Dairy Intolerance

Dairy Intolerance

Intolerance to cow’s milk is fairly common; it is estimated that this problem affects more than five million people across Britain. There can be many different causes of intolerance to dairy products. Sometimes the person’s immune system cannot handle the protein found in dairy. In many cases, it is because the person is unable to effectively digest lactose, the natural form of sugar which is found in cow’s milk. If this is the case, the person will not only be unable to drink milk but will also have to avoid all other products containing cow’s milk, such as butter, ice cream and cheese.

Lactose intolerance happens when a person produces insufficient lactose. This is an enzyme which the body uses to break lactose down into its two separate components, galactose and glucose. If there is not enough lactose present, the lactose will simply ferment in the digestive system rather than being absorbed.

If a person with lactose intolerance consumes cow’s milk or any product containing it, they may experience symptoms such as swelling of the lips and tongue, itchy hives or eczema, coughing and sneezing. They may also experience digestive discomfort, flatulence, diarrhoea, vomiting, bloating and stomach cramps, which can be extremely unpleasant and even painful. Many people who are dairy or lactose intolerant may not realise it, as the symptoms are easily confused with other kinds of digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Dairy intolerance and lactose intolerance are two separate conditions, as it is not the lactose which causes the adverse reaction in all cases. If you experience any of the mentioned symptoms after consuming dairy products, it is advisable to get checked with our painless, non-invasive testing. Once the problem has been identified, you can take action by cutting lactose or dairy-containing foods from your diet.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like any help with this condition and you would like to get that Vibrant feeling.