The sources of allergies are many and varied: dairy, lactose, gluten, pollen, dust, dust mites, etc. Their manifestations are equally so, ranging from eczema to intestinal and digestive disorders, migraines and rhinitis, among others.

In the early 1970s, the percentage of people with the disease was barely 5%. In 15 years, this figure has doubled in industrialized countries. In the United States, 15 million people are affected, the majority of whom are children, and in Great Britain there has been a 50% increase between 1997 and 2011. One in three people are affected. The number of patients requiring emergency consultation for severe manifestations has increased 40-fold in the last 10 years and more than 50% of those concerned are not diagnosed as allergic.

Many allergists estimate that one in two people will be allergic, in less than 10 years. The most pessimistic forecasts give them the third place among health problems for the coming decade!

Currently, 400 million people worldwide suffer from allergic rhinitis and 300 million have asthma.

The reasons for these disturbing increases are varied:

• The massive use of antibiotics and antimicrobials. A study has shown that the risk of eczema in children is multiplied by 2, in case of exposure to antibiotics in early life.
• Genetically modified foods and the use of the herbicide glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) are implicated in this phenomenon. In fact, research has shown that these products destroy gut bacteria, thus promoting allergies. Clostridium is one of the main victims, and this bacterium is essential because it prevents sensitization to certain food allergens.
• Glyphosate is not the only culprit. Combining it with antibiotics in other pesticides, fungicides and herbicides makes it even more harmful.

A little history: first case of allergy linked to pesticides

A 10-year-old girl who triggered a severe allergic reaction after eating blueberry pie is the first case attributed to a pesticide with certainty by researchers. The culprit turned out to be a pesticide containing streptomycin: an antibiotic with which the berries had been treated. Dr. Anne Des Roches says this would be "the first report that directly links an allergic reaction to fruit treated with pesticides antibiotics. "Although this is a very rare reaction, Dr. James points out that it would be helpful to educate emergency personnel about this type of phenomenon, so that they can respond quickly and effectively to these types of anaphylactic reactions.

The solution: adopt an organic diet

Knowing what foods to avoid in case of sensitivity or allergy is helpful, but certainly not enough. In order to correct the immune system, to regain a balance of the intestinal flora and a good vital energy that will allow the body to better defend itself and adapt, the ideal is to adopt a completely organic diet. Particularly important for young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women, this measure is the most appropriate for all, in our modern world so polluted. Fruits and vegetables treated with pesticides can also be contaminated with antibiotics, if farmers use manure from treated cows as fertilizer. These antibiotics are also incriminated in the phenomena of antibiotic resistance and the ensuing diseases.

While vegetarianism is recommended, it goes without saying that consumers of meat and animal products should definitely switch to organic foods. The link between agricultural chemicals and allergies has been pointed out before. In 2005, a national health survey in the US found high levels of dichlorophenol in the urine of Americans. This chemical compound, used in pesticides and water disinfection, is believed to contribute to the increase in allergic phenomena.