Aoife Hearne: My teenage daughter wants to eat gluten-free foods, is it safe for her?

Some gluten-free foods seem to be highly processed

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My 15-year-old daughter has decided to go gluten-free to reduce bloating. I’ve sourced gluten-free foods but some seem to be highly processed. Is it safe for a teen to follow this diet?

Bloating is a common complaint in all population groups, but despite what you may see on social media it is not a given that gluten is the root cause. A gluten-free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease, an auto-immune disease. The only way coeliac disease can be screened and diagnosed is to get tested while gluten is being consumed regularly. I would caution against ad hoc elimination of any food or food groups without appropriate investigation by
a general practitioner or gastroenterologist.