As a mother-to-be, you've probably heard a lot of advice about food, right? You've probably heard things like "It's not good to eat nuts," "Don't eat this," and "Don't eat this at all," from family, friends, and relatives. Among these, one thing that many people are afraid of is eating nuts like peanuts and cashews. If you're also worried about "Will my baby develop allergies if I eat these?", let's talk about what medical science really says about this.
The difference between the previous opinion and today's
In fact, about twenty years ago, around 2000, even doctors advised pregnant mothers to avoid peanuts and other nuts. This advice was especially important if someone in the family had allergies. Not only that, they sometimes advised against eating peanuts, cow's milk, eggs, and fish while breastfeeding.
The reason I thought that way back then was that when the mother eats foods that can cause allergies, those things will affect the baby, and there is a greater chance that the baby will develop allergies to those foods in the future.
But now that view has changed completely. Surprisingly, after this advice was given, the number of children with peanut allergies worldwide did not decrease, in fact, the number increased! This led doctors and researchers to rethink this. They found that there is no evidence to prove that avoiding these foods during pregnancy can prevent allergies in the baby .
Simply put, it used to be thought that 'removing foods' could protect the baby. But now it is thought that 'introducing foods correctly' can strengthen the baby's immune system.
What is new research?
Current medical opinion is that a pregnant mother does not need to avoid these foods. In fact, it may even be beneficial.
A recent large study found something very surprising: When pregnant mothers who were not allergic to peanuts or other nuts ate peanuts or other nuts five or more times a week, their children were less likely to develop nut allergies.
How does this happen? The latest idea is that while the baby is still in the womb, being exposed to these different things through the mother's food helps the baby's immune system "recognize" them. Like a vaccine. That is, the baby's body learns to accept these foods as "normal" instead of ignoring them as a "dangerous enemy." We call this building a tolerance .
See this table to further clarify the difference between the old and new views.
| Advice | Old view (2000s) | Current latest opinion |
|---|---|---|
| Peanuts and nuts | Avoid eating during pregnancy to avoid the risk of allergies. | Eating foods that are not at risk for mothers can reduce the baby's risk of allergies. |
| Cow's milk, eggs, fish | Sometimes, it was also advised to be avoided during breastfeeding. | There is no evidence that skipping it will provide any special benefit to the baby. It is advisable to take it as part of a balanced diet. |
| Basic concept | Protection through avoidance. | Building resilience through early introduction. |
But, definitely be careful about this!
Having said all this, this advice does not apply to everyone in the same way. There is a special high- risk group . That is,
- If you have severe allergies (e.g. asthma, eczema, food allergies such as peanuts),
- Or if someone very close to you (your own mother, father, brother or sister) has such a severe allergy.
With a family history like this, your baby may also be at a higher risk of developing allergies .
In such a situation, you should not do anything rash. Before eating something like peanuts, it is definitely the best and safest thing to do to talk to your doctor and take his advice. Since there are some uncertainties in the research, it is important to be careful if there is such a risk.
What else can be done to reduce the risk of allergies?
In addition to the peanut story, there is now talk of something else that may help reduce the risk of allergies in babies: probiotics .
Simply put, probiotics are "good" bacteria that are beneficial to our bodies. They are naturally found in foods like yogurt and fermented milk. Some research suggests that taking probiotics during late pregnancy and while breastfeeding may slightly reduce the risk of allergies (especially skin conditions like eczema) in babies.
However, research on this is not yet 100% confirmed. Therefore, there is not enough evidence to recommend it to all pregnant women. However, if your doctor says it's okay, there's no harm in trying something like this. It's essential to ask your doctor before taking any supplement.
Take-Home Message
- Generally, it is safe to eat a balanced diet, including peanuts, during pregnancy, unless you or your family have severe allergies.
- The old belief that foods like peanuts should be avoided during pregnancy has now changed. Recent research suggests that they may actually be beneficial for the baby.
- Most importantly: If you or your parents or siblings have severe allergies (asthma, eczema, food allergies), you may be in the 'high risk' category.
- If you are in the 'high risk' category, definitely consult your doctor before eating peanuts or other nuts.
- Eating a balanced, nutritious diet is important during pregnancy. If you're considering supplements like probiotics, consult your doctor first.
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