Updated On August 15, 2024

By SaraNextGen

Food Allergy - Dairy

You are enjoying a restful night of sleep when you are jolted awake at 3 o’clock in the morning.  What’s going?  Your alarm clock didn’t go off and the house seems quiet and still.  You do notice, however, that you feel bloated with abdominal discomfort .  By morning your symptoms begins to clear. This same sequence happens night after night. than you started  to believe that you have an allergy to something in your kitchen shelf.

• Do you love to drink milk?  Are you a big fan of cheese on your pizza?  Have you enjoyed these foods in the past without stomach upset, but now when you have a glass of milk your stomach does flip flops?  If you have trouble digesting milk or other dairy products that you may suffer from a dairy allergy.

• What is a dairy allergy?  Dairy includes milk, cheese, ice cream and similar products. These foods contain and enzyme known as lactase.  Lactase helps to break down and digest the dairy products.  Most individuals produce enough lactase naturally to help digest dairy products.  However, individuals with a dairy allergy are not so lucky.  These individuals do not produce enough lactase naturally.

• What are symptoms of a dairy allergy?  Most common symptoms of a allergy are  bloating, gas, constipation, and loose stools.  These generally occur within one to two hours after the dairy product has been consumed.  A dairy allergy can cause stomach upset, nausea, and fatigue.

• How do I know if I suffer from a dairy allergy?  First, you can do tests at home on your own.  Drink milk and check your body for any bloating, gas, or loose stools.  Does your stomach hurt after you eat cheese?  Do you have to run to the bathroom after eating ice cream?  These could be signs that you have a dairy allergy.

• Dairy allergy varies  in person to person.  For example, some individuals may experience only minor stomach upset from their dairy allergy.  While others feel extremely bloated, nauseated, and have an intense upset stomach from their dairy allergy. 

• If you have any of these allergy symptoms it is always advisable  to consult a doctor. They can take your through Food Intolerance allergy testing and provide treatment options.

• How do I manage a dairy allergy?  A dairy allergy can be treated through food choices you make and proper medications.  If you are having trouble digesting cow milk then you can switch to soy milk or milk that contains lactase.  The lactase in the milk fills in for the lactase that you are not producing naturally.

• There are also medications on the market that can help relieve dairy allergy symptoms. Some medications can be taken before you eat dairy products such ice cream, while some can be taken after you have consumed dairy products. A dairy allergy can be a bothersome, uncomfortable condition, but there are treatment options available which help you enjoy Dairy again.