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Children with food allergies must eliminate the food from their diets, given that there are no other treatments that work. And food allergy is not that rare, with 6-8% of children having such an allergy by age 3 years. Cow's milk, egg, peanut, wheat, soy, tree nuts, and fish are the most common allergies. Cow's milk and milk products are the primary source of calcium and vitamin D intake - and these items are not found in very high concentrations in most other foods. Alternatively, peanuts, tree nuts and fish have nutrients that are easily found in many other foods. Eggs also consist of nutrients that allergic children can get from other foods, but eggs are so prevalent in all baked and processed goods, that it is difficult to avoid without seriously deviating from typical youth diets. Children between the ages of 1 month to 10 years were studied; 98 children had one or more food allergy and 99 were healthy controls. The authors found that 25% of children have less than 67% of the daily recommended intake of calcium, vitamin D, and Vitamin E - and this was equally true for both children with and without a food allergy. Children who drank a fortified, soy-based, milksubstitute beverage, were far less likely to be deficient in vitamin D and calcium than those milkallergic children who did not. Nutrition counseling within 3 months of the food allergy diagnosis was one of the most protective factors against poor nutrient intake - probably because it helps parents find nutrient-rich food alternatives. (Christine L et al: J Am Dietet Assoc 2002; 102:1648-1651) - H.T. Contributed by:
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