How Allergies Can Affect Your Child’s Behavior

Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, affects 6.1 million of the children in the U.S.

In 2015, 8.8 million children had skin allergies.

In 2015, 4.2 million children in the US have food allergies. (1)

Allergy season is here. Runny nose, itchy eyes and constant know the drill. Chances are, your children or grandchildren have experienced this, too. But did you know that allergies to foods and environmental factors can trigger more severe symptoms, such as hyperactivity, skewed thinking and violent behavior?

Every day we are exposed to allergens, whether in the foods we eat, air we breathe, water we drink, personal care products we use or laundry detergent we wash our clothes with. Everyday exposure to allergens can have a profound effect on a child's personality and behavior.

Examples of behavioral effects caused by food and environmental allergies are:

  • Hyperactivity
  • Irritability
  • Violence
  • Low attention span
  • Inability to control themselves (i.e. wiggly, restless)
  • Temper tantrums

So how do you get to the root of the problem? One of the best ways to determine which food or environmental factor is affecting your child is through the elimination diet. For example, if you suspect your child is allergic to milk, remove milk from their diet and record their behavior, whether it be positive or negative. A week after the suspected allergen is removed, introduce it back into your child's diet and record their behavior again. If you see a change in behavioral patterns after the food is reintroduced, you can assume that food or allergen is causing your child's reaction.

Beyond foods, environmental allergies such as perfumes, chemicals and other allergens floating in the air, like molds and pollens, can be harder to control. For optimal support, make sure your child is on a good vitamin regimen to help combat environmental allergies naturally:

  • Vitamin D provides anti-inflammatory properties that help fight allergy reactions and infection. Without an adequate supply of vitamin D, the immune system cannot properly respond to serious infections or reactions in your body.
  • Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that lowers histamine levels in the bloodstream, helping to prevent the onset of allergies. Foods high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, broccoli and tomatoes, should be eaten as often as possible, but a vitmain C supplement is the surest way to supply your body with sufficient amounts.
  • A high-quality, sugar-free children's multivitamin offers important nutrients. Nutri-Kids is the most complete children's multivitamin on the market, providing more than 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients your child needs for optimal health.

If you're frustrated with your child's unruly behavior, consider testing for food and airborne allergies to see if they could be the main culprit. By either removing these allergens from your child's environment or treating them for allergies, you could have a completely different (and well-behaved) child again. Doesn't that sound like a dream?