Since 1980, more and more cases of allergies, asthma, ADHD and autism have been registered among children. Some statistics report a 50% increase in these disorders over the last 20 years. More and more children have dyslexia and various types of school problems. According to some scientists and doctors, the problem lies in an imbalance of the internal ecosystem and the gut ('unsealing of barriers'). This is caused by changes in the external environment, lifestyle, diet, the child's exposure to toxins and chronic stress.
Food hypersensitivities - a cause of inflammation in the brain
In 2011, Dr Lidy Pelsser of the Dutch ADHD institute described a study in the journal The Lancet linking ADHD to food intolerances.
The doctor recommended an anti-allergic diet of turkey, lamb, lettuce, carrots, rice, pears, water and other non-allergenic foods to 50 children with ADHD, excluding gluten, cow's milk, sugar and artificial foods. It turned out that in 64% of the children, the symptoms significantly disappeared. When the elimination diet was discontinued, the symptoms returned.
What is the difference between hypersensitivity reactions?
| Immediate food allergy | Food intolerance |
| 6-8% of children over 3 yrs of age, 1-2% of adults | Approx. 45% of the population in developed countries |
| Immediate reactions (30 min) | Delayed reactions (8-72 hrs) |
| The presence of IgE antibodies releases histamine and cytokines from mast cells and causes a rapid short-term inflammatory reaction | The presence of IgG antibodies causes the formation of immune complexes and a chronic inflammatory process. |
|
Symptoms mainly on the skin, mucous membranes |
Multi-organ symptoms: diarrhoea, abdominal pain, migraine, behavioural disorders, muscle pain, joint pain, weight problems, skin problems |
| Caused by trace amounts of allergen | Caused by a high concentration of the allergen |
| Directly life-threatening | Not directly life-threatening |
Symptoms of food intolerances and hypersensitivities
General:
- fatigue,
- food cravings,
Neurological:
- migraines,
- tinnitus,
- tics,
- dizziness,
- tingling,
Psychological:
- depression,
- mood disorders,
- anxiety,
- panic attacks,
- aggression,
- sleep disorders
Behavioural/developmental:
- aDHD symptoms (attentional deficit, hyperactivity, impulsivity),
- mood changes,
- irritability,
- anxiety,
- symptoms of autism (lack of eye contact, withdrawal, speech disorders, obsessions, repetitive behaviour)
Immune, inflammatory reactions.
Digestive:
- abdominal pains,
- constipation or diarrhoea
Respiratory system:
- mucus production,
- blocked nose,
Circulatory system:
- abnormal pulse,
- increased blood pressure,
Skin:
- eczema,
- unexplained redness,
- dark circles under the eyes,
- red face or ears.
The exponentially increasing number of children struggling with various types of behavioural disorders makes it possible to look for the causes of this condition in various theories.
In the second part of the article, you will learn about the influence of the intestinal bacterial flora on the nervous system, as well as about the principles of nutrition important for the child's mental balance.
