Gluten Intolerance in Children

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 mild stomach aches after eating gluten or some diarrhoea while others who suffer from Coeliac disease have a complete intolerance to gluten. This permanent intolerance to gluten results in great inflammation and damage to the intestine upon exposure. This damage is generally reversible with complete avoidance of gluten.

Why is Gluten intolerance on the rise?

Our bodies have still not evolved very well to 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.

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 we wait until our children are at least 12 months old before trying wheat based products. In the mean time you can substitute with Brown Rice cereals, Amaranth, Millet, Quinoa, Sago and Tapioca.
You MAAC practitioner may suggest a food sensitivity test or elimination diet to diagnose gluten intolerance in your child.

Our highly qualified Naturopaths have the experience and skills to prescribe the most suitable treatment for your child’s needs. Take a proactive approach and call MAAC today. You can make an appointment online, email us, or phone us on (03) 96862566. Our clinic in Albert Park, Melbourne, is open six days a week.