We are very curious about the reason why so many and varied food allergies exist today . For example, the peanut or peanut (Nahuatl word meaning "cocoa of earth" ). Go ahead and continue reading and discover the possible causes of this widespread epidemic.
Junk food
There are several theories. The first is that the modern food we eat is a continuous attack on our immune system . In addition, part of this type of food contains peanuts or derivatives, which are considered food allergens, that is, foods that favor the appearance of allergies.
The funny thing is that peanuts, specifically, seem to be causing remarkably violent immune reactions, perhaps because it contains proteins that are not present in other foods.
Raw, not toasted
Another theory that emerges from the first is the way in which peanuts are processed . In the West (read especially the United States) the peanut is roasted , and this process alters its proteins generating these reactions in the human immune system.
But in China, for example, peanuts are boiled, which lowers allergy rates.
In other Asian areas eat peanuts cooked, raw or fried, and in much more than in the West, and yet there are not many people who suffer from allergy.
Video game?
A third theory is the insufficient exposure to sunlight that today children suffer, due, among other things, to the enormous time they dedicate to video games and television. The vitamin D present in sunlight is essential for healthy development and growth of the body, and further causes the immune system to recognize certain substances and generate tolerance to them.
When children spend less time outdoors, severe vitamin D deficiency can occur, and their metabolisms will begin to feel like a danger to peanut proteins.
Peanut oil in vaccines
This is another of the theories. Many vaccines (and also some antibiotics) are made with excipients derived mainly from peanut oil. Since it is a fairly cheap oil to produce, the refined oil of this dried fruit was widely adopted during the 1960s to make vaccines for its effective preservative capacity. In fact, it is in the 90's when the highest incidence of this allergy appears, perhaps due to the increasing expansion of childhood vaccines.
A curious fact: according to the records available, before 1900 there were no peanut allergies in the United States, although they consumed it.
From little ones
In England, for example, the Pediatric Association recommended since 2009 that the exposure of children to peanuts be delayed until three years of age. However, the incidence of allergies to peanuts is much higher in countries where you eat for the first time when you are older, than in countries where since childhood it is a habit.
Another curious fact: there are more allergies in developed countries than those in the process of development.