Is a Gluten-Free Diet Right for You? Part Two

Part two of our our series explores being gluten-free as a child.

Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts | (310) 322–7357

Gluten-Free in a Gluten Filled World

We sometimes forget that children are exposed to even more gluten than adults are.  Remember, gluten isn't just found in breads and wheat-based products.  Gluten is also found in a lot of products that children eat on a regular basis including cereals, candies and other things that can pose a serious risk to their health.  That's why you want to have a source of trustworthy gluten-free pizza crusts and other baked goods.

For a child that is not gluten-sensitive, a lot of the products that are out there usually pose health risks such as obesity and maybe diabetes.  For a gluten-sensitive child, however, there is the very real danger of anaphylactic shock.  From WEBMD.COM:

"Anaphylaxis is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response that is marked by swelling, hives, lowered blood pressure, and dilated blood vessels. In severe cases, a person will go into shock. If anaphylactic shock isn't treated immediately, it can be fatal.

This condition occurs when the immune system develops a specific allergen fighting antibody (called immunoglobulin E or IgE) that drives an inappropriate or exaggerated reaction toward a substance that is normally harmless, such as food. Your body may not react upon initial exposure but may produce antibodies with later exposures. When you are exposed to the substance later, the binding of the allergen to antibodies can lead to the presence of a large amount of a protein called histamine, which can then lead to the symptoms described above...Anaphylaxis may begin with severe itching of the eyes or face and, within minutes, progress to more serious symptoms. These symptoms include swallowing and breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, cramps,vomiting, diarrhea, hives, and angioedema (swelling similar to hives, but the swelling is beneath the skin instead of on the surface). If you have symptoms of anaphylaxis, seek emergency medical attention immediately. The condition can quickly result in an increased heart rate, sudden weakness, a drop in blood pressure, shock, and ultimately unconsciousness and death. [READ MORE]

Can a Food That's Not Gluten-Free Be That Dangerous?

Can a food that's not gluten-free be that dangerous? In a word, yes.  It depends of course on the level of gluten sensitivity your child has.  The scary thing is a lot of Celiac disease hasn't been diagnosed.

So remember, sometimes you want to protect your child.  Some dangers are obvious.  Others not so.  So start with their diet.  If they need to be careful what they eat, make sure that they eat healthy foods such as gluten-free pizza crusts.

For more information, click here

Venice Bakery
134 Main Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322–7357
http://www.venicebakery.com/