An article in the Lancet this year states researchers proved Lactobacillus GG was effective for preventing early eczema in high-risk children. The study was performed in Finland on 132 infants. Lactobacillus GG is a probiotic, which means it is a culture of good gut bacteria. These good bacteria (probiotics) have been used to heal the gut from allergic inflammation and food allergies.

Pregnant mothers took probiotics four weeks before delivery then their babies were given probiotics for 6 months. Another group of mothers and babies were given placebos.

The treated group also had less allergic rhinitis and asthma.

In a world of complex treatment plans, it is nice to hear that scientists have not forgotten the K.I.S.S principle (Keep It Simple Silly). How nice to prevent a life long skin condition with a few good bugs!

Probiotics have been in the news lately and are used in the treatment of immune disorders to food allergies. We pediatricians have been recommending probiotics during antibiotics for years to prevent yeast infections.

So what else can you do if you have eczema, allergies, and asthma in your family? Definitely avoid certain foods such as

Don't start these foods until after 1 year of age and don't start egg whites until after 24 months of age if you have a positive family history for the above conditions.

Now the hard part of this article… the spiritual correlate. If you read this column regularly, you know that I always include a Christian correlation with my topic. Hmmm, Christianity and eczema… is there a connection?

Yes there is. We know that certain foods can increase your risk of developing eczema and other allergic-like conditions and if you eat these foods it can make these conditions worse.

So you have a choice, you can

1. avoid these foods
2. eat these foods and live with the consequences
3. eat these foods and complain all day about the consequences

What's this have to do with Christianity? Well in our relationship with Christ, we know that there are certain activities that can increase our risk of developing sinful thoughts and activities, and if we do these activities our relationship with Christ will suffer.

So we have a choice, we can

1. avoid these thoughts and activities and have a deeper relationship with Christ
2. do these things and have an empty relationship with your creator
3. do these things and complain about the consequences

We have choices in our lives some in the physical realm, some in spiritual realm. We must remember our choices have consequences -- good or bad, blessings or curses.

In the choices we can control, let us choose good consequences and closeness with our savior.