Due to the possible severe effects of gluten intolerance, it is essential that you look at it as a possibility of your child’s problems with digestion.
There are a few ways to determine gluten intolerance symptoms. Methods include an intestinal wall biopsy, elimination of gluten from the diet and a blood test. Only one reliable method, a strict gluten-free diet, will give you a clear answer for any gluten intolerance issues. Even though your child may test negative for the two clinical tests for celiac disease, they don’t rule out all possibility of a gluten intolerance.
Even when all tests are negative after your doctors appointments, you may want to ready yourselves for the transition to a strict gluten elimination diet.
So start creating your new pantry of gluten-free foods. Some people even argue gluten isn’t really good for anyone, not just those with a specific intolerance to it, so it may be a healthy exercise for you as a parent. Grocery stores like Wild Oats and Whole Foods strengthened gluten-free labeling — not just wheat-free — foods in their stores, so that has helped also.
Only a decade ago we had little awareness and understanding of the number of people who struggled with the inability to digest gluten and the severe consequences of not excluding gluten from their diets. Now it’s known approximately 1 in 130 people suffer from some form of gluten sensitivity. And we know that celiac disease has a variety of long-term effects that may be severe, from malnutrition to possibly even cancer.
Today your doctor should be able to talk about and diagnose celiac disease and your local market should be more equipped with foods explicitly labeled as gluten-free.
Just over 10 years ago many of us would have felt pretty alone as we were challenged with the prospect of changing to a strict gluten-free lifestyle. Today it just requires a minute or two to get camaraderie and fellowship using forums and blogs on the Internet.
It can be painful to watch your son or daughter struggle. It is yet additionally disheartening to watch your child suffer while not understanding why. If your child experiences digestive issues, I encourage you to search for a physician to get help in deciding if the problem is celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
When you have eliminated the untrustworthy brands and found a new world of satisfying alternatives, you might find the gluten-free way of life more possible and less difficult than you originally thought. Stay optimistic and hopeful and your child will be able to enjoy a healthy childhood full of great memories.