Your Weird Symptoms Could Be Caused By THIS Food Intolerance
Having a food intolerance is not fun.
Beyond making it impossible to find places you can eat, it can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea. You may start considering planning a baby shower for your 5 month pregnant food baby. It also causes embarrassing symptoms (or in my five year old son’s eyes – hilarious symptoms) like flatulence and diarrhea.
But what most people don’t realize is that mowing down on foods your body doesn’t like can cause these less obvious side effects: muscle or joint pain; headaches; exhaustion; and even skin symptoms like rashes and eczema.
Dairy is one of the most common foods that many people seem to be intolerant of, and of course it is also hidden in a crap ton of processed foods. Seriously Lays! Why are my salt and pepper potato chips covered in whey powder??? There are three main components of milk that people can react to: lactose, casein, and whey.
MILK SUGAR (LACTOSE) INTOLERANCE
It’s estimated that up to 75% of adults are lactose intolerant. SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT!!!! That’s information that would have been useful YESTERDAY! Lactose is the carbohydrate “milk sugar” naturally found in most dairy products. Lactose intolerance is so common you can buy lactose-free milk in your regular grocery store. Lactose-free products are treated with the enzyme “lactase” that breaks the lactose down before you ingest it. It’s this lactase enzyme that is lacking in most people who are lactose intolerant.
The lactase enzyme is naturally released from your intestine as one of your digestive enzymes. It breaks down the lactose sugar in the gut. When someone doesn't have enough lactase, the lactose doesn't get broken down the way it should. Undigested lactose ends up being food for the resident gut microbes. As they ferment the lactose, they create gases that cause bloating, flatulence, pain, and sometimes diarrhea.
Lactose is in dairy but is in lower amounts in fermented dairy (e.g. cheese & yogurt) and butter. Steering clear of lactose isn't that easy as it is added to other foods like baked goods, soups, and sauces. And if you're taking any medications or supplements, check to see if it's in there too, as lactose is a common ingredient in them.
If you have symptoms of lactose intolerance, keep an eye on food, medication, and supplement labels.
MILK PROTEIN (CASEIN & WHEY) ALLERGY
Milk is a known, and common, food allergen. In Canada, it is considered a “priority allergen” and must be declared on food labels.
So, what are the allergens in milk? You've heard of "curds and whey?" Well, these are the two main proteins in milk. The solid bits are the curds (made of casein), and the liquid is the dissolved whey.
Unlike lactose intolerance, casein and whey can cause an actual immune response. It’s an allergy. And this immune response can cause inflammation. In fact, we don’t know how many people have these milk allergies, but most estimates put it far below that of lactose intolerance.
Like lactose, these allergenic milk proteins can be found in other products too. They're not just in dairy but are often in protein powders as well (Have you heard of "whey" protein powders?).
Some of the symptoms of milk protein allergy differ from that of lactose intolerance; things like nasal congestion and mucus (phlegm) are more common here. And casein seems to be linked with belly fat.
Interestingly, people who have gluten intolerance are often allergic to milk proteins like whey and casein as well. These can go hand-in-hand. I check off both boxes with Celiac Disease and a Casein allergy. #winning
Like lactose intolerance, if you're allergic to casein and whey keep an eye on labels so you can avoid these.
CONCLUSION
If you get gassy, bloated, or diarrhea after eating dairy, you may have a lactose intolerance. If you often get a stuffy nose and mucus, then you may be allergic to casein and/or whey.
While dairy may be an entire food group, it is NOT AN ESSENTIAL nutrient. All the nutrients in dairy are available in other foods. If you experience these symptoms, you can try removing dairy from your diet. You may find improved digestion and fewer gut issues. Or you may find improved nasal congestion, or even less belly fat and acne.
If you decide to (or have already) removed dairy from your diet, I want to know your experience! Click this link and tell me about the biggest change you saw from cutting out dairy, on our Facebook Page!
DAIRY-FREE CHOCOLATE ICE "CREAM"
Serves 2
Ingredients
3 bananas, sliced and frozen 2 tsp cacao powder, unsweetened 1 tbsp almond butter
Instructions
Place frozen bananas in food processor and blend until smooth (a few minutes). You may have to stop a few times to scrape the sides.
Add cacao powder and almond butter and blend until mixed well.
Serve & enjoy!
Tip: You can make this in advance and freeze in an airtight container.
References:
https://authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-ways-to-reduce-bloating/
https://www.dietvsdisease.org/how-to-get-rid-of-bloating/
https://www.dietvsdisease.org/11-warning-signs-you-have-a-food-intolerance/
https://authoritynutrition.com/dairy-foods-low-in-lactose/
https://authoritynutrition.com/lactose-intolerance-101/
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/whey-protein-allergies-intolerances-bloating
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-food-sensitivities
https://www.thepaleomom.com/the-great-dairy-debate/
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-milk-and-mucus-a-myth/
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/milk-protein-vs-soy-protein/
https://examine.com/supplements/casein-protein/
https://examine.com/supplements/whey-protein/
http://foodallergycanada.ca/about-allergies/food-allergens/milk/
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blood-pressure/milk-protein-may-lower-blood-pressure
