Exclusive Breastfeeding May Significantly Reduce Risk of Food Allergies in Infants

An Israeli study has identified a promising way to significantly reduce the risk of food allergies. Many infants suffer from allergies, including sensitivities to cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, sesame, and more. The findings show that exclusive breastfeeding during the first months of life dramatically reduces the risk of developing such allergies.

We've long heard that breastfeeding is healthy, and new research confirms its long-term benefits. The study found that exclusive breastfeeding in early infancy led to a notable decrease in allergies to peanuts, sesame, and eggs. Additionally, breastfed babies were found to suffer less from skin inflammation.

Early exposure of breastfed infants to cow’s milk protein, whether in formula or other sources during the first months, was linked to an increased risk of milk allergies. In infants with atopic dermatitis, early introduction of sesame (in the form of tahini) significantly reduced the risk of developing a sesame allergy, similar to previous findings related to peanut exposure.

Professor Aharon Casel, one of the study’s lead researchers, stated: “The number of women relying exclusively on breastfeeding is declining. These findings suggest that this trend may be contributing to the rise in food allergies.”

In contrast, another study conducted by Dr. Idit Lachover-Rot, secretary of the Israeli Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, tracked 2,000 infants from birth to one year of age. Her research found that food allergy development is also linked to the breastfeeding mother's diet. When the mother regularly consumes allergenic foods, the infant is more likely to develop tolerance to those foods.