The Dog: New Protector Against Allergies
(PRWEB) January 15, 2014 -- For years, the prevailing advice to expecting parents was: lose the dog and your baby won’t get allergies. Now scientists say that was all wrong. It turns out the family dog actually protects most children from developing allergies.
In its Winter 2014 edition, Allergic Living magazine digs deeply into the top research to discover that large studies are now in agreement: there is a “dog protective effect.”
The key to allergy protection is that exposure to the dog needs to be in the first year of a child’s life. What’s particularly exciting is that the dog doesn’t just protect against pet allergies, but the whole spectrum of allergic conditions – from hay fever to eczema, asthma and even food allergies.
So why does the dog protect against allergies? The answer is a work in progress. Yet Allergic Living finds that scientists in Michigan, California and Canada all see clues in the microorganisms that dogs bring in from the outside.
“They shed stuff, they lick you, you play with them,” notes microbiologist James Scott of the CHILD study. Those interactions strongly influence what microorganisms the baby is exposed to.
There is one caution: if someone in the family is already allergic to dogs, keeping the pet won’t reduce the allergy. Still, the scientists are so sure of the “dog protective effect” in early life that one even counsels: “on the way home from the maternity hospital, stop at the pet shop.”
For more information about “Man’s Best Allergy Preventer” or to arrange an interview with Allergic Living Editor Gwen Smith, e-mail editor(at)allergicliving(dot)com or call 1-888-771-7747.
Also in the Allergic Living Winter ’14 edition:
• Celiac in the Family – Why the disease runs rampant in some clans.
• Hotel Havens – Hypoallergenic is the hot trend in hotel accommodations.
• Cat Allergy – Gone in just 4 shots?
• Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free – our delicious Winter Greens (salads).
• Cookies! – allergy-friendly cookies, bars & biscotti.
• Super Smoothies – time for a 2014 health reboot.
• Smart Furniture – How to furnish without dust mites & VOCs.
• Ask the allergists; products reviews + more.
Allergic Living is available at Whole Foods (U.S.) and at Chapters/Indigo (Canada).
About Allergic Living
Allergic Living is North America's leading consumer publication for those living with food and environmental allergies and celiac disease. It is known for top quality content on managing these conditions, research news, and exceptional allergy-safe recipes.
Gwen Smith, Allergic Living magazine, http://allergicliving.com, +1 1-888-771-7747, [email protected]
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