How to Live with a Milk Allergy

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You would have it quite difficult to survive in today’s environment if you have a milk allergy. Almost every food has some form of milk or milk products in them. It is hard to avoid eating something that contains milk. The worst part is that you may have to give up eating desserts since cakes, puddings and ice creams bought commercially all use milk as an ingredient.

So here are some tips on how to live with a milk allergy:

1. It would seem as if you will need to prepare some of the foods yourself. Luckily, it is possible to substitute equal amounts of water or fruit juice in some recipes that call for milk. The cooked product may not taste just as creamy in the end, but it is still better than nothing.

2. When purchasing items from your local deli, you also need to be watchful that cheese (a milk related product) and meats are not sliced on same deli meat slicer machine. There is a risk of food contamination if this is the case.

3. Certain brands of canned tuna fish contain a milk protein called casein (a milk derivative). Check tuna can labels carefully for this ingredient if you or someone in your family is allergic to milk.

4. Then, there are also other non-dairy products that contain casein. Food manufacturers put the casein into their products as a binding agent. Check the following products for casein: breath mints, coffee whiteners, fortified cereals, ice cream, infant formulas, nutrition bars, processed meats, salad dressingshigh-protein beverage powders, and also whipped toppings.

5. If you are eating in a restaurant, check if the meat is prepared with butter. Butter is often put on steaks while grilling for more flavor. You would not want to start chomping down your food and then realise that you made a mistake with eating it. If you accidentally ingest milk or a milk product you are likely to experience symptoms such as sneezing, wheezing, vomiting, or hives.

6. If you are over at your friend’s place for a meal, let the host or hostess know beforehand about your allergy.

7. Get in the habit of checking food labels before buying or eating a product.

8. Ensure that you have a complete diet by talking to your nutritionist on alterantive sources of calcium and Vitamin D. It is likely that he or she will recommend foods such as broccoli, spinach, and soy products.

9. Always let close family and friends about your milk allergy in case you get into an anaphyletic shock. Let them know that they should call 911 rightaway.

Nov

6

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms

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Like me, you may find yourself find themselves having various lactose intolerance symptoms after drinking milk. These symptoms include diarrhea, bloating and stomach pain.

Not knowing any better, I have often use the term milk allergy to mean lactose intolerance. I have since found that this is a common mistake and that it is important to make the distinction between the two. A milk allergy can cause far more severe reactions but not a case of lactose intolerance. When consulting with your doctor, you should use the correct term to describe your condition to minimise confusion.

Lactose is a sugar found naturally in milk. It is caused by a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down lactose for absorption into the bloodstream. What happens if you lack this enzyme? Lactose cannot be absorbed properly from the gut, causing you symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea.

Experiencing lactose intolerance symptoms is more common in Asian communities where milk is not part of a typical adult diet. It has been found that up to 75% of the black African community and more than 90% of the Asian community are intolerant to lactose. Being a Chinese, I have found this to be largely true; at least where my parents are concerned - most of us do not drink milk (except for soya milk) on a regular basis out of habit and also, intolerance.

Other causes of lactose intolerance include digestive diseases, or injuries to the small intestine. A lactose intolerance can also be inherited but hereditary reasons are said to be rare.

If you suffer from lactose intolerance symptoms, you may be wondering if drinking cow’s milk or goat’s milk make a difference. Some people have found goat’s milk to be tolerable than cow’s milk. However, for those with a true milk allergy or lactose intolerance and an extremely sensitive gut, goat’s milk is not a suitable alternative to cow’s milk either.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance can be reduced by avoiding having lactose in your diet. However, small amounts can be taken if you are an adult, without any adverse reactions.

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