Teens who consumed it up until the age of five had a 71% lower risk of allergy development compared to those who avoided the dish.
The King’s College London team suggests that parents give their child peanut butter while they are weaning them, and then on a regular basis up to the age of five.
Children under five should not eat peanuts whole or chopped due to the risk of choking.
The idea of giving peanut butter to infants or young children will shock parents who were advised against it due to potential allergies. Until a child turned three, it was once advised to absolutely avoid peanuts.
However, one in fifty youngsters now suffer from a peanut allergy, and several schools have prohibited the ingredient.
Research from Kings College has demonstrated that the first guidance was incorrect. Rather, the early years are crucial for the immune system to develop the ability to distinguish between friends and enemies.
Food allergies arise from our immune system misinterpreting a harmless food item as a serious danger. This explains why even a tiny quantity of peanuts can trigger a severe and perhaps fatal allergic reaction in a person.
