 |
||||
Moms-to-Be Fight Allergies, Asthma with Food You are what your eat, and according to new research, your unborn baby might be, too 
Apples and fish have long been lauded for their human health benefits, but a new study shows that women who consume both foods during pregnancy may reduce the risk of their child developing allergies or asthma in childhood. According to the SEATON study conducted at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, mothers who consumed the most apples were least likely to have a child who wheezed or was diagnosed with asthma. Similarly, the children of mothers who dined on fish multiple times each week were far less likely to develop allergic diseases prior to age 5. Dr. Saskia Willers, University of the Netherlands, says the beneficial effect of apples likely stems from a high concentration of flavonoids, a natural antioxidant found only in fruits and vegetables. The fish benefits are due to the omega-3 fatty acids, which other research has linked to protecting against heart disease and asthma. “Other studies have looked at individual nutrients’ effect on asthma in pregnancy, but our study looked at specific foods during pregnancy and the subsequent development of childhood asthma and allergies, which is quite new,” Willer says. “Foods contain mixtures of nutrients that may contribute more than the sum of their parts.” Mothers of 1,212 children completed questionnaires during their pregnancy and upon their child turning 5 years old, which asked questions about both the mother’s and child’s diet, respiratory health and allergies; children also were given lung function and allergy tests. The study found no in-utero protection against asthma or allergies from other foods, including vegetables, fruit juice, citrus fruits, kiwi, whole grains or dairy products. Willers says that her team’s research also concludes that a mother’s diet during pregnancy has more effect on these diseases than the child’s diet up to age 5.
|
||||
|
||||
