Fruits and Veggies to Prevent Asthma and Allergies

• The prevalence of asthma is growing around the world; it is the most common chronic disease in children.
• The most comprehensive study of this kind ever undertaken, an international study of asthma and allergies in childhood, studying more than a million children in nearly a hundred countries.
• Increased consumption of plants in adolescents was associated with consistent decreases in symptoms of wheezing (current and severe), allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema.
• Allergies decreased with increasing intake of calories and protein from plant sources.
• In general, decreased consumption of fresh fruits, green vegetables, and other dietary sources of antioxidants was associated with an increase in asthma prevalence.
• Eggs and soda have been associated with increased risk of respiratory symptoms and asthma in schoolchildren, whereas consumptions of fruits were associated with reduced risk of respiratory symptoms.
• In only 8 weeks, removing eggs and dairy from the diet may improve lung function in asthmatic children.
• High vegetable intake has been found protective in children, reducing the odds of allergic asthma in half. And fruit showed a consistent protective association for current and severe wheeze and runny nose in adolescents, and for current and severe asthma, allergies, and eczema in children.
• The best approach is a combination of eating less processed and animal foods and more plant foods.
• Those with the lowest intake of vitamin C from plants foods may have seven times the risk of airway hyper-reactivity, while those with the lowest intake of saturated fats had a 10-fold protection.
• A scientist explains, “The protective effect of plant-based food may also be mediated through effects on intestinal microflora.”
• The intestinal micorobiota (gut flora) may affect immune system development and competency in early childhood.
• Lactobacilli, the beneficial microorganisms that may be obtained from fermented foods and fruits and vegetables, are found less frequently in children with allergies.
• Kids raised on primarily organic vegetarian diets may have a lower prevalence of allergic reactions due, in part, to these lactobacilli probiotics that may also help with childhood asthma.
• Probiotics may even have immune enhancing effects in adulthood, as indicated in two studies. Participants given probiotics for a few weeks had a boosted white cell and natural killed cell activity (important immune cells), even a few weeks after the probiotics were stopped.
• Other randomized double-blind placebo controlled studies also showed that those taking probiotics may have significantly fewer colds, fewer sick days, and a lower risk of upper respiratory tract infections.
• However, evidence suggests that prebiotics (the foods required to keep the probiotic bacteria alive, such as fiber) may be even more important.
• Raw fruits and vegetables may have both pre and probiotics with may contribute to their immune enhancing effects.

Primary Sources:

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