Gluten-free diet for children with developmental delays
Find out how a gluten-free diet for children with developmental delays can be a good idea to help you.
If your child doesn’t reach certain milestones at age-appropriate times, he may have a developmental delay . A delay can be seen as a pause in the development process. A child may fall behind in motor, thinking, or social skills, or a combination of all three.
Researchers have developed strategies to help children with developmental delays . One approach is a gluten-free diet . Can a gluten-free diet help your child’s development to be correct? Before giving a gluten-free diet to your child if he is not celiac, the first thing you will have to do is talk to your pediatrician, he will be in charge of explaining what type of diet is the most correct for your child, taking into account his situation of development and current health.
That said, we are going to tell you why a gluten- free diet may be a good option for your child in the event that he or she has a developmental delay today.
Index
CHILDREN HAVE THEIR OWN EVOLUTIONARY RHYTHM
Each child develops at their own pace . For example, not walking at 12 months does not necessarily indicate a developmental delay. But if you notice a delay that seems too long or if your child even regresses, you should make an appointment with your pediatrician as soon as possible.
Your pediatrician can refer you to specialists who will perform a series of tests on your child. After a thorough evaluation, they will be able to determine if your child has a delay and how to treat it in the most appropriate way depending on the specific case you are facing.
A GLUTEN-FREE DIET
Studies by the Autism Network for Dietary Intervention show that, in many cases, children who suffer from impaired social, communication, and imaginative skills also show abnormalities in their ability to break down gluten. For this reason, a gluten-free diet can be helpful for children with developmental delays.
A gluten-free diet is a meal plan made up of foods that are lacking in gluten, which is a protein found in grains and wheat . The idea is that some children cannot digest gluten proteins. The undigested proteins leak through the intestine and into the bloodstream and eventually travel to the brain. They can have an opioid effect on brain development and function.
FOODS ON A GLUTEN-FREE DIET
Feeding your child a strictly gluten-free diet means eliminating all rye, barley, bread, and oatmeal from their menu . You will also eliminate foods with artificial colors, starches, flavorings, and malt from your diet. Your child can still have a variety of foods, including eggs, poultry, rice, corn, fruits, vegetables, and meat.
Many food manufacturers make gluten-free products . They can be found in conventional grocery stores, usually in the health or organic food sections. Health food stores also stock gluten-free foods.
HOW TO START
If you have an official diagnosis of developmental delay, it’s best to work with your pediatrician and a nutritionist to determine if a gluten- free diet is best for your child. A nutritionist can help you create a menu that meets your child’s nutritional needs, while eliminating any foods that may negatively affect you. It is often better to move on to the new diet. Eliminate a gluten-free food every few days, but replace it with an extra serving of a gluten-free food that your child enjoys. Bookstores and libraries stock many gluten-free cookbooks. Experiment with recipes to find ones that your child especially likes.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.