Children have runny noses, sneezing, itchy skin during the season change... Nutritionists teach you 3 ways to avoid allergies

When the seasons change, parents worry most about their children starting to have a runny nose, sneeze, or itchy skin all over their body. These are all common allergy symptoms. According to surveys, 20% of Taiwanese people have allergy problems, especially among elementary school students and below, where the allergy rate is even more serious, reaching 60%. How can parents prevent their children from having recurring allergies? Nutritionists say that a two-pronged approach to reducing discomfort is to adjust physical condition through diet, moderately supplement with probiotics and Omege-3 fatty acids, and reduce environmental allergens.

When the seasons change, parents worry most about their children starting to have a runny nose, sneeze, or itchy skin all over their body. These are common allergy symptoms.

Reasons for recurrent allergic reactions in children with allergies: constitution, diet and environment are the key

●Immune system imbalance, excessive IgE antibodies in the body are the key culprit

Allergy and immunity are inseparable. Immune cells can kill bacteria and viruses, but allergies are also caused by immune cells. The allergic mechanism is mainly triggered by the secretion of IgE stimulated by specific immune cells (Th2 cells and B cells). When the human body produces excessive IgE, it will promote the release of histamine, leading to allergic phenomena such as itching. The human body's immune state requires balance, and some people's immune mechanisms are prone to allergic reactions, which is also the so-called allergy phenomenon.

Adjust your body constitution through diet and reduce the production of IgE by immune cells

● Reduce intake of allergenic foods

Nutritionist Lin Shihang said that there are hundreds of allergens, and each person's sensitivity or degree of allergy to food is different. Therefore, when we know what our allergens are, for example, some people will have severe allergies after eating peanuts, and some people will have itching all over their body after eating eggs. At this time, we must know that these foods may be our allergens, and we must reduce the intake of these foods in our diet to avoid allergies.

●Supplement sufficient dietary fiber to create a good intestinal environment

In terms of various nutrients, the first thing to pay attention to is to get enough dietary fiber. Studies have shown that the flora and immune system in the intestines affect the overall condition of the body, and the food for probiotics is dietary fiber, so taking in enough dietary fiber is the first priority to create a good intestinal environment.

In addition, studies have also found that after utilizing dietary fiber, intestinal bacteria can ferment and produce short-chain fatty acids to repair the intestines and reduce intestinal leakage. This can prevent allergens in the diet or bad bacteria from entering the body directly through the intestinal bacteria, which is an important key to reducing atopic dermatitis.

However, according to current surveys, our dietary fiber intake is only half of the recommended intake. Therefore, nutritionist Lin Shihang recommends that we consume enough vegetables and choose whole grains as starch every day to help supplement dietary fiber.

Fish oil is rich in DHA and EPA. These fats are metabolized in the body into prostaglandins and leukotrienes that have specific anti-inflammatory and allergy-reducing effects, helping to relieve discomfort.

●Supplement probiotics and omege-3 fatty acids to relieve discomfort

In addition to diet, supplements can also help improve allergy problems. Probiotics are the key to intestinal health, and there are many strains that have allergy regulating effects, such as Lactobacillus paracasei, etc. These strains can also be seen in health foods or drinks. In addition, fish oil is rich in DHA and EPA. These fats are metabolized in the body into prostaglandins and leukotrienes that have specific anti-inflammatory and allergy-reducing effects, helping to relieve discomfort.

Take good care of the environment, choose the right clothes, and reduce external threats to the body

1. Reduce environmental allergens

In addition to adjusting your physical condition through diet, you should also avoid the threats posed by environmental allergens to the human body. According to surveys, a high proportion of Taiwanese people are allergic to dust mites and mold. Therefore, attention should be paid to the cleanliness and dryness of the environment to avoid allergies caused by dust mites and mold.

2. Choose clothing materials carefully

Choosing natural skin-friendly materials, such as Tencel and zinc oxide, can help us fight allergies. It’s easy for us to pay attention to keeping our environment clean or avoiding dietary allergies, but clothing is something we are most likely to overlook. Dermatologists recommend using cotton and silk as the main materials, and avoiding nylon, polyethylene, large-diameter rough wool and other materials, because these materials are easy to rub and irritate the skin. In addition, you can also choose medical-grade level 4 zinc oxide functional fabrics, which are antibacterial and can reduce skin irritation caused by bacterial growth on clothing. Clothes are like a person’s second skin. Regardless of whether you have congenitally sensitive skin, problematic skin, or acquired allergies due to physical constitution or seasonal changes, you should pay special attention to your underwear.