Historically, parents were advised to avoid feeding peanuts to babies for the first few years of life, but emerging research has confirmed that introducing them sooner — as early as infancy — could help stave off food allergies.

A 2025 study led by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia analyzed medical records from dozens of pediatric practices across the U.S., finding that early introduction of peanuts resulted in a 27% decrease in peanut allergy diagnoses among children and a 38% decrease in overall food allergies.

The latest research also found that eggs had surpassed peanuts as the most common food allergen in the children studied. Beyond peanuts, other common food allergens include milk, egg and wheat.

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The new research — published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in October 2025 — focused on a two-year period after new guidance was issued by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which first advised parents to introduce peanuts earlier. 

That updated guidance was based on a landmark 2015 study — the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial — which found that for infants who had severe eczema or an egg allergy, exposing them to peanuts when they were between 4 and 11 months old could reduce peanut allergy risk by 81%.

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The guidelines were updated again in 2021, encouraging the introduction of peanut, egg and other major food allergens as early as 4 to 6 months for all children — including those without a history of prior reaction, according to health experts.

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“Everyone has been wondering whether these landmark public health interventions have had an impact on reducing rates of IgE-mediated food allergies in the United States,” said first author Stanislaw Gabryszewski, M.D., Ph.D., an attending physician in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, in a statement.

“We now have data that suggest the effect of this landmark public health intervention is occurring.”

The latest findings “are supportive of efforts to increase education and advocacy related to early food introduction practices,” the study authors wrote.

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“If confirmed, these findings would represent a meaningful public health advance — affirming that clinical research, when coupled with clear guidelines and committed dissemination, can indeed shift the trajectory of childhood food allergy.”

Study limitations

The study only included data through early 2019 and did not consider the guidance released in 2021, which recommended early introduction of multiple allergens regardless of risk, the researchers acknowledged.

It also relied on allergy diagnoses from electronic health records, which may miss some cases. Also, the researchers did not capture individual feeding patterns.

Because the study was observational, it cannot prove cause and effect, but only association, the researchers noted. Other factors may influence the outcome.

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In some children, peanut allergy can trigger severe, life-threatening reactions, including difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and a dangerous drop in blood pressure, according to Mayo Clinic. These reactions require immediate treatment with epinephrine, a life-saving allergy medication.

Not all parents may be comfortable with these revised guidelines, health experts say.

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“Not everyone has followed those guidelines, but this is further evidence that this early introduction is effective at preventing food allergies,” Dr. Susan Schuval, chief of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital in New York, previously told Fox News Digital.

Parents are encouraged to discuss any concerns with their pediatrician before introducing potential food allergens.

Amy McGorry contributed reporting.

encampment in Berkeley, California.

Leptospirosis, which is caused by Leptospira bacteria, is a zoonotic infection that can be passed from animals to people.

The disease has been confirmed in multiple rats and dogs at the homeless encampments along Harrison Street near Eighth Street in West Berkeley, according to an alert from City of Berkeley Public Health.

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Rats and their urine are the primary vectors of the disease, officials warned. It can also be transmitted through contaminated soil or water exposed to infected animal urine.

“People or animals who touch or drink contaminated water or mud are potentially exposed to the bacteria,” the alert stated. “The disease is transmitted to humans and animals when the contaminated water touches mucous membranes, such as eyes, nose, mouth or skin cuts. This disease is not spread in the air or by coughing or sneezing.”

There is a higher risk after heavy rainfall, flooding or hurricanes, as this increases contact with infected water or soil.

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Leptospirosis typically causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, body aches, vomiting or nausea, according to the CDC. Infected people may also experience yellowed eyes or skin, rash, stomach pain or diarrhea.

Without antibiotic treatment, the disease can lead to serious illness, including kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis and difficulty breathing. In rare cases, it can be fatal to humans and animals, health officials say.

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Illness usually begins between two and 30 days of exposure to the bacteria, according to the CDC. People generally start feeling better within a few days or weeks, but recovery without treatment could take several months.

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“The presence of rats that are transmitting leptospirosis has made the area unsafe for human encampment conditions in the vicinity of Harrison Street encampments in the area generally bounded by San Pablo Avenue, Gilman Street, Codornices Creek and the railroad tracks,” the alert stated.

The city has designated public health risk zones, with the Red Zone marking the highest risk area inside the encampment. Surrounding areas have been defined as the Yellow Zone, with an elevated but lower risk.

“The City’s Health Officer strongly recommends that encampment residents move out of the defined encampment ‘RED ZONE’ area as soon as possible and at least ⅓ of a mile away due to the public health risk caused by the rat infestation transmitting leptospirosis in the area,” officials advised.

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Residents in the area are encouraged to avoid contact with standing water and mud, use protective clothing and monitor themselves and their pets for signs of illness.

Anyone who has been exposed or is experiencing symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

With a new year underway, it might seem like a good idea to embrace a stricter morning routine of waking up early and getting a jump-start on the day — but a 6 a.m. alarm isn’t for everyone, experts say.

“Morning birds” fall asleep and reach deep sleep earlier, often waking up more alert, while “night owls” naturally sleep later and rely more on late-night and early-morning REM. Waking too early can leave night owls groggy and less mentally restored. 

“We need to move beyond the ‘early bird gets the worm’ sayings and consider the biological cost of fighting one’s internal clock,” Dr. Aaron Pinkhasov, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital.

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The science of sleep

People sleep in repeated 90- to 110-minute cycles that alternate between deep NREM sleep and REM sleep, according to Pinkhasov. 

Early in the night, deep sleep dominates, supporting physical repair, immunity and memory. Later cycles include more REM sleep, which supports learning, emotional regulation and brain function. Brief awakenings between cycles are normal.

Whether someone naturally rises early or late depends on the body’s “chronotype,” that is, whether they’re a morning bird or a night owl, he said.

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The chronotype is a “genetic blueprint” that determines when the body is naturally more alert or ready to rest, according to Pinkhasov.

“About 40% to 50% of our sleep-wake preference is inherited, meaning our internal clock is hardwired,” he noted.

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Waking earlier than one’s body’s clock often means sacrificing REM sleep. Forcing this discrepancy between the internal clock and the alarm clock can lead to “wired but tired” fatigue, mood instability and long-term metabolic risks, Pinkhasov warned.

“Unfortunately, because a lot of people have early work, family or social commitments, night owls have a higher prevalence of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and [type 2 diabetes],” Dr. Nissa Keyashian, a California board-certified psychiatrist and author of “Practicing Stillness,” told Fox News Digital.

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Ultimately, health and productivity are highest when prioritizing consistency and sleep quality over an early-morning goal, experts say.

“The main benefit of switching to an earlier schedule is social alignment. It makes it easier to navigate a world built around a 9-to-5 lifestyle. However, the drawbacks can be significant if the shift is forced,” Pinkhasov said.

Smart shifts

There are some ways to “rewire” internal clocks or at least lessen the negative effects. Experts agree that having a regular bedtime and wake-up time — even on the weekends — can help.

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Pinkhasov recommends a wind-down nighttime routine that includes minimizing electronics, meditating, using essential oils, taking a warm shower or bath or drinking warm, herbal tea.

Pushing up your wake-up time by just 15 minutes a day is the most helpful, according to Keyashian.

The expert also recommends exposure to bright light in the morning, which can be helpful for mood, energy and concentration. People who experience dips in mood during the winter months can also benefit from using a therapeutic light box.

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“If you believe this might be you, I recommend speaking with a psychiatrist,” she advised. “I also recommend minimizing caffeine. Some people also notice difficulty falling asleep with exercise late in the day, so be mindful of this as well.”