Peanut Talk: You Should Actually Feed Your Infant Peanuts

Peanuts are proving everyone wrong as new study suggests that infants actually require them at a young age to fight off allergies.

Parents have consistently been told to not feed peanuts to their children before the age of three. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warned about peanut consumption in 2000 and stated that infants could develop deadly allergies at such a young age. In a complete turn of events, that rule has now experienced a 180º and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is now recommending that children under the age of three are fed peanuts. Another day. Another science discrepancy.

So, why is this?

Well, since the AAP came out with these guidelines to avoid deadly allergies, we’ve actually seen a heavy increase in peanut allergies in this country, quadrupling from 0.4% in 1997 to 1.4% in 2008. It’s now considered the leading cause of food-related anaphylaxis, though numerous factors could play a role. But then the New England Journal of Medicine published a study that countered the AAP’s argument completely, stressing that peanuts might not be so bad after all.

This trial evaluated 600 infants after exposure to peanuts at different times. The study concluded that early exposure to peanuts actually made the child more resistant to peanut allergies, to the tune of an 81% reduction.  So, feeding your infant peanuts isn’t as bad as we once thought. In fact, it’s helpful. However, the guidelines do depend on the child’s risk group and have specific recommendations for how peanuts are introduced based on group.

These results and guidelines will now appear as an addendum in the 2010 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States.

Next: Congress Focuses On “Fake” Milk Instead Of Fake News

As always, consult your child’s pediatrician before making drastic changes in their diet. Also make sure to keep your eye out for news like this to better their immune system and well being!