Dairy allergy is one of the top eight food allergies in the United States. Because milk is source of many important vitamins and other nutrients, it may seem impossible to live without dairy foods. The good news is that there are many dairy substitutes and alternative recipes available that can provide all the nutrients found in milk.
Allergy vs. Intolerance
Dairy allergy, which is sometimes also called milk allergy, is an allergic reaction to one of the components of milk. Cow’s milk contains three components that may cause digestive and other problems for some people: casein protein, whey protein, and lactose sugar.
When someone has a food allergy, the body’s immune system thinks the proteins on the surface of a food are something foreign or dangerous to the body. This triggers the immune system to release antibodies to defend the body the same way antibodies defend against bacteria or a virus. The antibody releases chemicals including histamine into the body. These chemicals can cause a variety of symptoms including hives, headache, stomachache, or nausea. They can also cause the tissue in the mouth and windpipe to swell, which can make it hard to breathe. A severe reaction can cause anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal condition where the airway swells closed and cuts off breathing.
Milk allergy is typically a reaction to either casein protein or whey protein found in cow’s milk. The lactose sugar in milk is more often associated with food intolerance. This means the body is not capable of correctly digesting the food. People who are lactose intolerant are lacking a chemical enzyme called lactase that is used by the body to digest the lactose sugar. Lactose intolerance symptoms are typically confined to the stomach and intestines including bloating, cramping, and diarrhea. Intolerance is often uncomfortable, but it is unlikely to cause a life-threatening reaction like a food allergy can.
Living Without Dairy
If you have a dairy allergy your doctor will probably tell you to cut out all dairy foods from your diet. The most obvious foods to avoid include milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, sour cream, and ice cream. The difficulty with dairy allergy is that dairy products or the components of milk are found in many foods that you might not think of. Even foods that are labeled as “dairy-free” may contain a dairy component. Casein or casein protein are common ingredients in many processed foods. Be wary of chocolate, salad dressings, soups, deli meats, and canned tuna. Also watch out for snack foods with butter or cheese flavoring. These ingredients may contain dairy even if they say they are “artificially flavored”.
Dairy Substitutes
There are many dairy substitutes available at the grocery store and in health food stores. Read the labels carefully as some of these also contain small amounts of dairy products. Soy milk, rice milk, and nut milk are just a few of the substitutes available. The flavors and textures (creamy or thin) of these products tend to vary greatly by brand. You may want to sample different substitutes for different uses, such as using soy milk to make pancakes and rice or oat milk for lighter baked goods or to pour over cereal.
It is very important that you learn to recognize dairy products and their derivatives on product labels. Because milk or dairy is one of the top eight allergens in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration requires producers to clearly label all foods that contain dairy products. When purchasing dairy-free items you should also consider possible sources of cross-contamination. This can occur in the kitchen of a restaurant if the same utensils are used to prepare a food with dairy and one without. Cross-contamination happens in food processing plants if dairy-free foods are prepared using the same manufacturing equipment as foods containing dairy. It can also occur at the deli counter if the same slicer is used to cut meats and cheeses.
Some products that are derived from milk are considered safe foods for dairy allergy. Lactoferrin and Tagatose (Naturlose) are generally considered safe. Check with your doctor to make sure this is true for you before you use these products.
Milk allergy is common in children and often begins before they are one year old. Most children who have an allergy to milk eventually outgrow the allergy. If you believe you or someone in your family has a food allergy, ask your doctor to recommend an allergist who specializes in food allergies.
Sources:
About.com: Dairy Allergies
KidsHealth.org
Kids With Food Allergies: Substituting
Kids with Food Allergies: Milk Allergy Avoidance List