Connect with us

Health

Report Shows Fiber Intake During Pregnancy Decreases the Risk for Celiac Disease

mm

Published

on

A recent study has shown that pregnant women who eat high amounts of fiber could protect their children from Celiac disease.

Children are being diagnosed with celiac disease more than ever before. Historically, the majority of diagnoses occurred after a child turned 18 years old, but the number of younger children being diagnosed is increasing.

Celiac disease is dangerous because of the lasting effects it can have on a child’s body when left untreated.

The small intestine is at risk, as is their mental health and nutrition. There are no proven ways to prevent celiac disease or treat it other than a lifelong gluten-free diet.

The connection between a high-fiber diet of the mother and a lower rate of celiac disease in children could be the answer doctors have been seeking.

What is celiac disease, exactly?

Once you have celiac disease, there is no getting rid of it. Treatment is the only option and that means you must follow a strict gluten-free diet that will last the rest of your life.

The disease itself affects both the digestive and immune systems, causing discomfort in the stomach and other unpleasant symptoms.

When gluten, a protein that binds foods such as wheat and barley, enters a Celiac’s digestive system, the immune system responds by attacking the small intestine. This can cause damage that prevents the body from properly digesting food and other nutrients.

Celiac disease can also have many other negative effects on the body that make life less comfortable.

Bloating is a common symptom of celiac disease in both adults and children because of its impact on the digestive system. The digestive tract becomes inflamed, resulting in bloating.

Constant stomach pains, cramping, nausea, and headache are also common symptoms of celiac disease.

Weight loss can be a particularly dangerous symptom for children because of how rapidly they grow. It is often found that removing gluten from the diet causes children with celiac disease to regain their lost weight.

Intake of more fiber could help

Based on a study of 88,000 children born between 1999 and 2009, a high fiber diet in pregnant women resulted in fewer celiac diagnoses in the first 11 years of their children’s lives.

Pediatric celiac disease was 8% lower for every 10 grams of fiber a mother ingested during pregnancy. Fiber from fruits and vegetables rather than from cereals decreased the risk the most.

Having a gluten-free diet during pregnancy has no impact on the child’s tendency to develop celiac disease.

The main reason fiber is thought to affect the likelihood of celiac disease is because of the impact it has on the baby’s gut flora. Fiber leads to more diverse gut flora, which in turn leads to a stronger immune system.

Since celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, it is important to strengthen the immune system to fight against it.

Anything a mother eats during her pregnancy affects the baby’s health. A poor diet during pregnancy full of fatty foods could cause the child to be obese or develop high cholesterol.

The environment in which a baby develops largely affects its growth and development once it is born. Maintaining healthy eating habits that offer the baby multiple nutrients is the best way to ensure their general good health.

Causes of celiac disease 

Only around 1% of the population has celiac disease, but the people who do have it face daily struggles. In addition to the prenatal environment, other factors contribute to a diagnosis of celiac disease.

According to Healthcare Weekly, one of the main causes of celiac disease is a person’s genes. The disease is hereditary, so if close relatives have celiac, a child is also more likely to have it.

Having other autoimmune issues also makes a person more susceptible to celiac disease. Since celiac is an autoimmune disease, it can become more readily present in a person with other autoimmune problems.

The increased presence of celiac disease could be attributed to more awareness of the symptoms of celiac, leading to more diagnoses. Another factor could be a result of changes in agriculture and farming over the years which may have generated growth in the number of Celiacs. 

Gluten products, like wheat and flour, are now mass-produced with ease because of modern farming procedures, but this could be affecting human health and nutrition.

The high levels of modified gluten present throughout the food industry that people are ingesting is thought to be causing more cases of celiac disease.

How to test for celiac disease

Early diagnosis is very important when it comes to celiac disease, especially for children. Catching the disease early will prevent further and more serious complications.

Having your child tested for celiac disease early on is a smart way to catch the disease before it can have lasting effects. If you have a family history of celiac, getting tested is the right thing to do.

With the at-home test from imawareTM, it is easy to see if your child has celiac. The test recognizes specific biomarkers that show whether the disease is present in the body.

