What is dairy intolerance?
Dairy intolerances are very common. People can be intolerant to dairy in different ways. Most people are intolerant to lactose in dairy, but some people are intolerant to proteins in dairy.
What`s the difference?
Lactose intolerance is when a person’s body cannot break down lactose properly. Symptoms often include bloating, flatulence, and diarrhoea. Lactose is a type of sugar found only in milk. It is also present in dairy products and products made from milk, including cheese and ice cream.
Lactose cannot become absorbed by the body unless is gets changed into more simple sugars called glucose and galactose. This change happens when the lactose passes through the stomach into the upper part of the gut and comes into contact with an enzyme called lactase.
If a person has lactose intolerance, their digestive system produces too little of an enzyme known as lactase. Lactase is needed to break down lactose.
Lactose intolerance is different from a milk allergy. In a milk allergy, the body reacts to milk proteins, not milk sugar. A milk allergy can result in severe symptoms, including anaphylaxis, whereas an intolerance can be uncomfortable, but it isn`t life-threatening.
An estimated 68% of people, world-wide have trouble digesting lactose.
Some people are intolerant to a protein in dairy, rather than Lactose. This is the A1 beta-casein milk protein. In some individuals, this can convert into a a very inflammatory peptide called beta-casomorphin - 7 which can cause not only digestive upset, but heavy, painful periods, premenstrual mood disorders and other menstrual difficulties.
Symptoms
People with lactose intolerance experience symptoms after eating or drinking milk or dairy products that contain lactose.
Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to a severe reaction. This depends on how much lactase a person’s body produces and how much lactose they consumed. Most people with lactose intolerance can eat some amount of lactose without experiencing symptoms. Each person has a different tolerance level.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance can include:
If you think that you may be lactose intolerant, you could keep a food diary that you record what you have eaten alongside your symptoms, to help you understand if it is the cause of your digestive trouble.
There are tests that can be done to determine whether you are lactose intolerant also.
People with the protein intolerance may experience
Avoiding Dairy
To avoid symptoms, a person with a dairy intolerance may need to avoid milk, milk products such as ice cream, and other processed foods that contain milk powder and whey. To avoid symptoms, a person with a dairy intolerance should check food labels carefully, as some foods may contain hidden dairy ingredients.
Dairy foods to avoid
Non-dairy foods containing lactose
There are many other foods that contain dairy products so always check the label.
Here is a list of names that are used instead of milk that you may come across in the ingredients.
Dairy intolerances are very common. People can be intolerant to dairy in different ways. Most people are intolerant to lactose in dairy, but some people are intolerant to proteins in dairy.
What`s the difference?
Lactose intolerance is when a person’s body cannot break down lactose properly. Symptoms often include bloating, flatulence, and diarrhoea. Lactose is a type of sugar found only in milk. It is also present in dairy products and products made from milk, including cheese and ice cream.
Lactose cannot become absorbed by the body unless is gets changed into more simple sugars called glucose and galactose. This change happens when the lactose passes through the stomach into the upper part of the gut and comes into contact with an enzyme called lactase.
If a person has lactose intolerance, their digestive system produces too little of an enzyme known as lactase. Lactase is needed to break down lactose.
Lactose intolerance is different from a milk allergy. In a milk allergy, the body reacts to milk proteins, not milk sugar. A milk allergy can result in severe symptoms, including anaphylaxis, whereas an intolerance can be uncomfortable, but it isn`t life-threatening.
An estimated 68% of people, world-wide have trouble digesting lactose.
Some people are intolerant to a protein in dairy, rather than Lactose. This is the A1 beta-casein milk protein. In some individuals, this can convert into a a very inflammatory peptide called beta-casomorphin - 7 which can cause not only digestive upset, but heavy, painful periods, premenstrual mood disorders and other menstrual difficulties.
Symptoms
People with lactose intolerance experience symptoms after eating or drinking milk or dairy products that contain lactose.
Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to a severe reaction. This depends on how much lactase a person’s body produces and how much lactose they consumed. Most people with lactose intolerance can eat some amount of lactose without experiencing symptoms. Each person has a different tolerance level.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance can include:
- bloating
- abdominal pain and cramping
- Flatulence
- nausea
- Diarrhoea
- belching
If you think that you may be lactose intolerant, you could keep a food diary that you record what you have eaten alongside your symptoms, to help you understand if it is the cause of your digestive trouble.
