Difference between dairy allergy and lactose intolerance?!
Question: I just recently obtained an allergy to dairy although i don't know that much about it. I also know that sometimes stuff is lactose free but it's not dairy free. (it always annoys me when i say i have a dairy allergy and they call it lactose intolerance). but anyways will someone explain to me the difference? And is lactose intolerance more common than a gluten intolerance? i have a gluten intolerance and i always have to explain it (people always think i'm talking about glucose) yet EVERYONE knows what lactose intolerance is.
Answers: I just recently obtained an allergy to dairy although i don't know that much about it. I also know that sometimes stuff is lactose free but it's not dairy free. (it always annoys me when i say i have a dairy allergy and they call it lactose intolerance). but anyways will someone explain to me the difference? And is lactose intolerance more common than a gluten intolerance? i have a gluten intolerance and i always have to explain it (people always think i'm talking about glucose) yet EVERYONE knows what lactose intolerance is.
A dairy allergy is an immune reaction against milk proteins. Which means that your body will react against all milk products that contain milk proteins, including cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, fresh milk, and lactose-free milk.
Lactose intolerance is inability to digest milk sugar called lactose. When your body can't digest lactose. Then bacteria in your intestines digest this lactose producing gas and discomfort for you.
Fresh milk contains the most lactose. And drinking fresh milk produces the worst symptoms for lactose intolerant people.
Yougurt and Buttermilk contain smaller amounts of lactose because bacterial cultures used to prepare these products digest most of the lactose during preparation. Lactose-free milk contains small amounts of lactose and can still produce mild symptoms. But virtually all lactose is eliminated from cheese during its preparation.
Most lactose intolerant people can eat yogurt, buttermilk, cheese, and lactose-free milk without too much trouble. They only need to avoid drinking fresh milk and any food products that contain fresh milk.
Having an allergic reaction to dairy products can cause a variety of symptoms like rash, shortness of breath, swelling etc.
There are two types of protein in milk that can cause an allergic reaction:
Casein, which is found in the solid part (curd) of milk that curdles
Whey, which is found in the liquid part of milk that remains after milk curdles
You or your child may be allergic to only one milk protein or allergic to both casein and whey. These proteins are not only present in milk