If you have symptoms even though the test doesn’t indicate the presence of Celiac disease, please consult a doctor. 

Take the test and open up a conversation with your doctor on this topic sooner rather than later.

Problems when it is not treated in children

The short-term symptoms of celiac disease are uncomfortable, especially for children. They can be treated by simply cutting out gluten.  Caught early, any damage caused by the disease will almost always be resolved by a gluten-free diet.

If children go untreated for too long, more serious issues will occur. A person develops the most in their childhood years, and celiac disease could put a damper on the changes a child goes through.

A late diagnosis of celiac disease could cause issues with a child’s weight gain and growth. Delayed diagnosis and treatment also makes it more likely the child will commence puberty later than normal.

Other dangers that go along with untreated celiac disease in children include chronic fatigue, iron-deficiency, anemia, and osteoporosis.

Don’t allow your children to suffer from celiac disease symptoms. Provide them with enough nutrients during pregnancy and after their birth to keep their bodies strong and their development on track.

By getting them tested early on, you could prevent your child from struggles later in life.

Michelle has been a part of the journey ever since Bigtime Daily started. As a strong learner and passionate writer, she contributes her editing skills for the news agency. She also jots down intellectual pieces from categories such as science and health.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Health

9 Simple Steps to Dealing with a Broken Tooth

mm

Published

on

Credit: freepik via Freepik

It’s movie night, and you have an obligatory bowlful of popcorn balancing on your lap. You toss a handful of popcorn and — crack — you unknowingly bite down on a kernel with the full power of your jaw. 

Lightning strikes your mouth as you realize this humble kernel broke your tooth. 

Now what? 

Besides pausing the movie and spitting out your mouthful of popcorn and tooth, you might not know your next steps. 

What should you do, and how can you pay for it? Find the answers to these questions and more below:

1. Save the Pieces 

If possible, save any broken pieces of the tooth. Your dentist might need these pieces.

2. Rinse Your Mouth 

Gently rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Avoid using hot or cold water, as it might aggravate any exposed nerves. 

3. Control Bleeding 

If you bleed, apply gentle pressure to the area with a clean cloth or gauze. You can also use a cold compress on your jaw or cheek to reduce swelling.

4. Contact Your Dentist

Reach out to your dentist immediately. Explain the situation and try to schedule an emergency appointment. Many dentists reserve slots for urgent cases. If they don’t have a spot available, look at specialty emergency clinics in your area.

5. Get Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

Broken and chipped teeth can hurt, so take some over-the-counter pain relievers to help manage this pain until you can see your dentist. 

6. Check Insurance Coverage

Review your dental insurance policy to understand coverage details. Some policies may cover emergency procedures, while others may have limitations.

7. Discuss Payment Options

If cost is a concern, discuss financing options with your dentist. Some dental offices offer flexible arrangements that give you a break. If you qualify for these plans, you might be able to push out your due date to coincide with your payday. You may even be able to break up your total outstanding amount over several payments. 

8. Take out a Personal Loan

If you’re just shy of what you need to cover your emergency dental expense, consider going online to scope out personal loans. A personal loan may fill in for savings in urgent situations. You can quickly visit a website like MoneyKey to see what you need to apply. If approved, a personal loan gives you the means to pay for your visit upfront and pay off what you owe over time. 

9. Consider Urgent Care Clinics

If your financial situation is such that you can’t afford a personal loan’s payments, reconsider your choice of dentist. Some dental practices apply a sliding scale to their services so that they can provide immediate care at a lower cost for at-risk individuals. 

Next Steps: Thinking About the Future

So, you’ve managed to repair your tooth and pay the bill, too. What’s next? Make sure you hit these three goals soon. They can help you prevent another broken tooth in the future!

  1. Stay on Top of Dental Hygiene: Brush at least twice a day and floss once a day — these simple habits can protect your teeth over time. 
  2. Schedule Regular Checkups: Keeping up with regular cleanings can also help you prevent future dental emergencies. 
  3. Build an Emergency Fund: Sometimes, accidents happen. Consider building an emergency fund specifically for unexpected dental emergencies.
Continue Reading

Trending