There are tests that can be done to determine whether you are lactose intolerant also.
People with the protein intolerance may experience
- Heavy periods
- Painful periods
- Acne prone skin
- Endometriosis
- PCOS
- Fertility issues
- Headaches
- Energy slumps
Avoiding Dairy
To avoid symptoms, a person with a dairy intolerance may need to avoid milk, milk products such as ice cream, and other processed foods that contain milk powder and whey. To avoid symptoms, a person with a dairy intolerance should check food labels carefully, as some foods may contain hidden dairy ingredients.
Dairy foods to avoid
- Milk (from animals)
- Yoghurt
- Cream
- Cheese
- Butter and ghee
- Ice-cream
- Buttermilk
- Fromage frais
Non-dairy foods containing lactose
- Chocolate
- Salad dressings and mayonnaise
- Some ready meals
- Biscuits
- Batter e.g. around fish fingers
- Cakes
- Margarine, low fat spreads and vegetable spreads
- Certain breakfast cereals
- Cheese flavoured crisps
- Types of bread and pastries
- Some processed meats, such as sliced ham
- Look out for lactic acid (sometimes shown on product labels as E270)
There are many other foods that contain dairy products so always check the label.
Here is a list of names that are used instead of milk that you may come across in the ingredients.
Other animals milk
Other animal milks (and products made from them) are now widely available. Some people with lactose intolerance can consume small quantities of goat, sheep or buffalo milk, cheese, yoghurts etc, without symptoms. This is down to these alternative milk sources containing less lactose.
It`s best to remove dairy all-together to start with, then introduce some non-cow dairy product as a challenge test to see if your body reacts. I can help you do this in a systematic way.
What about calcium?
We have been conditioned from a young age that dairy is the main source of calcium for us. Whilst it is true that dairy is the highest calcium containing food, actually, dairy is not needed as all to get the right amount of calcium in your diet, as long as you eat in a healthy and balanced way.
Some of the best high-calcium foods that are dairy-free include almonds, navy beans, broccoli, kale, chinese cabbage such as pak choi, swiss chard, green beans, carrots, turnip, rhubarb, watercress, black eyed peas, organic edamame/tofu, sardines, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, butternut squash, sweet potato, oranges, figs, clams and seaweed foods.
If you are low in magnesium, it will implicate your calcium levels as these two minerals work together in partnership. Load up on your dark green, leafy veggies, nuts and seeds and brown rice to get the best magnesium content that you can into your diet.
Should I supplement with calcium?
No.
Supplementing with calcium can cause problems with your cardiovascular system. You should never supplement with calcium unless advised by your GP or your Nutritional therapist.
Instead, a good multivitamin and mineral supplement is a much better idea. These supplements are carefully put together so that the minerals work in synergy with each other.
Other animal milks (and products made from them) are now widely available. Some people with lactose intolerance can consume small quantities of goat, sheep or buffalo milk, cheese, yoghurts etc, without symptoms. This is down to these alternative milk sources containing less lactose.
It`s best to remove dairy all-together to start with, then introduce some non-cow dairy product as a challenge test to see if your body reacts. I can help you do this in a systematic way.
What about calcium?
We have been conditioned from a young age that dairy is the main source of calcium for us. Whilst it is true that dairy is the highest calcium containing food, actually, dairy is not needed as all to get the right amount of calcium in your diet, as long as you eat in a healthy and balanced way.
Some of the best high-calcium foods that are dairy-free include almonds, navy beans, broccoli, kale, chinese cabbage such as pak choi, swiss chard, green beans, carrots, turnip, rhubarb, watercress, black eyed peas, organic edamame/tofu, sardines, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, butternut squash, sweet potato, oranges, figs, clams and seaweed foods.
If you are low in magnesium, it will implicate your calcium levels as these two minerals work together in partnership. Load up on your dark green, leafy veggies, nuts and seeds and brown rice to get the best magnesium content that you can into your diet.
Should I supplement with calcium?
No.
Supplementing with calcium can cause problems with your cardiovascular system. You should never supplement with calcium unless advised by your GP or your Nutritional therapist.
Instead, a good multivitamin and mineral supplement is a much better idea. These supplements are carefully put together so that the minerals work in synergy with each other.
