Obesity and allergies linked to junk food diet

A diet of processed food high in salt, sugar and fat not only deprives children of the essential vitamins and minerals they need to grow, it also puts them at greater risk of developing allergies and being obese.

A research team from the University of Florence published their findings of a study analysing the health and diet of 14 children from a small village of Boulpon in Burkina Faso, a country in Africa, compared to that of 15 children living in Florence.

All children were between one and six years of age, and had not taken any form of antibiotic or probiotic in the six months prior to the study.

The African children's diet was low in fat and animal protein, and largely vegetarian — consisting mainly of wholegrains such as millet, legumes, and vegetables. Children are breastfed up to the age of two years. The children from Florence ate a more Western diet, with high levels of animal protein, fat and sugar.

Children from Africa had less obesity-linked bacteria in their bloodstream, and higher levels of fatty acids which are known to protect against asthma, eczema and other allergic conditions, the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal reported

In their study, "Impact of diet in shaping gut microbiota revealed by a comparative study in children from Europe and rural Africa", the research team outlined how microbes in the human gut help to digest food, limit inflammation and protect against bugs and bacteria.

The team, lead by Dr Carlotta De Filippo, found that Western diets reduced the level of microbes in the gut, which they believed had contributed to the rise in allergies in the last 50 years.

"Western developed countries successfully controlled infectious diseases during the second half of the last century, by improving sanitation and using antibiotics and vaccines," the team wrote.

"At the same time, a rise in new diseases such as allergic, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) both in adults and in children has been observed, and it is hypothesised that improvements in hygiene together with decreased microbial exposure in childhood are considered responsible for this increase."

A study conducted by the federal government in 1995 found that nearly 20 percent of children — one in five — were overweight or obese. More recent studies by the Sentinel Site for Obesity Prevention in Victoria and NSW Department of Health reported that 25 percent of boys and 23.3 percent of girls, aged from five to 16, were overweight or obese.

The research and figures areclear — not only are waistlines getting bigger in Australia, but a poor diet is contributing to the increase in allergies and health conditions.

motherandbaby.com.au 4 Aug 2010

Cancer by design by the Junk Food suppliers, for the masses.