Gluten is the protein component of grain found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Many children will have sensitivities to wheat and gluten to varying degrees. Some will suffer anything from mild stomach aches to some diarrhoea after eating gluten, while others who suffer from Coeliac disease have a complete gluten intolerance. This permanent intolerance results in great inflammation and damage to the intestine upon exposure; however, with complete avoidance of gluten, the damage can completely be reversed. If you would like your child or children to undergo a gluten intolerance test to ascertain just what foods they are capable of eating, simply book them in at Brisbane Naturopath today.
Why is gluten intolerance on the rise?
Our bodies have still not evolved very well to digest the amount of grains we put into them. From a dietary perspective, our bodies are much more suited to a hunter-gatherer type diet with very little processed grains at all. Yet we really do eat so much wheat. Often our children will have toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, biscuits and muffins for afternoon tea and pasta for dinner. Even if we are not officially gluten intolerant, we should eat fewer grains than we do and vary the grains that we do eat.
Asthma and Eczema are triggered by gluten!
There has been a significant increase in the incidence of childhood Asthma, Eczema and ear infections in children in the past decade. Many of these can be traced to some kind of intolerance typically wheat and/or dairy. A gluten intolerance test will be able to determine whether your child is potentially susceptible to any of these conditions.
How can I help my child if I suspect they are Gluten intolerant?
The best way to minimise this risk is to delay the exposure of these common allergens to our children until their gastrointestinal tracts have matured. It is suggested that children do not try wheat based products until they are at least 12 months old. In the mean time you can substitute with Brown Rice cereals, Amaranth, Millet, Quinoa, Sago and Tapioca. Your Brisbane Naturopath practitioner may suggest a gluten intolerance test or elimination diet to make a clear diagnosis.
Our highly qualified Naturopaths possess the experience and skills to prescribe the most suitable treatment for your child’s needs. Take a proactive approach and call Brisbane Naturopath today to book a gluten intolerance test.
