Apart from being responsible for the main ingredients in some truly delicious foods, the dairy industry is also responsible for one of the most enduring ad campaigns in America. The “got milk?” ads have encouraged kids and adults to consume dairy for decades but it hasn’t sat quite right with over half of the world. Literally. 68% of the global population has lactose malabsorption, meaning dairy products can do more harm than good.
Not everyone who can’t consume dairy has lactose intolerance, however. Others suffer from a dairy allergy that, while appearing similar, has its own host of symptoms and side effects. Read on to learn how you can tell the two apart.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a digestive disorder where individuals have difficulty digesting lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products, due to insufficient production of lactase enzymes in the small intestine. This deficiency leads to symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort after consuming lactose-containing foods.
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Dairy Allergy
Having a dairy allergy means your immune system reacts strongly when you eat anything with milk or dairy in it. It’s not just a tummy ache or feeling bloated—your body sees those dairy proteins (like casein or whey) as invaders and goes into full defense mode. This can lead to all sorts of reactions, from hives and itching to more serious stuff like trouble breathing or even anaphylaxis.
Managing the Right Condition
Navigating the overlap in symptoms between lactose intolerance and dairy allergy can be tricky since both can cause stomach upset and discomfort, but the causes and management are quite different.
Lactose intolerance is all about your gut not being able to handle the lactose sugar in dairy, so you get those classic tummy issues like bloating. Products like Starchway can help by providing a special blend of enzymes to help with digestion, which means you don’t have to worry so much when dining out with friends.
But with a dairy allergy, it’s your immune system going haywire over the proteins in milk, which can lead to everything from skin reactions to life-threatening symptoms. It’s treated differently and a medical professional can help you create a plan to avoid serious reactions.
Living with Each Condition
Once you know what is troubling you, you can manage it better and live your best life. You may even be able to enjoy the foods again you never thought you could.
