Food allergies are far more prevalent in today’s society than previously thought, with millions of people affected by gluten allergies, soy aversions and intolerances to nuts and lactose. In a recent study by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there was an 18 percent increase in food allergies from 1997 to 2007. Surprisingly, tap water could be the culprit for many of these cases – the pesticides found in water could be responsible for the number of food allergies across the globe.
The chemical dichlorophenol, which is used to chlorinate tap water, has been linked to food allergies. There has already been studies into the connection between food allergies and environmental pollution, and with this chemical being used in agricultural pesticides, this could also be encouraging the rise of allergies. The pesticides containing dichlorophenol could be the cause of weakened tolerances to food, which can develop into full-blown allergies.
The study showed that while allergy sufferers drink bottled water as a way of avoiding the issue, this might not be a suitable deterrent. Though many believe that simply avoiding tap water will help to lower their chance of developing an intolerance, this won’t always work as the chemical is found in other sources, such as fruit and vegetables which have been treated with pesticides. These elements combine to create a high dose of dichlorophenol making its way into our diets.
You should aim to eat a balanced diet that’s rich in fruit, vegetables and protein, in order to provide your body with the vital nutrients it needs. If you think you may have a food allergy, be sure to speak to your GP who can run tests to determine if you are allergic to any particular foods. It may help to keep a food diary, so you can see if you have any specific triggers.
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