Peanut allergies have increased by over 350% in the last 20 years. It’s the most common cause of fatality due to food-induced anaphylaxis. (1)

Other food allergies are also massively on the rise. Recent statistics show that 10% of children under one have a proven food allergy (2). These stats don’t even include all those suffering from food intolerances and their related health conditions of eczema, asthma, behavioural and digestive disorders.

There are many theories regarding this rise, from poor gut health, the Standard Australian/American diet (SAD), genetically modified foods (GMO’s), chemical toxins and even vaccines. But everybody is in agreement on one thing: 

Up until about 50 years ago, allergies were RARE, and now they are RAMPANT.

While the rise in allergies is very concerning, as a parent there is a level of comfort here. These stats tell me we can’t blame genes entirely and that we‘re powerless to do anything. Genetics don’t work that way or evolve that quickly. 

It does suggest that external factors such as diet, the environment and lifestyle choices can have an influential role to play on whether your child has an allergy and if they can reverse it.

PEANUT ALLERGIES REVERSED, USING PROBIOTIC TREATMENT (STUDY)

In a fascinating study, researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute have been able to drastically reduce allergic responses to peanuts by administering probiotic therapy. 

Over 60 peanut-allergic children in the study were either given a dose of a probiotic, (Lactobacillus rhamnosus), together with peanut protein in increasing amounts, or a placebo over 18 months to assess whether children would become tolerant to peanut.

A fixed daily dose of probiotic was used while the peanut oral immunotherapy included a daily dose of peanut protein starting at very low doses and increasing every 2 weeks (capped at 2 grams of peanut protein). 

At the end of the treatment, a peanut challenge was conducted on all the children two to five weeks after stopping the treatment. 

Incredibly, researchers found over 80% of children who received the oral immunotherapy treatment using the probiotic strain were able to tolerate peanut at the end of the trial, compared to less than 4% of the placebo group. 

This is 20 times higher than the natural rate of resolution for peanut allergy. WOW!

23 of 28 (82.1%) probiotic treated children and one of 28 (3.6%) placebo-treated children were able to include peanut in their diet at the end of the trial. 

In summary, the likelihood of success was high – if nine children were given probiotic and peanut therapy, seven would benefit.

By supporting the immune system and building up the gut health of allergy children, there seems to be a higher chance for the immune system to produce protective responses to peanut protein, rather than developing a harmful response.