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Dear Listmates,

I have some technical questions here, about which some of you may have knowledge or experience:

My 11 year old daughter, 9 months gf, avoids protein.  I am concerned, because I know she doesn't get the amount children need at this age.  She will eat nut butters(likes--but these are more fat than protein) some nuts, sunflower seeds (loves), and a bit of meat.  But, given, the choice she would probably leave most meat on her plate, and usually she does. 

 I tried sneaking rice protein into her food, but she noticed, and said that what I added to her food didn't make her feel good.  Early in her healing I thought she experienced a reaction to chicken.  I'm not sure why the reaction to chicken--I would be interested if anyone knows why.  She seem to be allergic to fish, so pork and beef are her meats.  IgG testing showed reaction to eggs and cow's milk, so she hasn't been eating them.  I want to try getting more of these foods back into her diet.   

But as for protein, thinking back on it, she has long avoided eating protein.  I am wondering if it has anything to do with missing enzymes to digest protein.  She says that eating meat makes her feel tired.  When we were looking for what was wrong, before we stumbled onto gluten intolerance, we had a stool analysis through the Great Smokies Laboratory that showed her low in betaglucoronidase.  Her integrated medicine doctor told me at the time that this is an enzyme for digesting protein. None of the mainstream GIs have picked up on this, but I plan to ask.  Is this an enzyme secreted by the pancreas?  We have not had any blood work done on pancreatic function.  I gave her digestive enyzmes (DPP IV from Kirkman Laboratories) for about 2 months.  With the enzymes, she seemed to go longer between meals without getting hungry, her overall body temperature has risen during this time, but she hasn't  gained any weight.  Liver and thyroid numbers were a bit off before going gf, but they a..

Another thought--I have read that problems digesting protein can result in an overgrowth of the bacteria Clostridium, which feeds on the putrifying food.  How does one know if this is happening? If it is, what do you do about it?

Is this a transitory thing which will it resolve as she heals? Should I press the protein, or just let her eat what she feels good with?

Thank you, Diane

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