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why is there so many food allergies these days?
when I was growing up, peanuts were never thought of allergic reactions.

Is it the pollution in the air?
Indoor lighting?
hormons in milk?
fast food?

what is causing this?

2007-10-22 05:52:09 · 10 answers · asked by Philip Augustus 3 in Health Diseases & Conditions Allergies

10 answers

There are a lot of theories, but nobody knows for sure. (Yet, I hope)

The 'hygiene theory' makes a certain amount of sense on the surface.
So does the idea that we've become much more aware, and are diagnosing faster and earlier than previously.

As tests become more sophisticated, results can be positive when before they'd have been borderline or straight-out negative.

Children are being introduced to a larger variety of foods at earlier ages, which can result in sensitivity. Processed foods are becoming increasingly complex; how many people growing up in the 70's or even 80's ate bread that contained soy flour? Once you try reading labels for a food allergy or two you begin to realize how incredibly widespread the use of common allergens is.

A lot of theories. The difficulty is that one, more than one, all, or none of them may be correct.

2007-10-23 11:11:39 · answer #1 · answered by Mom of Three 2 · 0 0

It's mysterious government testing. Dun dun dun!

*shrug* I really don't know. Though allergies are much more common in America, which is weird. I lived in Virginia for about a year and a half when I was a kid... a year into it, I got really sick and was diagnosed with asthma. Then we moved away from Virginia and I never had anything remotely asthma-like ever again. So...

Allergies are ****. I think so many things are attributed to allergies that really shouldn't be.

Also, since I stopped eating meat (which I did for ethical/moral reasons, not for health reasons) about 4 years ago, I've only been sick (more than a slight sniffle that didn't even last a day) once. Before that, I was sick (bad colds/flus) a couple times a year at least. So... not conclusive by any means, but coincidental, all the same.

2007-10-22 06:07:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Allergies have always been around. They are just more recognized now. I hear old people talking about all kinds of problems that they had as kids. But back then (30s, 40s, 50s) the parents put up with less "nonsense" and the kids just kind of had to keep it to themselves. I am sure that lack of understanding of allergies is part of how some old wives tales got started and contributed to the rate of babies and young kids dieing unexpectedly. I think that maybe food allergies get worse with time as people try to immunize themselves to the world. Kind of like how using too many antibiotics or antibacterial soaps can make some germs stronger. Maybe too much carefully processing the foods and selecting the fabrics we are exposed to is making us more sensitive to seemingly harmless foods.

2016-05-24 04:23:48 · answer #3 · answered by velda 3 · 0 0

Some doctors say it's because we're too clean. They call it the "hygiene theory." We've made tremendous advances over the past few years with combating infectious diseases, parasites, antibiotics, etc that our immune systems are left to sit around and twiddle their thumbs. When something interesting like a peanut protein comes along our immune systems says, "Hey this looks interesting and different! Let's attack!"

Of course this is a very over-simplified explanation but you get the drift. The fact is--more underdeveloped countries don't have as many allergies as we do.

2007-10-22 06:06:40 · answer #4 · answered by amandaLVT 1 · 1 0

why is there so many food allergies these days?
Shhh it happens=)


when I was growing up, peanuts were never thought of allergic reactions.

Whoooo-hooooooo (nicely)

Is it the pollution in the air?

People love trashing the earth...


Indoor lighting?

Do you need light?


hormons in milk?

Drink soy...


fast food?

its not healthy...But, people love to be unhealthy..

what is causing this?

Peoples mentality

2007-10-22 06:03:00 · answer #5 · answered by Unbreakable Me 5 · 0 0

I think its the additives that are in our food. Look at the label on the products at the supermarkets? Certain additives affect people differently.

Recently I was taking a dietary supplement fruit juice ( not from the supermarket), a few weeks into it, I started getting an allergic reaction. A big red rash on my neck, I aged 20 years, eyes puffy and feeling drugged out.

I stopped taking the juice, feeling much better, my skin is improving.

When I shop for food now, I look whats in the product. Is it safe for my family. Whats in it?

2007-10-22 14:17:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I don't know the answer but i just wanted to say that, I never knew about allergies this and that till I moved to America. I was sick once in the whole ten years overseas. And here I am sick so often.

2007-10-22 05:58:08 · answer #7 · answered by Island Girl 5 · 0 0

The reason to my understanding is the genetic engineering . there are now especially in Europe organizations who are fighting the American genetically altered products for the reasons you stated . mostly allergic especially nuts . but there are fears that they may cause farther damage to the body more than we see now . that technology allows genes from different brands of the same product or may be from a different specie to replace genes in the essential product. the purpose is to have a product that fight disease and produce plenty .

2007-10-22 06:08:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I think its a combo of things:
More education on behalf of docs (Celiac Disease is now a recognized disease and is now known to be more common than thought just 10 years ago)
Bad diets on behalf of americans
too much chemicals, trans fats, etc in our foods
Too many antibiotics, meds, vaccinations pumped into our bodies
Genetic misfortunes
Bad luck of the draw!

2007-10-22 06:51:02 · answer #9 · answered by Glutenfreegirl 5 · 0 0

its is bcoz of fast food

2007-10-22 05:56:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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