- Babies who grow up on farms have fewer food allergies.
- Farm mothers often breastfeed their babies for longer.
- These babies' immune systems seem to mature faster.
- Researchers compared farm families and city families in New York.
- Farm babies had more mature B cells and antibodies.
- They had higher antibody levels in blood and saliva.
- Mothers' milk on farms had more egg-specific antibodies.
- The more egg antibodies in milk, the less allergy.
- Researchers will test maternal diet during pregnancy in a trial.
Difficult words
- allergy — a body's bad reaction to some foodallergies
- breastfeed — to feed a baby with mother's milk
- immune system — parts of the body that fight germs and diseaseimmune systems
- antibody — a protein that helps the body fight germsantibodies
- B cell — a white blood cell that makes antibodiesB cells
- maternal — related to a mother, especially during pregnancy
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you live in a city or on a farm?
- Do you know someone with a food allergy?
- Do mothers breastfeed babies in your country?
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