Do you think you have a Milk Allergy? Do you think you have a Milk Intolerance?
What’s the difference???
A milk allergy is a negative response to the protein in milk. A milk allergy is not the same thing as lactose intolerance, which is a problem in digesting the sugar in milk.
Signs of Milk Allergies
The signs of milk allergy are similar to the symptoms associated with other allergies—skin rashes, sinus problems, wheezing, asthma attacks, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Anaphylaxis is rare, however possible. Milk allergy, like other food allergies, may improve with age, meaning symptoms will become milder or disappear altogether.
Milk Does a Body Good!
Contrary to popular believe, milk and milk products are a very important part of a healthful eating pattern. Self-diagnose yourself judiciously as you may exclude important vitamins and minerals. Even worse, do not eliminate milk and milk products to lose weight!
Skin tests and blood tests often are completed to diagnose, but these are not completely reliable. Also used are challenge tests, which involve withdrawing all milk products from the diet and then slowly adding them back in, while paying careful attention to symptoms. Many people who are allergic to milk also are allergic to other foods, and this can make challenge tests quite difficult.
Some foods to avoid
Cheese, Yogurt, Sour Cream, Coffee Creamer, whipped cream, Ice Cream, Butter, Margarine, Powdered Milk and Evaporated milk.
The list continues as many products contain milk and reading the ingredient list on food labels becomes vital.
What about goat or sheep milk?
Milk from goats, sheep, and cows are very similar. This may
cause what is called “cross reactivity,” meaning that if you react to one, you
are likely to react to the others.