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On the allergy thing, I saw a study that said farm kids didn't get allergies because they grew up with lots of dirt and exposed to all sorts of bugs and germs and molds. Today's kids, many of them, are raised in a sterile environment. It could just be that children's immune systems are no longer challenged to develop.
Yes, and this recent study shows that peanut allergies in kids can often be cured by giving them controlled, gradually increasing doses of... wait for it, wait... peanut flour ... seems to indicate that kids just aren't getting enough environmental challenges to fully develop their immune systems along healthy, normal lines.
As the old saying goes... I still use it whenever picking food off the floor and brushing it off before eating it... "Everybody has to eat a peck of dirt in their lifetime."
Possibly the percent of allergic people has not changed?
It's possible that the rate of allergy isn't increasing, but rather:
more people are being diagnosed
it is fashionable to be "allergic", people who just don't like peanuts overstate things
The way we process peanuts makes them more allergenic
Americans, Canadians and Brits self-report peanut allergies at a higher rate than other parts of the world. Coincidentally, we all roast peanuts, while in Asia (where reported allergy rates are lower) peanuts are predominantly boiled.
There were always people with peanut allergies. They just took responsibility for what they ate and didn't expect the entire world to be responsible for their safety.
On the allergy thing, I saw a study that said farm kids didn't get allergies because they grew up with lots of dirt and exposed to all sorts of bugs and germs and molds. Today's kids, many of them, are raised in a sterile environment. It could just be that children's immune systems are no longer challenged to develop.
Hmmm interesting and I want to add that most of our foods, meats in particuliar are filled with antibotics and I believe that might figure in as well
It's possible that the rate of allergy isn't increasing, but rather:
more people are being diagnosed
it is fashionable to be "allergic", people who just don't like peanuts overstate things
The way we process peanuts makes them more allergenic
Americans, Canadians and Brits self-report peanut allergies at a higher rate than other parts of the world. Coincidentally, we all roast peanuts, while in Asia (where reported allergy rates are lower) peanuts are predominantly boiled.
I take it you have never been in the south. A lot of boiled peanuts down there.
Wonder if it has anything to do with the fewer number of mothers who nursed their babies? Just a thought. My kids don't have allergies that I know of. They're grown...
Another reason is that in earlier years, a lot of those kids died before anyone knew what the problem was. Sad but true.
I agree. I had a student who almost died. He was always careful but there were peanuts in a sauce
and he always asked about any foods when he was out, they assured him there were no peanuts
and he ended up in the hospital ER.
There are also many people allergic to shell fish. My son is one of them. He was never fond of
shell fish but on occasion would have a few pieces of shrimp. Around the age of 12, his
throat would swell up and it only got worse as he got older. Why, I don't know.
There were always people with peanut allergies. They just took responsibility for what they ate and didn't expect the entire world to be responsible for their safety.
On the allergy thing, I saw a study that said farm kids didn't get allergies because they grew up with lots of dirt and exposed to all sorts of bugs and germs and molds. Today's kids, many of them, are raised in a sterile environment. It could just be that children's immune systems are no longer challenged to develop.
Bingo on both counts.
I think they used to have a different name for peanut allergies year ago... it was called "natural selection".
Wonder if it has anything to do with the fewer number of mothers who nursed their babies? Just a thought. My kids don't have allergies that I know of. They're grown...
I would be more inclined to think it's the drugs women are slamming into their faces while pregnant.
There's a drug for everything these days and if your drug isn't working fast enough, pile on another drug.
I don't recall a single child dying due to allergies from back when I was a kid. Mothers didn't take drugs for every little thing, kids played outside (yes, and ate dirt), and life was good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LLN
Another factor in the wussification of the US of A.
True, oh, so true!
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... seems to indicate that kids just aren't getting enough environmental challenges to fully develop their immune systems along healthy, normal lines. 
Possibly the percent of allergic people has not changed?
