Updated Guidelines Call for Introduction of Peanuts During Infancy to Reduce Risk of Allergy

By Dr. Mercola While nuts generally receive top marks for being a healthy addition to your diet, there are a few factors to consider. Peanuts — which despite the name are not actually a nut but a legume — are among the most allergenic of foods. In 1999, less than 0.5 percent of American children had a peanut allergy. A decade later, that number had risen to 2 percent. This despite the fact that during that time, parents were warned to avoid all peanut products before the age of 3. Clearly, the advice was not having an impact. The avoidance recommendation has been further challenged by a number of recent studies. Research actually suggests that exposing children to peanuts early on can help reduce their risk of developing an allergy, while strict avoidance actually heightens the risk. Moreover, giving trace amounts of peanuts to children with peanut allergy has been shown to de-sensitize their immune systems and boost their tolerance over time. Naturally, if your child has a known
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