A local family is swearing by natural foods after seeing their son significantly reduce signs of a food allergy.

Research shows that 15 million Americans including almost six million children suffer from food allergies. 

That’s one in every 13 kids including a local boy, Samuel May. 

 Samuel is allergic to a variety of foods.

So the family decided to switch from purchasing processed foods to growing their own. 

“The shortest answer is love,” says Scott May. “We love the chickens.” 

The saying goes that “love cures all.” 

For Scott May and his wife, they believe their love for their chickens has helped cure their son of one of his allergies. 

“It’s not just the organic feed in my opinion,” says Scott. “They’re eating bugs, but the bugs are healthy. The bugs haven’t been poisoned.” 

Samuel enjoys his days outside with his dad tending to the animals that have helped him with his many food allergies. 

“Peanuts,” says Samuel. “Soy, dairy, gluten, citrus, tree nuts, strawberries.” 

So Sam’s mom and dad got to work to find a way for him to still get the nutrients his body needs to grow, without making him sick. 

The answer is homegrown eggs. 

“You can tell a difference,” says Scott. “He didn’t break out right away. He didn’t start itching and we weren’t running for the Benadryl.” 

Dietitian Tracy Arini says she’s seen an influx of food allergy related issues. 

“The Centers for Disease control are pretty clear that there’s really no conclusive data that shows that there’s any one reason why, you know, the food allergies have increased like they have,” says Tracy Arini, Union Hospital dietitian.  

Arini says that eating more wholesome foods is better for you, rather than those processed foods.

“We don’t really know what the causal link is, we just know that there is a correlation perhaps with the intake of the process foods, but we’re a little hesitant to say that that is the reason,” says Arini.  

Whether it’s true or not that these eggs are magic, the spell the may family puts on their chickens has cured their son of his egg allergy.

“You gotta make choices and you know, as a parent, we’re all doing our best,” says Scott. “We have to keep trying and we’re still learning.”

With the success they’ve found in raising chickens and easing Samuel’s egg allergy, the May family expects to plant a garden that they hope will help with his other food sensitivities.

Experts say food allergies are a serious health condition and you should check with your doctor before making drastic changes in your diet or any prescriptions you  may take.