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It's a well-known fact that breastfeeding has a protective action with regard to the development of future allergies in children; a Swedish study that began in 1994 and is still underway (BAMSE) showed that of the 4000 children tested, at two years those who had been nursed exclusively by the mother for at least 4 months suffered less from asthma (7, 3% compared to 11, 8%), with improvement in eczema and rhinitis as well.
However, The German researcher Renate Bergman recently re-evaluated all of the worldwide data on breastfeeding and allergy. The results pointed out that allergic mothers who nurse (without a specific diet) favor, instead of reduce, the development of allergies in their children and the longer they nurse, the greater this becomes
An allergic or intolerant mother who doesn't follow a special diet will pass on to her child the same allergenic substances that she introduced with her diet without their being modified in the proper way.
It's certain that mothers' milk must contain antigens and proteins that are able to activate the immune system just as it normally does in all species (Dr. Susanne Halken- Denamark).
This mechanism can be altered in a serious way in an allergic mother and the child is presented with foreign substances without having the necessary "emergency kit" that aids in building tolerance.
This may be the reason why many children who are taken to doctors have forms of intense dermatitis, even though they have been breastfed. These forms are cured rapidly, however, if the mother finds a diet that is appropriate for her.
Therefore, it's clear that an allergic mother will need to identify any possible food intolerances before she begins to nurse.
In view of the considerable support that these studies have had from the producers of formula and artificial milk, we must reiterate that this data regards a condition of allergic illness. It must not be confused with persons who are not sick and who have normal conditions; for these mothers breastfeeding is and remains an extremely positive choice.
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