Health trends and fad diets pop up in the health and wellness world all the time. In the past few years the craze has been all about going gluten-free.  I am often asked “Should my kids go gluten-free?”

Poor gluten has been given a really bad rap in the last while.

And, well, there really isn’t a one size fits all answer to this question.

I don’t generally believe in removing healthy, nutritious foods from the diet unless you have a problem with them. Sometimes that can be due to an allergy or a sensitivity. An anaphylactic allergy has a very noticeable response. The person may experience hives, swollen tongue or lips, warm feeling, trouble breathing, weak and rapid pulse or a warm feeling.

In the case of a sensitivity, it isn’t quite as obvious. Symptoms can be delayed several days and may include gas and bloating, cough, runny nose, headaches, migraines, fatigue, brain fog, stomach ache, acne, eczema, rashes and many others. It is a very individual response depending on what is going on in the body. Sometimes it involves the immune system. Two people can have the same sensitivity, but their symptoms can manifest differently.

In either case gut health is poor.

Although I am not a fan of over-processed, commercially produced wheat, there are many healthy and nutritious gluten containing grains that can be incorporated as part of a healthy diet. Spelt, kamut, rye, einkorn and barley are all nutritious alternatives. Many grains are also a great source of resistant starch, an undigestible starch that feeds your good bacteria and helps maintain gut health.

Symptoms of a gluten sensitivity or allergy

A child can have a gluten allergy or a gluten sensitivity. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, children with a gluten allergy, also known as celiac disease, often experience:

• Abdominal bloating and pain
• Chronic diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Irritability and behaviour issues
• Dental enamel defects
• Delayed growth and short stature
• Failure to thrive
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

In the case of an allergy, gluten will have to be avoided. Fortunately, there are many dietary options in the stores, and many resources online and in print on how to cook gluten-free. Read my blog post on Feeding Kids with Food Allergies and Sensitivities for more great info.

A child can be sensitive to gluten and may experience some of the same symptoms, but they are not eliciting the same response in the immune system as someone who is truly allergic. In the case of a sensitivity or allergy, I do recommend removing gluten from the diet. But if there is no sensitivity or allergy, I don’t see a benefit in removing these foods from your child’s diet.

What’s really going on

Let me make one thing very clear. The food is not the problem.

Let me repeat.

The food is not the problem.

The presence of a food sensitivity is a red flag that the gut is not in optimal health, which is why the sensitivity is occurring in the first place. Our bodies should not be reacting to food. When they do, it’s a sign the body is out of balance. There could be an enzyme deficiency or the immune system may be inappropriately targeting these foods as allergens when it really shouldn’t be.

So, to get to the root of the sensitivity, digestion and gut health must be improved.

Two things must happen; 1) remove the food temporarily 2) bring the gut back into balance. This is done through an individual gut health protocol to improve digestion, the levels of good bacteria, the mucosal lining and the permeability of the intestine. Sometimes it is possible to reintroduce the foods at a later date without the recurrence of symptoms.

How do I know if my child has a sensitivity or allergy?

There is testing for celiac disease that will determine if your child has a gluten allergy. This can usually be obtained through a doctor. To determine a food sensitivity, a great place to start is with food journaling. By recording everything your child eats and their reactions, mood, bowel movements, etc., we can often find a connection to a particular food. Once the food is identified, we can work on improving digestion and gut health through a proper gut health protocol.

Do you suspect your child might have an issue with gluten? Do you know your child has a sensitivity or allergy and you have no idea where to start? Let me help you, take the guess work out of your meals and make your life simple and easy! Book a free discovery call today.