Western Diets May be Cause of Asthma and Allergies

Western children fed on a diet of junk and processed food may be more prone to develope Asthma and Allergic conditions, according to a study reported this month.

The study was conducted in Saudia Arabia, where children in richer families are often fed western-style diets, while many children still follow traditional diets, allowing researchers to compare the effects of diet in a similar environment and geography.

Children were more likely to develop a wheeze where their diets lacked vegetables and vitamin E, whilst milk and mineral levels were also seen to have an effect. The study found that diet has a much larger contributory effect on asthma than, for example, parents who smoke or other traditionally perceived causes.

Allergies are far more common in modern western societies and the link betwen development of allergies and diet is strong.

Friday, 1 September 2000