Atopic conditions such as asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis (runny nose), along with allergic conjunctivitis, usually begin in childhood; but could diet during pregnancy help to allergy-proof future generations? Lisa Patient investigates
Although there is a known genetic element in developing atopic allergies, research is also investigating whether a woman’s diet and lifestyle during pregnancy could help to reduce the risk.
Fats
Studies suggest that omega fats could offer a protective mechanism against atopic allergies. Several clinical studies have found that women who take a daily omega-3 fish oil supplement during pregnancy reduce the risk of allergies for their children. An explanation for this may be in the impact the fish oil has on the chemicals transferred to the baby via the umbilical cord, with evidence to show that taking fish oil supplements lowered the levels of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines in the cord blood.
However, getting sufficient omega-3s into your body via diet in pregnancy can be challenging. This is because studies typically use a dose of over 2g of fish oil per day — the equivalent of about two portions of oily fish. Current advice, however, is to limit oily fish intake during pregnancy to no more than two portions a week because of mercury levels found in fish. Supplementation with the fish oils DHA and EPA is considered safe, but cod liver oil is not because it contains vitamin A, which is not recommended in high amounts.
There is evidence to suggest that women eating a high amount of omega-6 rich foods (such as vegetable oils and margarine) may have an increased risk of their children developing allergies. A study of 771 mother-child pairs that looked at meat consumption in pregnancy, a rich source of omega-6 fats, concluded that higher maternal meat intake may lead to an increased risk of eczema.
Antioxidants
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Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
A Summer Selection Of Goods And Goodies
Lazy Vegan frozen Chunky Pulled Peaz is a gluten-free, plant-based protein source suitable for vegans and — with a substantial texture — flexitarians.
Do Something Different
As many of us are concerned about keeping our brains active, Ellie Smith investigates whether trying something completely new could boost both our brain health and mental wellbeing
Lifting Weights, Lifting Confidence
When Bianca Mills was bullied at school she could not have dreamt that she would be able to speak in front of a group of women, let alone coach them in lifting free weights. She told Louise Wates why she believes buddying-up is just as important as physical strength for fostering confidence
Teaching Children How To Forage
Catherine Morgan finds out how foraging can teach children (and adults) about more than nature’s store cupboard, and can foster an understanding of and respect for the environment.
Keep Calm And Curry On
In August, India celebrates the anniversary of Indian Independence, yet the Anglo-Indian community, a legacy of the British Raj with its roots in European and Indian ancestry, still treads the cultural line between both communities. Jenny Mallin, author of A Grandmother’s Legacy, tells us about the fusion food in her family and recipes passed down through the generations
