build up a good immune system. My Gran used to say "a dirty child is a healthy child". My four, very healthy kids, now adults were allowed to play and get mucky and none of them has allergies. I also think the fact that we are bombarded with chemicals such as pesticides on our veggies and antibiotics in our meat might have a lot to do with it, people are probably more allergic to these than the actual food.

Answer 5

One theory is that you develop allergies to anything you're not exposed to in the first 18 months of life. Young children have such a sheltered upbringing these days that their immune systems don't get the opportunity to work properly.

Answer 6

Because everything's so friggin' clean. Children have the best immune systems in the world, but they're not being activated or taught anything because everything's so friggin' clean.

I used to roll around in dirt back in Ireland. I lived next to miles and miles of fields. I used to get stung by all sorts of bushes and plants, bitten by all sorts of animals, and eat all manner of mud and dirt. I am now allergic to NOTHING.

Answer 7

Humans do not develop like animals.
We do not have survival of the fittest.
Therefore, people who should die, now live and pass on lesser genes.
Survival of the weakest will lead to weaker humans.
Harsh I know, but, it is true !

Answer 8

Because as kids, we were able to play in the dirt and build up our immune systems. Nowadays, babies are wrapped in cotton wool until university.

Answer 9

Because we live in a 'molly-coddled' world with no exposure to all the things kids used to exposed to.

Answer 10

Took the words right out of my mouth, daisychain