Why are there so many people allergic to all nuts yet we don’t see many people allergic to all fruits?
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Peanut oil is everywhere and in everything. But in western counties, peanuts are not introduced into a baby’s diet until they are older. Because of this, the likelihood that a baby’s first interaction with peanuts is not through the mouth is high potentially causing a sensitization. Think of it like someone you don’t know entering your house through the front door vs entering through a window. Your reaction to the normal entry vs the break in is similar to how the body reacts when peanut oil enters through the skin or other means instead of the mouth. If you see that person again, even if they come through the front door this time, you will still react negatively to their presence. Cultures that introduce peanut products early in infancy or that don’t use peanut oil so much that it’s everywhere, have fewer peanut allergies. Once allergic to one type of nut, many other species become off limits as well. Fruits and their byproducts are not nearly as ubiquitous so you don’t see the same numbers of allergies.
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