Puppy power! Having a pet dog slashes the risk of food allergies in children, ... trends now
In case you need another reason to have a furry friend at home, scientists suggest that a family pet can stop childhood food allergies.
Japanese researchers found children who were exposed to a pet in their younger years were 15 percent less likely to have a food allergy. Just the pet being around a mother while she is pregnant can drop food allergy likelihood, as the benefits begin in the womb.
Those who grew up with dogs were less likely to be allergic to eggs, milk and nuts, while cats reduced a child's risk of egg, wheat and soybean allergy.
With one-in-ten young children suffering from food allergies — and increasing numbers overwhelming doctors — scientists hope they have come up with a novel way to curb the issues.
The findings come just after a groundbreaking British study found that introducing children to peanuts between ages four and six months can reduce their likelihood of developing an allergy to the nut 80 percent.
Researchers found that having a dog at home can reduce your child's likelihood of developing a food allergy by 15 percent
Lead author Dr Hisao Okabe, of Fukushima Medical University in Japan, said: 'Continued dog and cat exposure from fetal development to infancy was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of food allergies.'
The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, are based on an analysis of over 65,000 infants from Japan tracked until they were three years old.
The prevalence of food allergy was assessed based on a parent-reported doctor's diagnosis.
Dr Okabe said: 'The hygiene hypothesis suggests pet exposure is effective in preventing allergic disease, and some studies have reported the beneficial effects of dog exposure during fetal development or early infancy on food allergy.
'This study aimed to explore the effect of exposure to various species of pets on
