Going gluten-free may have benefits for your child, so this week I'm giving some tips on how to make packing gluten-free lunches easier for you once the kids go back to school.
One of the most common questions I get from parents is "should we go gluten-free?". I always say if the symptoms warrant it and the lab tests support it then it's definitely worth a try - but only if you do it right. Gluten is a protein found most commonly in wheat though it is also present in other grains such as barley and spelt. Its 'elasticity' is what makes bread dough stretchy so it can rise and be light and fluffy once baked.
Unfortunately, gluten can also be hard to digest and research shows that there is now a broad spectrum of "Gluten Related Disorders", caused when gluten triggers inflammation in the body. Reactions to gluten can affect many different systems in the body, not just the gut. Common symptoms we see are neurological ones including chronic headaches, anxiety and ADHD.
Many families with children on the autism spectrum have witnessed this first-hand and have noted a marked improvement when going gluten-free. We often see the whole family enjoys improved health once they give up the gluten! One patient went gluten-free for her son who had PANDAS, and noted that her daughter seemed to benefit too as her chronic dust-mite allergy symptoms completely disappeared as long as she stayed gluten-free.
Due to consumer demand, gluten-free products are now more and more available. However, not all gluten-free products are created equally! It's important you know some good options and don't fall victim to the many highly processed gluten-free foods out there purporting to be 'healthy'.
I usually recommend the bakery mygfbakery.com to my patients as they use natural ingredients with minimal processing or additives. On a recent trip to Borough Market in London, I tried some of their new gluten-free bagels and they are the best bagels I've ever had. Even my son who is anti anything "gluten-free" says they’re better than regular bagels! So don't despair - it is possible to find good options if you decide to try going gluten-free for your child.
As always, if you decide to change your child's diet, it's best to do it with a health professional and to always replace removed foods with ones that are nutritious and not processed.
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