My 2 year old g'son has always had a very healthy diet...no sugar, no wheat, etc. They cook from scratch, etc. No food coloring either.

But lately he has been having symptoms of food allergy to beets and eggplant, both of which he loves. (red face and slight swelling of his lips) They have beets or eggplant about once a week, so it's not from over exposure. Any idea of what beets and eggplant have in common? Or why this would suddenly start?

Here is a great resource for allergy connections: Food Allergy connections

I can't see any correlation between the two. I'm sorry to hear he is reacting to stuff.

I couldn't find any either. Thanks for that resource. The only thing I could find was that they both could be gmo...but I think that's most likely true for any veggies/fruits you get from the grocery store.

It is very weird as they are much worse than I am when it comes to no chemicals etc. I wish we all had computer printouts that would explain what is really going on

There is an easy way to test. I'll pm you when I get off my bike.

Thanks...

Seems like so many folks are allergic to sooooooooo many foods these days

I think it's because children were raised not to complete their immune system growth. They only have their younger years to do so. The kids today are very clean and sterile.
A friend of mine that is an immunologist; makes his kids play in mud and soil; allow them to be dirty; play in grass and take them out in fields - expose to pollen, dirt, etc. It builds their immune system at the right age.

I'll bet you are right, MaG. I was talking to my son about that very thing.

I agree MaG! And thankfully my grandson is not being raised that way! He will get dirty and play in the mud with me!

I haven't checked it yet but my memory tells me that at 7 years old; the immune system growth should be done. From then on, it's what you have til you get old. Of course, antibiotics given at before 7 - early age will defeat the purpose of immune buildup.

Well, that explains me

This g'son plays in the dirt and rolls with the dogs,etc. Very puzzling.

I had to laugh 'cos my first thought was "Wow, look at all the dog hair. We must have very healthy immune systems." Then I got up and swept the floor

Eliminate both for at least a couple of weeks. See if the reactions stops. If it does, simply add one at a time to his diet and see what happens.

I'm really puzzling over what they might have in common... maybe nothing and he is simply reactive to different things in each one. I really don't think they've gotten as far as GMO's in beets and eggplant. They are mostly working on grain crops like corn, rice and wheat for now. When the economics work, beets and eggplant will probably be added to the list.

Thanks, Drac.

I was googling and found references to GMO on both of those, but I don't know how widespread it is.

I know they are doing some things with GMOs as far as sugar beets go and it's getting bigger, but I've not read of anything to do with the regular root crop beets. I've actually heard of some genetic studies with eggplant as far as making them last longer to get to a grocery store.

It all makes me glad I grow all my own stuff! I'm not totally against GMOs, but the resistance to simple labeling troubles me.

I'm a huge anti GMO person and want to know what I am eating and making my own choices.

I just heard this on our local news and found it here: Allergies and Dishwashers

Interesting read Ana. I think there may be merit to the "hygiene hypothesis" as they call it. I'll wait to see a lot more solid science on it but it is an interesting idea. As for dishwashers, we had one growing up but we also had dogs and cats and played outside constantly. I don't think there was an issue of too much hygiene around our house.

I read that dishwasher one today too... interesting.

could it not be the beets or eggplant ,but some herb or spice used in the dish ?

Interesting dishwasher read. I know my house was a lot cleaner when the kids were little, but my we had cats, dogs, etc and were always outside. Now I just figure everyone is an adult and all know how to clean!

Niteowl, I did ask that, but basically, I think they are just roasting those veggies. But will ask them if they have tried the raw veggies just to see if that still does it.

Ah, Drac, light bulb. I thought beets were beets.

I don't know enough about it to have a really informed opinion, but anytime folks don't want to be transparent about something, alarm bells go off. Wish I lived on a farm and could grow my own. How times have changed.

hmmm,if it were me ,with the fact that his lips swell and his face gets red ,I would eliminate those altogether for a long time. Any facial swelling as a reaction isn't good ,and I'd want to see a dr. about it,so I had a plan in place in case of a worse reaction. But I'm sure they've already thought of that.
And I wouldn't eat either of those raw - if he did ,that could be the problem ?
Hope they figure it out, though. It's always the stuff we like ,it seems ,lol.

Yea, niteowl, that is the problem. He really likes both of those and is picky about most veggies...apparently it's a texture thing. It has come on slowly...so maybe if he doesn't have it for a long time, he will be able to tolerate it eventually.

It's odd that it is both of the ones he likes. I thought from the way dil was talking that it was something he ate every day, but son said "no" and since son does all the cooking, I trust what he says. I hope they figure it out.

I know it took us years and years to find daughter's gluten allergy. This was before GF was a "thing." She still has odd reactions to things occasionally even when she has been super careful.