How to tell if your child may be experiencing digestive issues
By Nikolina Koevska Kharoufeh |
O?ne of the hardest challenges for a new parent is trying to communicate with a child who can't quite speak yet.
And when it comes to their health - this can be quite stressful.
Mum and Head Nutritionist for Nutra Organics Lisa Baker knows this feeling too well, and wants to help parents decipher just when they may be experiencing digestive issues such as poor gut health and grumpy tummies.
Speaking to 9Honey Parenting, the expert shared her tips on picking up on the red flags that may be telling you your child is struggling.
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?Irregular bowel movements
Constipation or diarrhoea are the first and most obvious sign that something isn't going quite right with digestion.
The first thing you should consider with irregular bowel movements is water intake. If water intake is adequate, then fibre is the next thing to consider.
Contrary to popular belief, fibre isn't only for relieving constipation, it can also help to add bulk and slow down loose watery stool.
Other causes of irregular bowel movements are IBS, leaky gut syndrome, food intolerances and gut dysbiosis, so if water intake and fibre aren't fixing the problem it's best to start investigating with a healthcare professional.
Irregular bowel movements can prevent good absorption of essential nutrients, so need to be addressed.
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Bloating and tummy pains
Bloating after meals can be a sign that your child is having trouble digesting certain foods.
An imbalanced microbiome or sensitivities to certain foods can contribute to inflammation and gas.
If your child is experiencing bloating or tummy pains after eating there are a few things you can try.
Introduce a good quality probiotic to help balance the good gut bacteria, and try eliminating a few of the most common gut irritants which include high sugar and highly processed foods, dairy, gluten, and high FODMAP foods (such as garlic, onion and asparagus).
Just keep in mind that elimination diets are designed to be short term to help identify which foods are most irritating for an individual.
Eliminating too many foods for long periods of time can reduce the nutritional variety in your diet, so they are best done under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
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Behavioural problems
Our gut health directly affects our mind and mood, and this connection is even more obvious in children.
If you're noticing that your little one is having mood swings (beyond what you would consider normal for their age and stage) then digestion may well be the culprit.
High sugar and highly processed foods are common aggravators, so try to replace those foods with healthier snack alternatives.
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Showing signs of nutrient deficiencies
Even if your child has a wonderful, healthy, varied diet, they can still become nutrient deficient if they are experiencing digestive issues.
Some digestive issues can go undiagnosed for a long period of time and may go unnoticed until signs of nutrient deficiency start to come through.
If you're having trouble breaking down or absorbing your food, you will not be getting all of the beneficial nutrients.
Some signs of nutrient deficiency include pale skin, chronic or recurring illness, hair loss, slowed growth, muscle weakness, fatigue, poor sleep and dry and inflamed skin.
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If your child is showing signs of nutrient deficiencies, it's time to chat to your healthcare provider to investigate what is causing the problem.
Some deficiencies (like zinc) can reduce appetite and make it even harder for your body to absorb nutrients. This makes it very difficult to fix the deficiency with diet alone.
Choose high quality, easily digested, wholefood supplements to include in your child's diet to optimise their nutrient intake.
Nutra Organics worked in conjunction with Lisa Baker on a new range of gluten-free Kids Heroes such as the Super Tummy powder and Strawberry, Mango and Blueberry Gutsy Gummies - designed to soothe and nourish your kids' tummies.
