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Digestive Health

Does this story sound familiar? Your child just ate lunch and is going about their day when symptoms suddenly hit. They feel bloated and gassy, their stomach starts to cramp, and they may even experience diarrhea or constipation. You see how these symptoms disrupt their day, but nothing you’ve tried seems to help. For many children and teens with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other dietary sensitivities, certain carbohydrates can cause more trouble than they’re worth. The low FODMAP diet for beginners can help calm this digestive discomfort by identifying which foods may trigger symptoms. Learn how to help your child feel more comfortable and confident around food. What are FODMAPs? In 2005, researchers in the Department of Gastroenterology at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia identified a group of short-chain carbohydrates found in food that are either poorly absorbed in the small intestine or impossible to digest. The team named […]

Diarrhea. Abdominal pain. Bloating. Ugh!!! These annoying symptoms can occur in many gastrointestinal problems that teenagers experience. On social media, on the bleachers a school sports events, at doctors’ appointments, it seems like everywhere people are talking about gluten. What is gluten? Gluten is a group of proteins commonly found in wheat, barley, oats, and rye. It affects the dough quality of breads and is added to processed foods to improve texture, moisture, and flavor. When should a teenager go gluten-free?   When they are diagnosed with a problem caused by gluten. Celiac disease, wheat allergy, and gluten intolerance involve gluten, but are not one and the same. Celiac Disease Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where gluten triggers the body’s immune system, which normally makes antibodies to fight off harmful invaders like viruses or bacteria, to make antibodies against itself. These “autoantibodies” damage villi, finger-like projections lining the small […]