| A disease called celiac disease is under | | | | the dairy protein casein. The proteins from |
| investigation to show a link between autism | | | | gluten and casein break down into a peptide. |
| and behavior. Celiac disease is caused from | | | | Foods that can be eaten on a gluten-free diet |
| mal-absorption of nutrients. The hair-like | | | | include rice, potato, buckwheat flour, soy, |
| projections called villi, in the intestinal | | | | corn, fruit, vegetables, beans tapioca, meat, |
| tract are flattened from a reaction to | | | | poultry, fish, shellfish, fish, nuts and |
| gluten. One who carries the disease is | | | | eggs. Meat and poultry are good choices for |
| unable to absorb essential nutrients from | | | | the diet if the child eats them and does not |
| their food. Celiac disease affects the | | | | have adverse reactions. |
| carrier both physically and psychologically. | | | | |
| It can cause poor mental functioning as well. | | | | A disorder very closely related to celiac |
| Celiac disease is often overlooked because | | | | disease and requires the same dietary |
| many doctors are unfamiliar with it. The | | | | intervention is a skin disease known as |
| results of not treating this disease over an | | | | dermatitis herpetiformis. Dermatitis |
| extended period of time can be iron | | | | herpetiformis is a skin manifestation of |
| deficiencies that cause other problems. | | | | gluten sensitivity. Dermatitis appears as a |
| Since only recently, have researches | | | | bumpy rash usually on the arms, legs or |
| determined that many children with gluten | | | | buttocks. It can be extremely itchy and may |
| sensitivity serious enough to damage the gut | | | | also burn. While there are medications that |
| will show no such symptoms in childhood; it | | | | can help, parents may consider the |
| is likely that there are a number of | | | | elimination of gluten in the child's diet to |
| undiagnosed celiac children. Treatment of | | | | prevent re-occurrence. |
| celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. | | | | |
| Processed foods such as fast foods and baked | | | | Author: Theresa McFarland, M.A. |
| goods contain the grain protein gluten and | | | | |