News & Views
Does Covid increase allergies? If you feel like you have had more allergies and greater reactions to food and the environment since having Covid, then you are certainly not alone. We have seen countless people whose allergies have been exacerbated or reignited since contracting the virus. We now see many babies with complex multiple allergies and food/environmental reactions whose mummies had Covid when they were pregnant or during the first trimester. So, I suspect this pesky virus is upregulating allergies in both mother and baby. Not just the classic peanut, egg and milk allergies but an increase in reactions to “healthy” foods like tomatoes, avocadoes and bananas! Random reactions to household cleaning products and skincare products. Symptoms vary from classic allergy reactions like hives and swelling and sneezing through to more generalised rashes, feeling hot, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, muscle aches and pain, chest tightness and brain fog. It can affect sleep patterns and there can be lots of night waking.
This is because Coronavirus is known to cause a cytokine inflammatory storm which leads to mast cell activation and histamine release. There are several papers published on Pubmed about this phenomenon, and it seems to play a big role in those with Long Covid. If you feel you are reacting to more foods/ environmental chemicals since having Covid, then you might want to consider some help from Mother Nature with some changes from a nutritional perspective. • Vitamin C is a key nutrient for mast cell stabilisation • Magnesium helps make DAO (the digestive enzyme, diamine oxidase) which helps to break down histamine in the gut • Vitamin B6 again helps to make DAO • Try mushrooms such as Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake and Agaricusblazei – these calm an overreactive immune system down • Quercetin stabilises the mast cell membranes & therefore reduces the release of histamine.
Lucinda Miller is the clinical lead of NatureDoc Clinic, a UK-wide nutrition clinic specialising in women’s and child nutrition. She also runs NatureDoc.Shop online as well as being an author of two family cookbooks, The Good Stuff and I Can’t Believe It’s Baby Food.
St Mary’s Preschool opening is historic moment for the school
Help fund vital research by joining Wear A Hat Day!
Join thousands of children, parents and teachers on Friday 25th March for Wear A Hat Day– a great way to bring people together and raise vital funds for leading charity Brain Tumour Research. Register your school, community or family event today: www.wearahatday.org and we’ll send you a free fundraising pack! Coming at the end of March, Brain Tumour Awareness Month, several celebrities are supporting this hat tastic campaign. The latest set of collectable Wear A Hat Day pin badges have a regal theme in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year. Order your box of badges to sell during registration! Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. This is unacceptable and Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this. Funds raised from Wear A Hat Day will help towards establishing a new Research Centre of Excellence. www.wearahatday.org 4 Families Cambridgeshire
A new Preschool at St Mary’s, Cambridge, has opened for the academic year 21/22 extending the independent school’s offering to girls aged as young as three for the first time in its 123-year history. The Preschool, located on Chaucer Road, is set in the grounds of St Mary’s Junior School. An existing building was reconfigured, creating an Early Years Centre that includes space for Preschool, Reception and Year One students. The three dedicated areas include a large room for free-flow activities for all Early Years children, which also acts as a base for Preschool pupils; a smaller room for structured teaching and Reception class activities; and a Year One classroom. Jo Christian, Head of Juniors at St Mary’s, said: “It’s wonderful to have our new Preschool cohort in situ. Having a Preschool on-site ensures an even smoother transition into the Junior School and we can’t wait to see how our new girls flourish here at St Mary’s.” Children attending St Mary’s Preschool follow individualised learning programmes tailored to their own developmental needs. Learning is predominantly based on experiential play, with support and challenge activities provided by dedicated Preschool teachers. There is some direct teaching, in small groups, with a focus on early phonics skills and mathematics, and lessons from specialist teachers, including computer science, music and woodwork. To find out more go to: www.stmaryscambridge.co.uk/ or contact: admissions@stmaryscambridge.co.uk
Stimulating and challenging at Chestnut Nursery
Selecting a nursery for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. Chestnut Nursery Schools provide high quality childcare and pre-school education to meet the most exacting standards. They pride themselves on the level of care and attention your child will receive under their supervision. All activities are carefully planned from the Early Years Foundation Stage to meet every child’s individual needs, activities are stimulating, challenging and progressive. At Chestnut Nursery Schools, your child’s development, both mentally and physically, is incredibly important. Your child will be carefully observed, and their progress recorded, so that the next stage of activities can be planned for. To find out more or arrange a visit go to www.chestnut-nursery.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk
