The most common food allergies are milk, peanut, egg, tree nut,
soy, fish, wheat, and shellfish allergies.
But, have you ever wondered why some people are allergic to
these foods while other people are not?
Or have you wondered why someone might be allergic to peanuts while another
person is allergic to eggs?
Or why some allergies occur in childhood but others develop later in life?
Perhaps you've thought that it all has to do with our genetics.
Although our own genes do play a role in whether we develop a food allergy,
sometimes they are not fully responsible for an allergy.
This indicates that things from our environment may have an effect.
Because microbes are important for immune system development,
an incorrect immune response to something like a specific type of food could mean
that the microbiome plays a very important role in the incorrect immune response.
Several studies have demonstrated that early exposure to bacteria in pet dander,
dirt, and other environmental particles reduces a child's chances of
developing skin and respiratory allergies.
This is because bacteria play an important role in
the development of the immune system.
If we are not exposed to bacteria during our childhood,
our immune systems cannot develop properly.