What is a dairy allergy?

Do you have a Dairy Allergy? 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 you may suffer from a dairy product related problem.

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 adverse reaction to dairy products are not so lucky. These individuals do not produce enough lactase naturally.

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

How do I know if I suffer from this problem? 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 problem.

The extent of the problem varies between individuals. 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 experience extreme symptoms it is a good idea to visit your doctor. They can take your through some related testing and provide treatment options.

How do I manage a dairy allergy? It can be managed through food choices and 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 symptoms. Some medications can be taken before you eat dairy products such ice cream, while others are used after you have ingested dairy products.

This can be a bothersome, uncomfortable condition, but there are treatment options available. These tools will allow you to enjoy dairy once again.