food allergy

It’s very importance to distinguish between whether or not the body’s immune system is involved and doctors now distinguish between ‘Allergic Hypersensitivity’ and ‘Non-Allergic Hypersensitivity’.

A food allergy such as cow's milk allergy falls under the banner of ‘Allergic Hypersensitivity’ as your immune system is involved and you may have a quick reaction to even a tiny amount of that food. Symptoms may include swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue and roof of the mouth, itchiness in the mouth, ears or throat and rash where your skin is raised, red and itchy.

Not all allergic symptoms are immediate and some may occur up to 72 hours after consuming milk such as eczema, reflux, loose stools, mucus and/or blood in the stools, constipation. When you have an allergy to milk, you are reacting to the proteins in the milk and that is why the condition is often referred to as ‘cow’s milk protein allergy’. To manage the condition, all forms of cow’s milk may need to be taken out of your diet.

Lactose intolerance does not involve the immune system so is classed as ‘Non-Allergic Hypersensitivity’ and symptoms are rarely immediate. Lactose intolerance is a digestive problem where the body is unable to digest lactose, a sugar commonly found in dairy products. Normally the enzyme lactase is responsible for breaking down lactose into smaller compounds so our bodies can absorb it. In the case of lactose intolerance, there is absence or deficiency of lactase, which leads to symptoms of bloating, nausea, wind, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea.

Lactose intolerance may be managed by reducing the amount of cow’s milk (rather than completely removing all cow’s milk) you have in your diet. Most individuals with lactose intolerance can tolerate some lactose, although the amount varies between individuals. Yoghurt and hard cheese may be fine as these have lower levels of lactose than regular milk. Lactose free milks are a good alternative to cow’s milk containing alternatives as they generally contain the same amount of key nutrients such as calcium but have a low lactose content. Lactose free milks are not suitable as a management strategy for cow’s milk allergy, as they still contain cow’s milk proteins, which could cause an allergic reaction.