Celiac Disease: Correct Nutrition For Children

Celiac disease affects a large part of the population, which is why it is important to know the correct way to manage nutrition.

Knowing how to manage celiac disease is the best strategy to avoid the symptoms related to this disease. In this article, we will give you a number of useful information regarding this disease.

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease, or celiac disease, is a systemic alteration of an autoimmune nature triggered by the consumption of gluten in genetically predisposed individuals.

What is gluten and why does it cause adverse reactions?

Gluten is a complex protein made up of prolamines found in the grain of cereals such as wheat, barley, spelled and rye. Oatmeal can also cause problems, although it does not have this protein.

These prolamines (which are the protein part of cereals) are divided into gliadins and glutenins and are the cause of toxicity.

The adverse reaction occurs because the immune system of celiacs, in detecting these substances, causes an inflammatory reaction that damages the villi that cover the intestinal walls.

The result of this inflammation is an alteration in the absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract. This creates clinical and functional problems depending on the age and physiopathological situation of the person.

At what age does celiac disease arise?

Celiac disease can occur at any age and lasts for a lifetime. Regarding the age of diagnosis, there are two time intervals in which there has been an increase in the number of cases. We refer to children from 1 to 3 years old and to adults between 30 and 50 years old. If we talk about children, it is estimated that it affects 1 in 118.

What are the clinical manifestations?

Clinical manifestations vary according to the age of the subject. Here is a table showing the main symptoms and signs that usually occur by age group.

Treatment of celiac disease

To avoid the annoying manifestations of this pathology, the only reliable and effective treatment to date is to follow a gluten-free diet.

With a meal plan that does not include trace amounts of this protein, symptom improvement can be achieved approximately two weeks after starting the new diet. Also, after about two years, intestinal villous recovery may occur.

A positive aspect of the onset of this disease at an early age is that children tend to accept and adapt to the new diet more easily and effectively than adolescents and adults. The important thing is that parents take on this task responsibly.

This is why it is important to have healthy eating habits, especially for those children who have a disease directly related to food.

Nutritional recommendations

Let’s find out what are the guidelines to follow for feeding children with celiac disease.

• Do not consume cereal products containing gluten: wheat, barley, rye and spelled.
• Pay attention to the processed products. Many processed foods may contain flours or other gluten-containing substances, even if at first glance they seem absent. Avoiding them is the best choice to make.
• Learn to understand what is written on the labels.
• Be careful in the kitchen to avoid contamination. Do not use the same utensils that were used to prepare foods with gluten. Do not use the same oil for frying, etc.

• In restaurants, make sure they have gluten-free dishes and follow hygienic standards to avoid cross-contamination.
• Find alternatives to common grains such as amaranth, quinoa, corn, millet, sorghum and buckwheat.
• In case of lactose intolerance, include lactose-free dairy products or their plant analogues in the diet.
• Make sure you are getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals by eating fruits, vegetables and greens.

Finally, contact a professional who can help you manage the disease. In this way, you will avoid problems in both the physical and social development of the child.