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60 LITTLE LEGENDS GRAINS OF TRUTH about poor diets for kids BWy Nerine Zoio. hile childhood obesity is an ever-growing concern in Australia, so is children complaining of belly aches. This highlights the question: just how much grain should kids ideally be consuming for (among other things) happy tummies and wellbeing? Pharmacists and pharmacy assistants know that common tummy troubles include lactose intolerance, diarrhoea, constipation, food allergies, poor diet and colic, whereas more serious tummy issues span coeliac disease and congenital bowel or liver issues, pancreatitis and hepatitis. Many of these conditions may require care by a GP and/or accredited practising dietitian, but pharmacies can help with many of these conditions on the ground. Dr Damien Belobrajdic, a senior research scientist at the CSIRO, tells Retail Pharmacy Assistants that one of the most common problems experienced by children is constipation. He says the condition is often caused by a poor-quality diet high in heavily processed foods and low in dietary fibre, particularly lacking in fruit and vegetables, and worsened by poor hydration and lack of daily exercise. “This type of eating pattern is a growing concern, especially for children and teenagers who aren’t consuming a wide variety of foods, or avoiding dairy or dairy alternatives,” Dr Belobrajdic said. “This could increase the risk that they’ll be calcium deficient and at risk of poor bone health, particularly at a time when they’re growing their skeleton. “The recommendations for good gut health in kids isn’t that different to \[those for\] adults, which comprise eating whole and natural foods, including minimally processed plant-based foods that are rich in wholegrains, fruit and vegetables, as these will provide dietary fibre necessary for good gut health.” Mark Webster, owner of Stay Well Pharmacy in Christchurch, New Zealand, says that when he encounters children with belly woes, he reminds their guardians that they’re not little adults when it comes to the gut, as their microbiomes are quite immature, moulded by lifestyle and environment, and therefore open to positive influence. So, first and foremost, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants should get some RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • JUN 2020