How to Live With Allergies to Milk

Having an allergy to milk is very different from being lactose intolerant, and the two are often confused. A milk allergy is caused by an immune system response to the milk protein, or casein. Lactose intolerance occurs when your body lacks the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar, or lactose.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bioflavonoid Complex
• Bromelain
• Quercetin
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin C

1. Avoid milk and all milk products. This includes yogurt, cheese, cream, butter, ice cream and sour cream.

2. Taking milk digestive aids will not help you tolerate milk if you have a true allergy.

3. Avoid processed foods as much as possible. Milk is a hidden ingredient in many items. Stick with simple, pure, fresh foods - which are more healthful anyway.

4. Read all labels very carefully. Look for the words milk solids, casein, sodium caseinate, lactose or sodium lactylate, as well as any word that begins with "lact." Stay away from products containing these ingredients.

5. Watch out for labels that say "dairy-free." That doesn't necessarily mean that they're milk-free. Many contain casein. Prime culprits are coffee whiteners and nondairy creamers.

6. Avoid products that list "natural flavors" and "seasonings" in their ingredients. They often contain milk products.

7. Call a manufacturer for answers if a product isn't clearly labeled. Many prepared foods - even luncheon meats - use milk as a filler.

8. Be wary of eating canned tuna. Most brands contain lactose in the broth.

9. Check the ingredients on medications and vitamins. Some may contain milk products; for example, a number of liquid antibiotics use lactose as a filler.

10. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about an ingredient.

11. Take care when eating foods containing galactose. It is a byproduct of lactose, the milk sugar, and some people have reactions to it.

12. Buy vegan foods. Vegan foods do not contain any animal products, including milk.

13. Order vegan foods (if available) when traveling on an airplane. This will ensure a milk-free meal.

14. Be diligent in restaurants. Ask what the dish contains. Stick to simple recipes without heavy gravy and sauces, which tend to contain milk.

15. Buy a dairy-free cookbook, or use kosher and vegan cookbooks for milk-free recipes.

16. Remove milk from recipes: Use soy butter or margarine instead of butter, and replace milk with water, fruit juice, soy milk or rice milk. Use a vegetable oil instead of melted butter.

17. Supplement with vitamin C with added bioflavonoids, 1,000 to 5,000 mg daily, and/or quercetin, 500mg twice daily. They both help strengthen the immune system and decrease reaction to allergens.

18. Take 100mg bromelain twice daily. It enhances the absorption of quercetin.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are mildly allergic to milk, you may be able to try milk products again. First abstain from all milk products for at least six months, and then try a small amount. If you don't have a reaction, you may be able to tolerate it occasionally.
• If you have a severe allergic reaction, with symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, or swelling of lips, mouth or throat, get immediate medical help.
• If you have had a severe reaction to milk, do not attempt to reintroduce it. You may be faced with a life-threatening reaction.

Who Can Help:

• Overweight? Lose 30+ lbs without pills or diets- guaranteed
• Arthroscopic Alternative to Spine Surgery- For Back & Neck - Free MRI Review by our Doctors. Get your life back!
• Do you suffer from back pain? Learn more about our Medicare approved back support system. Medicare covers 85% of the cost.

[llasidog]

on 3/6/2009 I have often wondered about milk allergy. Could it be related to vaccinations? Casein is often used in the culture medium and it may or may not appear on the package insert. Inactive ingredients do not have to be listed and are protected trade secrets.

on 11/22/2005 I have been living with this since I was 12 and being 22 I have seen my share of "Great New Products".

Milk:
Some are good, like Lactose Free Milk. I am not talking about 8th contintent, or soy milk. I am talking about the Lactate brand milk. I had to describe it to my fellow classmates in college and I explained it as "It is like milk with a touch of sugar in it.". It has gotten much better over the years and I don't know where I would be without it. It is a bit more expensive than regular milk but even that has gotten better. You can cook and such just like regular milk, often times it actually tastes better than using regular milk.

Pizza:
I know everyone's favorite is pizza. Now, the pizza places around where I live (Columbus, OH) are usually pretty open to putting no cheese on pizza. However, some smaller cities I travel to are not so open to the possibility of having no cheese on pizza.

Free food:
Often times when ordering at fast food restaurants if they are in a hurry it makes it better for you. Ordering with no cheese often makes them have to change something for you, and operating under the "customer is always right" idea they will just remake it the way you like it. I have had many times (Taco Bell mainly) that they remake it and just give you both. The one with cheese and the one without. It happens frequently in fast food restaurants.

The whole point is don't let this ruin your day, being lactose-intollerant is not the end of the world by any means. It just means that you get to try new foods, change your lifestyle, and hopefully lead a healthier life. I am more than happy to help anyone who is also lactose intollerant (there are many of us around) and give some ideas about what to have. By the way, The Olive Garden is a death sentance to lactose-intollerant people. Take care and good luck!

Chad R. Smith
[e-mail]

on 11/22/2005 You might ask a friend or any one you know who also has a milk allergy. They might be able to help you find the right kinds of bread and the things you need during the first few weeks.