Allergies

[Lost]

Fun topic.

I've become curious about this over the past few years. At my weekend job, I need to ask for any food allergies. I know 99.9% of the time the elderly couple in front of me will say no, often accompanied by some witty remark.

But the younger families with kids, "Yes, we have this, that and them".

(As an aside, I never had hay-fever before. But by christ has it hit me hard for 3 years now.)

So why have allergies, specifically food allergies, become more common?

[HHTel]

This article confirms your thoughts. There are theories but no definitive answer.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-46302780

Why the world is becoming more allergic to food

[VincentD]

My personal opinion is that too many foodstuffs being consumed are processed in some way so not all the good stuff is getting to you. Examples of this would be polished rice, where up to 90% of the minerals are removed, leaving only the starchy bits. Similarly, most french fries have the skin removed leaving only the starchy bits. Or, those people who consume skim milk, which I think is the part that should really be thrown away..
But I digress..

[sateeb]

As a kid I can't think of anyone at Primary or Secondary school('64 to '75) that had any food allergies but then again we didn't live in a virtual sterile bubble. Personally I was brought up on full fat gold top milk and we got most of the regular childhood ailments. I'm pretty sure I got measles and definitely got mumps because I vividly remember my older brother showing me my face in the mirror. Frightened the life out of me until I found out he'd shown me in dads shaving mirror.

So my personal opinion is that todays pampered offspring lack the good/bad bacteria in their stomachs that us old fogeys have. Happy to carry on chewing my nuts!!

NB..I did suffer from the mother of all hayfevers from about 1973, the summer of '76 was a particular low point.

[dtaai-maai]

Frightened the life out of me until I found out he'd shown me in dads shaving mirror.

Oh, I like your brother! Please give him my best.

[sateeb]

Frightened the life out of me until I found out he'd shown me in dads shaving mirror.

Oh, I like your brother! Please give him my best.

Thought you might enjoy that one. Another thing he did every morning was fart in my Cornflakes, guess there was some dodgy bacteria ingested that contributed to my wellbeing
The list of torments I suffered is very very long but I guess that goes with the territory of having a sadistic older bro. Best of mates now and I will send him your good wishes.

[pharvey]

So why have allergies, specifically food allergies, become more common?

Oh good God, It's down to Brexit, LBGT & the WOKE brigade of course!

Seriously though, I would agree with other comments in that so-called younger generations have not been really exposed to real world viruses - IMHO "Health Foods" actually have the goodness (and taste) removed "Fast/Junk Foods" which seem to be the staple diet of many are just that, JUNK. Full of additives, preservatives and all letters of the alphabet. You could also say today's costs and way of life leads to a poor diet perhaps - either way, Immune systems are being weakened. I believe that the extensive travel I've had through work and the exposure to different environments and foods have helped me (despite Gandhi having his revenge on several occasions )

In my younger years I had Measles and Chicken Pox both very common, but other than that nothing really. However, I was hit very hard by Covid (yes it exists) and have suffered the after effects (generally referred to as Long Covid) for an extended period. This has in turn effected my immune system - post Covid I have been hit with several issues, Asthma and Hayfever included neither of which have been a concern previously.

[pharvey]

Another thing he did every morning was fart in my Cornflakes, guess there was some dodgy bacteria ingested that contributed to my wellbeing

Oh, now that's proper fathering!!

[sateeb]

So why have allergies, specifically food allergies, become more common?

Oh good God, It's down to Brexit, LBGT & the WOKE brigade of course!

Seriously though, I would agree with other comments in that so-called younger generations have not been really exposed to real world viruses - IMHO "Health Foods" actually have the goodness (and taste) removed "Fast/Junk Foods" which seem to be the staple diet of many are just that, JUNK. Full of additives, preservatives and all letters of the alphabet. You could also say today's costs and way of life leads to a poor diet perhaps - either way, Immune systems are being weakened. I believe that the extensive travel I've had through work and the exposure to different environments and foods have helped me (despite Gandhi having his revenge on several occasions )

In my younger years I had Measles and Chicken Pox both very common, but other than that nothing really. However, I was hit very hard by Covid (yes it exists) and have suffered the after effects (generally referred to as Long Covid) for an extended period. This has in turn effected my immune system - post Covid I have been hit with several issues, Asthma and Hayfever included neither of which have been a concern previously.

Of course the anti-vaxxers of this Parish will blame your post covid ailments on that nasty vaccine. I digress, good luck for the future.

Oh, now that's proper fathering!!

Yes, I came through all that without any lingering symptoms...twitch twitch

BTT

[HHTel]

I agree with the above comments. IMO the younger generations haven't built up the immunities that us oldies developed in years gone buy. Everything is far too sterile. When I was a kid, any food dropped on the floor was picked up brushed off and eaten. "A bit of muck isn't going to kill you" - Mum's comment.
Everything these days are xxxxx'ised in various ways making it super safe leaving nothing for the body to fight. Therefore a serious lack of antibodies.
There are a number of reports that identify developing countries having the least prevalence of food allergies. Probably due to not being so 'fussy' on what they eat.

Even in Thailand there has been no increase in the prevalence of food allergies in adults. However, food allergies have risen in younger children. I believe that adds evidence to what I've said above.

[caller]

I have had lifelong allergies to egg (specifically the egg white) and penicillin. As a child and into adulthood, I suffered from excema, ashtma and hay fever. Not sure about the penicillin, but with the others, the effects have reduced over the years. Although, I don't put egg to the test much either.

Egg appears on Thai food packaging as an allergic ingredient, although it seems almost unknown here. I have a wild theory about that, which I will keep to myself