Recently, new research was released that explore the correlation between fast food and highly processed convenience foods and eczema. This research is extremely important for parents who have kids with eczema, asthma, and other sensitivities because let’s face it – we all rely on fast food sometimes! While the convenience of a drive-thru or a pre-packaged meal may make life easier at times, it turns out that it may lead to a whole host of challenging issues down the road. If you have allergies and eczema in your family, this is information that can help keep your stress level low while also preventing those flare ups that make life really difficult.

For some time now we’ve known that diet and eczema are related. Recent research suggests that over 500,000 kids across the world have allergies, eczema, or asthma that is directly and immediately related to the food they eat. 500,000! That’s a lot of children who find food to be a trigger for the health issues they face. When we scale back from that figure, the chances that food plays at least some role in most eczema and allergy cases is pretty high.

The research shows that children who got fast or processed foods in their diet several times per week were up to 39% more likely to suffer from allergies, asthma, and eczema. That’s a pretty astounding figure! Now that we know just how these convenient and inexpensive foods play a part in our children’s health – we can take action.

How To Avoid Fast Food And Big Stress

The number one reason we choose fast food and processed foods is convenience. When time and finances get crunched and kids are hungry, the best option often looks like a quick trip through a fast food restaurant. While this option can make the day easier, it could end up causing triggers and reactions that increase just how challenging your child’s eczema becomes. Staying away from fast food is basically an investment in dealing with less eczema flare ups in the future.

The best way to avoid fast food is to be prepared. Understanding when your kids get hungry and what foods work well for them can help make a world of difference. Keeping healthy snacks like dried fruits, safe nuts, and other treats in the car can keep a kid happy until you can get home and prepare a proper meal. Making extra food when you cook and freezing without the use of preservatives can mean a 5 minute meal when you need it most.

Good Food, Great Healing

The number one thing we can take away from the research that has just come out about the link between fast food and eczema is that food is a pivotal choice in treating our kids and it’s great when research is now also confirming that fresh and unprocessed is best!

Taking time to plan ahead, figure out snacks that can stay in a diaper bag or in the car, and learning how to make healthy meals in advance could save hours of time, lots of stress, and a great deal of money down the road.