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Monday, November 18, 2013

Food Allergies, Breastfeeding, and Solid Food Introduction


A new study shows that introducing solids to infants after they're 17 weeks old (while continuing to breastfeed) makes them less likely to develop food allergies." Mothers should continue to breast-feed beyond introducing solids into the diet so the immune system can benefit from the immunological factors in breast milk that educate the immune system," according to lead researcher, Kate Grimshaw, an allergy specialist at University of Southampton. This is the first study to address when the "risk period" for acquiring allergy is. According to the findings of this study, it is before 17 weeks of age.

This study provides further support for the current  allergy prevention recommendations from The American Academy of Pediatrics to not introduce solid food before the age of four months. The study provides support for the American Academy of Pediatrics' breastfeeding recommendations as well (breastfeeding should continue while solids are introduced until the infant is atlease 12 months old).
Source: WebMD Health News 

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