| It can be painful to watch your child suffer. It can | | | | Celiac Sprue Disease and Gluten Intolerance |
| be even more frustrating to watch your children | | | | When you take your child to the doctor to |
| suffer without understanding why they're | | | | investigate the possibility of a gluten sensitivity, |
| suffering. If your son or daughter experiences | | | | you need to keep in mind that diagnosis is still, |
| digestive problems, I encourage you to seek a | | | | unfortunately, a little less than clear and precise. |
| physician's assistance in determining the possibility | | | | Even if a blood test comes back as negative, it |
| of celiac disease or gluten intolerance. | | | | doesn't mean your son or daughter is not |
| Increased Awareness Means Increased | | | | suffering from some form of gluten intolerance. |
| Assistance | | | | In addition to a blood test, a primary care |
| Just a decade ago we had little understanding and | | | | physician may determine it necessary to do an |
| awareness of the number of people who | | | | intestinal biopsy. If it still comes back as negative, |
| suffered from an inability to properly digest gluten | | | | your doctor may still advise you to try a |
| and the severe consequences of not removing | | | | gluten-free diet. In addition to greater awareness |
| gluten from their diets. Now we know that | | | | about celiac disease, there is also an increasing |
| roughly one 1 in 130 people suffer from some | | | | awareness for non-celiac gluten sensitivity. |
| form of gluten sensitivity. And we know that | | | | Living Without Gluten |
| celiac disease has many long-term consequences | | | | Once you have determined that a child must live |
| that can be severe, from malnutrition to possibly | | | | without gluten, you need to start building yourself |
| cancer. | | | | a gluten-free pantry and developing a whole new |
| So now that we have this greater awareness, we | | | | vocabulary of foods. As I mentioned earlier, |
| are seeing better diagnosis from our doctors and | | | | manufacturers and grocery chains - especially |
| more food options and variety in the grocery | | | | natural and gourmet chains like Whole Foods - |
| stores. Many quality grocers go beyond the | | | | make this much easier than it used to be. |
| manufacturers to help identify and label | | | | But you still need to learn the many ways that |
| gluten-free foods. | | | | gluten can sneak into products, and not just food |
| You can also find a tremendous amount of | | | | products. But hold on to hope: many children and |
| support through various online forums and blogs. | | | | adults alike have adapted to a gluten-free lifestyle |
| If your child suffered from celiac disease ten | | | | and now live happy, healthy lives. Your child still |
| years ago, you would have felt far more alone | | | | has a joyous childhood ahead. |
| and isolated. | | | | |