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Eczema Gluten Free
How do you go gluten-free?
My bubby (2.5 yo) only eats yogurt,applesauce, cereal and peanut butter. I think he has a milk allergy so he is only drinking rice milk now (his eczema and runny nose went away!) He is being evaluated for autism. I heard about the wonders of the gluten free diet but I don't know if his present diet has gluten and what to replace it with since he is suuuchh a picky eater. Help!
There are varying theories on whether the Gluten free/Caesin Free diet works for children with autism, but I have heard that it does and it certainly doesnt hurt to try.
There is a great sites called www.gfcfdiet.com that is catered to that situation.
I only eat GF, not caesin free, and I dont eat it bc of Celiac Disease, not autism. But here are my suggestions:
Try these books and sites and you'll learn a TON!
"Living Wheat and Gluten Free for Dummies" by danna korn
"Gluten Free Gourmet" (cookbook) by bette hagman
www.csaceliacs.org
www.celiac.com
www.celiac.org
www.celiaccentral.org
(these sites are catered to the Celiac Disease but u will find tons of info on living GF)
Try the Yahoo Health Group "SillyYaks" and "Foodallergynetwork" for personal support, recipes and ideas.
My fave, Toddler friendly, GF food companies:
Glutino: cereals (such as ones like cheerios), breads, crackers, cake mixes, etc. Everything I've tried from them has been good.
Pamela's Products: cake, cookie and baking mixes. She also has cookies premade.
bob's Red Mill: Flours and baking mixes
Kinninnick: Frozen products such as breads, bagels, donuts, etc. (frozen foods are expensive to ship, so try to buy those int he store such as your local health food stores and Whole Foods)
Whole FOods GF line has great cookies
Tinkyada pastas are very good and even ppl who eat gluten cant tell they are GF so your toddler wont be able to!
Please, if he is diagnosed with autism, find a local support group for more personalized help. Try sites like www.autismspeaks.org
Good luck and best wishes!
Eczema and Food Allergy are They Related?
Eczema is a type of skin ailment that usually comes with itching, skin thickening and scaling. Most often, eczema appears on the knees, arms, elbows and even on the face.
When this type of skin ailment affects children, especially those who have a clear skin, parents are not able to distinguish its cause at once.
Usually, parents perceived that food allergies are the source of their child's eczema. However, there are numerous experts who find this belief to be untrue. Instead, these experts advise parents not to limit the diet of their child without consulting with a pediatrician first.
An example of eczema relating to food allergy was the case of a five month old baby who suffers from severe eczema.
According to the mother, the baby is intolerant to lactose early on, even the formulas of lactose free appear to be incompatible to her baby. Hence, she decided to shift to soy.
The soy shows a good reaction on the baby's skin. However, after sometime, the eczema appeared again.
If you are in the position of the mother, would you think that the soy caused the eczema to the baby? Would you prefer to use again the lactose free formula?
As what has been mentioned in the previous paragraph, eczema usually appears and vanishes, leaving the child with clear eczema free skin for a couple of weeks. That makes the triggering factor of eczema hard to be determined.
This is the exact thing experienced by the mother in the presented case.
Though it is true that the controversy about food allergies as a triggering factor of eczema do not die away until now, the relationship of a lactose free formula to the baby's eczema do not show a good reason.
According to the experts, the baby might catch the allergy from milk proteins, or if not from the soy proteins. They reject lactose, a sugar, to be the reason.
Shifting to lactose free formula can be her option. But experts affirmed that lactose do not include a formula that would cure the baby's eczema. If ever it does, it is certainly a coincidence.
Lactose may develop other symptoms, like or instance fussiness, diarrhea or gas.
If you have the same case, it is suggested that you visit your baby's pediatrician rather than rely on hearsay. You can cite to your baby's pediatrician that you are suspecting the baby to be allergic on soy formula including those that are milk based.
Your pediatrician will tell you whether these formulas really worsen the eczema. Hypoallergenic formula like Alomentum or Nutramigen can be prescribed.
The pediatrician might also advise allergy testing. This is done through blood testing.
Now, if you really observe that the food or even drinks your baby had taken has worsen his eczema, then you can just simply avoid them. But clarify it with your pediatrician; he is more knowledgeable about food allergies.
Note that there are also some children who both have eczema as well food allergies. But these two do not tend to affect one another.
The best thing about this case is to know the treatments for eczema. Follow the prescription of the pediatrician; this will assure you that you are applying the right medication for your baby.
Determine properly the triggering factor. Usually, pediatricians prescribe moisturizers, or topical steroids.
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