Can stress cause your baby’s allergies?
A calm, healthy pregnancy and postpartum period could reduce the risk of allergies in your baby, according to a new Swedish study.
Researchers found infants with lower levels of cortisol, an adrenal hormone released in response to stress, developed fewer allergies than other infants.
Stress hormone cortisol triggers allergies
The researchers believe environmental and lifestyle factors during pregnancy and early infancy raise adrenal cortisol levels, which increases the risk of allergies.
Studies show high cortisol in a pregnant mother raises levels of the hormone in the fetus.
In functional medicine, we see many women enter into pregnancy with high cortisol. Common symptoms include excess belly fat, insomnia, insulin resistance (high blood sugar), hair loss, and an irregular menstrual cycle.
Stress isn’t just about too much to do on too little sleep (although that is certainly a factor).
Factors that cause high adrenal cortisol
Common factors that elevate cortisol are:
- Sugary, starchy diets that consistently spike blood sugar (which causes excess belly fat).
- Excess caffeine.
- Undiagnosed food intolerances. Gluten intolerance and celiac disease are particularly common.
- Poor gut health. Gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and other digestive symptoms are signs of a poorly functioning gut.
- Improperly managed autoimmune disease. Do you have Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism or another autoimmune disease?
Rate of childhood allergies rising
The rate of allergies has risen sharply in the United States. About 54 percent of Americans are allergic to at least one thing, an up to five-fold increase the late 1970s. The number of children with food allergies has risen 18 percent since the late 90s; witness the prevalence of peanut-free classrooms.
Manage health before pregnancy
The best thing a mother can do to reduce the risk of allergies in her child is to address her own health and nutrition before conception.
An adrenal saliva test is a good way to measure whether cortisol levels are normal. A mother’s health before conception and during pregnancy greatly influences the health of her baby.
Stress is a fact of life for us all. How have you managed to lower stress levels during pregnancy?
