Gut & MicrobiomeWhy Your Allergies Are Getting Worse and What Your Gut Has to Do With It
Allergies — from hay fever to food reactions — have tripled in recent decades, and new science points to gut health and skin barrier function as central drivers. Professor Adam Fox from King's College London explains why modern environments may be disrupting immune training, why 90% of people labeled allergic to penicillin likely aren't, and why older antihistamines may cause harm. He covers the difference between true allergies and intolerances, why blood allergy tests can mislead, and how newer treatments aim to retrain the immune system rather than just suppress symptoms. Practical guidance includes which antihistamines to avoid, how to reduce pollen exposure at home, and how eating patterns in early childhood may reduce allergy risk. The gut microbiome emerges as a key factor shaping immune responses throughout life.
