10 Signs of Dairy Intolerance or Allergy by Hannah Ramirez

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Allow me to introduce you to the talented founder of “Allergy a la Mode”, Where you can have your allergy and eat it too. Hannah creates recipes free from allergens such as wheat, eggs, dairy, peanuts and cashews. She welcomes persons of all walks of life on her subscribers list and weather you are Vegan, Vegetarian or simply looking to incorporate more plant based meals Hannah has a little something for everybody on her website. Below is Hannah’s story. And after you read it head to her website for some vegan goodies, like this Absolute Best Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal.

Hi, I’m Hannah and I’m the creator of Allergy a la Mode . I’m a stay-at-home mom of three boys, ages 7,3, and 1. Life is busy but joyful! Just after my oldest son’s first birthday we discovered he had several food allergies to wheat, eggs, dairy, peanuts and cashews. Learning hot to cook without the ingredients I was used to was hard and overwhelming. But I eventually got the hang of it. On my blog I share the recipes I created so everyone can feed their family and friends safe and food, a la mode!

While the dairy industry is on the decline [1], it still makes up a large portion of the food industry in America and across the world, contributing billions of pounds of dairy products each year to the standard American diet. Considering how popular dairy products are it’s easy to assume that few people experience side effects. While this may be true for many, it is not true of the majority. Studies show that as many as 70% of people worldwide have a dairy intolerance [2], and that’s not even including the many millions more that have a food allergy to milk protein.

Milk and other dairy products are a great source of protein and calcium, but for many people it comes with unwanted side effects, especially if consumed in large portions. I myself eat diary from time-to-time, but like so many others, I have to limit the amount I eat or I show signs of intolerance. For me, this intolerance comes in the form of migraines.

What is the difference between a dairy intolerance and an allergy?

A dairy intolerance and a dairy allergy sound like they might be the same thing, right? Many people think they are. However, in reality they are quite different. An intolerance stems from a person’s body not correctly digesting a certain food. It’s a digestion issue. Often times it is caused because their body is deficient in an enzyme that is needed to properly digest the food. In the case of dairy, a person’s body needs an enzyme called lactase to properly digest the sugar in milk, which you may have guessed, is called lactose. Milk is intended for babies so as we age our bodies stop producing enzymes needed to digest milk.

In contrast, a food allergy involves a person’s immune system. When a person has a food allergy, their body recognizes the proteins in that food as harmful and sends out an attack in response. My oldest son for example, developed a dairy allergy just after he turned one year old. His body thought proteins in milk were dangerous and tried to attack the milk proteins as a form of protection. Most food allergies to dairy start in early childhood, but they can develop anytime throughout a person’s life.

Symptoms of dairy intolerance

As previously mentioned, up to 70% of the world’s population has an intolerance to dairy and can’t eat it without experiencing uncomfortable side effects. That’s a huge portion! Many of these people are not even aware that the discomfort they are experiencing is because of dairy in their diet. It’s important to understand what these side effects are so that adjustments can be made. I myself suffered from migraines almost daily for years before I realized they were caused by dairy. I now eat dairy occasionally but if I eat it too often then the daily migraines resurface and I know it’s time to cut back.

Poor Digestion

Since a dairy intolerance is caused by not properly digesting the sugar in milk, the most common symptom is poor digestion. Makes sense right? If you regularly experience tummy troubles, it may be because of a dairy intolerance. Any of these signs of poor digestion may be an indicator:

1. Gas
2. Bloating
3. Diarrhea
4. Stomach Cramps
5. Constipation

Skin Problems

Another common side effect of dairy is skin issues. Our skin is our largest organ and it often shows the signs of what is happening internally. Skin problems that may be caused by a dairy intolerance are:

1. Acne
2. Skin Rashes
3. Eczema

Headaches

Headaches are another side effect of consuming dairy. Many people realized that stomach issues are a symptom of a dairy intolerance, but very few people realize that headaches are another common side effect. As I mentioned above, I had almost daily migraines for years before I realized they were caused by dairy. Interestingly enough, I had seen many doctors for my migraines, and none of them ever suggested they could be caused by a dairy intolerance. It wasn’t until I read a book in my Medical Anthropology class in college that I realized the connection. If you experience frequent headaches, consider eliminating dairy to see if that makes an improvement. It did wonders for me.

Symptoms of Dairy Allergy

An allergy to dairy is one of the most common food allergies there is, tying with peanuts for number two. Over 6 million Americans have a dairy allergy [3]. Dairy allergies can range anywhere from mild to severe, but it’s important to be aware of the indicators either way.

Eczema

Eczema is a very common skin condition, that is often an outward indicator of something going on inside the body. This skin condition is both a symptom of a dairy intolerance and a dairy allergy. Eczema is often cleared up by eliminating dairy whether it’s from an intolerance or allergy.

Hives

Hives can be caused by stress, medications, or an infection, but typically hives are a sign of some sort of allergy. If you experience hives after eating dairy, or any other food, eliminate that food from your diet.

Serious Symptoms

The following symptoms of a dairy allergy, or any food allergy, are serious. If you experience any of them then you need to contact your doctor immediately!

1. Trouble swallowing
2. Swelling, most often in the face
3. Tightness in throat or chest
4. Wheezing
5. Trouble breathing

Going Dairy-Free

If you have any of these side effects of a dairy intolerance or allergy, then you may want to consider an elimination diet and remove all dairy from your diet. Eliminating dairy can be tough! Dairy products often make convenient snacks and in addition, many recipes feature dairy as a key ingredient. It’s hard to find dairy-free recipes. However, Gabby here at Conflicted Vegan, and myself at Allergy a la Mode, have several recipes to choose from, all of which are dairy-free! Check out our deliciously dairy-free recipes in the links below!

To truly see a difference when eliminating dairy from your diet, you need to eliminate ALL diary. Remember, dairy is often hidden in many foods. This means that you should always read ingredient lists to make sure it truly is diary-free. You may need to eliminate diary for up to 2 weeks (some experts say 4!) before seeing a difference. This is because your body needs to completely eliminate all dairy from your system. Give it at least a good two weeks to be sure. You can read more about doing an elimination diet here.

References

[1] Kirkwood, Brandon. 2020. Dairy is Dying: Sales Fell 1.1 Billion
Dollars According to Dairy Farmers of America. Vegan News Press.
5-26-2020.

[2] Storhaug CL, Fosse SK, Fadnes LT. Country, regional, and global
estimates for lactose malabsorption in adults: a systematic review and
meta-analysis. The Lancet. Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
2017;2(10):738–746.

[3] How Many People Have Food Allergies. 2020. FARE. 5-26-2020.