Halting the Alarming Rise in Food Allergies

I am a mother of a child who was breastfed for the first year of his life, does not eat genetically engineered food (as much as I can help), I cook him as much natural and organic food as possible. Yet he definitely has a dairy allergy and is sensitive to many other items (wheat, eggs, nuts, soy, etc.). A "restriction" diet cleared his exzema and made him a much more compliant child. Why does he have these allergies?

I am a mother who breastfed for one-year , who cooks all of her child's food and who uses as much natural and organic foods as possible....Yet, my son is allergic to dairy, and it seems many other common allergens as well. A trial "restriction" diet cleared up his exzema and made him a much more compliant child. I thought that I tried to do it all "right" but he still has allergies. I am desperately seeking answers and possible cures.

I believe there are many factors contributing to increased food allergies - the hygiene hypothesis, "frankenfoods", surgical births, and global food sources. I also believe there is a link between incerased food allergies and decreased breastfeeding. It seems the baby is getting a "taste" of all of the food that a mother consumes during this time to help her or him prepare for real food. It is time as a nation to encourage breastfeeding. It is natural and free and the benefits for both mother and child far outweigh the convenience of formula feeding.

I am also very concerned about food allergies. My family lives in a very small town - population 562. Lots of dogs, cats, horses, sheep, etc. around town. And many mothers who nursed their children. There are no known food allergies in our school (62 kids total). It sounds like we should consider ourselves lucky. I believe that there are many contributing factors to the increase in food allergies - hygiene hypothesis, "frankenfoods", cesearian birth, global food sources. I also believe there is a link between decreased breastfeeding and increasing food allergies. This factor was not mentioned in your article. As a nation we need to encourage breastfeeding. It is natural and free and has benefits for the mother and child that far outweigh the convenience of formula feeding.