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Lactose Intolerance vs Cows' Milk Allergy
It is very important to understand the differences between an allergy to cows’ milk and lactose intolerance.
You can be born with lactose intolerance or it more commonly develops at a later age, but the good news is that it’s easy to diagnose and control using our Lactose Elimination Diet.
Lactose is the sugar found in milk, which can commonly cause digestive problems. These problems occur when the body is unable to produce enough of the lactase enzyme in the digestive tract and without this enzyme the lactose cannot be digested properly.
Symptoms experienced by people with lactose intolerance include:
• Bloating
• Flatulence
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach cramps
• Vomiting
An allergy to cows’ milk is often confused with lactose intolerance and it’s important to distinguish between the two. Cows’ milk allergy, which is likely to occur from birth, is a reaction to one or more proteins found in milk triggered by the immune system that can cause serious reactions in some cases.
Symptoms experienced by people with cows’ milk allergy include:
• Diarrhoea
• Bloody stools
• Vomiting
• Eczema
• Urticaria (hives)
• Angioedema (rashes)
• Wheezing
• Growth faltering/weight loss (particularly in children)
If you have any more questions about lactose intolerance and its related conditions or even about the Lactofree products, now is the time to ask! Next week we are hosting our very first online Expert’s Question Time event where we will have experts on hand to answer all your questions.