Gluten Free Living
By Isabel Orellana Over the years , gluten has become a much debated substance . But what is the fuss all about ? It is estimated that 5-10 percent of the US population is sensitive to gluten . This would mean that 5-10 % of our angels are sensitive . However , the number is probably much higher . When our angel first got diagnosed at 11 months we had never given him gluten because our pediatrician had advised us not to start with wheat before age 1 . After the diagnosis and investigating about neurological differences and food related issues , it became clear to us that our angel would continue his gluten free journey for good . It is important to note that the gluten free diet ( GF ) is not just a fad diet that will pass sooner or later . For neurologically different kids it can make a huge difference and be an important contributing factor in maximizing your child ’ s health and facilitating development . But you might say that people have been eating wheat for thousands of years , right ? Yes . However , people a few hundred years ago did not have to deal with many other factors such as a weakened gut due to medications and processed foods .
What is gluten ? Gluten is a protein found in various grains such as wheat , barley and rye . While gluten is not present in oats , people sensitive to gluten can react to oats due to cross contamination . This occurs when oats are packaged at a wheat processing facility .
Where do I find gluten ? Typical gluten containing foods are : bread , pasta , pizza , cereal , cakes , cookies and many processed foods with ingredients such as soy sauce , etc .
GF
How can gluten affect special needs kids ? Of course it can affect any person but it appears that people with neurological differences seem to be more sensitive to gluten due to its inflammatory nature . For children with autism for example , removing gluten and other problematic substances such as sugar , dyes and artificial flavors as well as pasteurized dairy have noted great results in symptom management .
What are symptoms of gluten sensitivity ? Detecting gluten sensitivity is often difficult since the symptoms may vary from person to person and in severity . Not everyone who is sensitive has celiac disease ; the most severe form of gluten intolerance . The most common symptoms are gastrointestinal issues ( bloating , reflux , diarrhea or constipation ), eczema and irritability .
What options are there ? Amaranth , buckwheat , corn , millet , oats , quinoa and rice ( preferably whole grain or wild rice ) are all gluten free options . However , for our angels who are on a low glycemic index diet , I recommend watching gluten free alternatives carefully since processed alternatives such as store bought bread , cookies , pasta and pizza are often made with high glycemic index alternatives such as potato , tapioca and white rice and this could prove counter productive in other areas such as inflammation control .
Conclusion Gluten free living is a healthy approach for the entire family given that today ' s wheat is highly altered from its original state and therefore holds minimal nutritional value . Wheat is one of the 8 core allergy foods and as a simple carbohydrate can increase inflammation and related infection risk in the body . If you are looking for support on your gluten free journey join the GFCF angels group and the Angelman Syndrome Diet page on Facebook . Start your journey today ! You have nothing to lose .
27
WWW . ANGELMANTODAY . COM JULY / AUGUST 2013 | Angelman Today