What's the Difference Between a Dairy Intolerance and a Dairy Allergy?

How many times did you hear something along those lines when you were growing up? But for some people, having milk or other dairy products can be very painful. I know it is for me.

When I was a child, I loved milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products. However, I had intense stomach pain shortly after eating any of these products. As I got older, the pain I experienced after eating my favorite foods worsened. A relative suggested I consume lactose-free dairy products instead but it didn't help Finally, in my late teens, I was tested and diagnosed with dairy intolerances and other food allergies.

As it was in my situation, most people don't realize that it isn't as simple as cutting out dairy and a sufferer feels better. There are many products out there containing dairy that you'd never suspect such as coffee whiteners, certain brands of potato chips, cereals, mayonnaise, protein bars, baby formula, desert toppings, and salad dressings. A few more surprising culprits include breath mints, gum, processed meats and products containing dairy by-products like vitamins, supplements, lotions, soaps, cosmetics and certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs. So, what is a person with dairy allergies supposed to do? The first thing is to learn the difference between a dairy intolerance and a dairy allergy. Yes, there is a difference.

First of all, lactose is what people with dairy intolerances react to. Lactose is the sugar found naturally in milk. A more common dairy allergen is casein, which is a protein found in milk and dairy products. It is also used as an emulsifier in many of the products and foods listed above. Allergies are the body's reaction to something we consume that is targeted as 'foreign'. The body goes into 'fight' mode releasing antibodies to kill off the 'foreign' invader and this is what causes the pain, illness and/or inflammation. Allergies can range in severity, the most severe of which being anaphylactic shock (when one stops breathing).

Intolerances don't target the immune system the way allergies do. In this case, the body lacks a needed enzyme to digest the food. For those who are lactose intolerant, then, the enzyme lactase (which is responsible for breaking lactose down in the small intestine) is missing. Without lactase, lactose heads straight into the large intestine causing the bloating, pain and gastrointestinal discomfort.

30% of Americans suffer from lactose intolerance. And unlike dairy allergies, which often decreases or disappears completely with age, lactose intolerance worsens as one ages as the amount of lactase in our systems decreases.

Symptoms:

Usually if you have a food intolerance some of the symptoms you may experience shortly after consuming something with dairy in it include:

• stomach pain and cramping

• bloating

• gas

• diarrhea

• nausea

• headaches

The signs of food allergies may be any of the above signs as well as:

• constipation

• asthma

• skin rash or hives

• eczema

• nasal congestion

• blood in urine or stool

• rectal itching or fissures

• breathing problems and/or anaphylactic shock.

Testing for Dairy Intolerances and Allergies

As with me when I was a child, the most common form of testing for dairy sensitivities is with an elimination diet. This basically involves taking out any dairy products from the diet for a specified amount of time then slowly reintroducing the foods back into the diet to see if there's a reaction. In addition to this, there are three other forms of testing which are a little more invasive:

Lactose intolerance test: you would ingest lactose then take a blood test checking for a rise in your blood glucose levels. This indicates the lactose is still sitting in the digestive system.

Hydrogen breath test: this detects undigested lactose in the colon by measuring hydrogen levels in the breath.

Stool acidity test: this test is usually given in replacement of the breath test for young children. Also measures levels of acidity due to undigested lactose.

Treatments:

There are different forms of treatment depending on the severity of the intolerance or allergies. Those with milder lactose intolerances to lactose might be able to eat small amounts of dairy products with the help of a lactase enzyme supplement. Elimination seems to be the most reliable way to treat either intolerances or allergies. A major concern, of course, is that dairy products are our main source of dairy intake so an appropriate supplement is essential.

For those with dairy allergies, there are various medications, shots or antihistamines. But caregivers are cautioned to do research and ask questions as there can be many side effects with these treatments. Natural treatments seem to be the most sought after form of treatment using herbal supplements such as licorice root and Siberian ginseng.
Dairy intolerances or allergies can be painful. Informing yourself through research and appropriate testing can get you on the right track in terms of treatment and healthier living.