Are milk allergy and lactose intolerance the same thing?
The terms milk allergy and lactose intolerance are often incorrectly used interchangeably to describe reactions to milk. They are, however, two separate disorders which have absolutely nothing to do with one another. A milk allergy is the immune system’s response to one or more of the proteins found in cow’s milk. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, occurs when the intestine lacks a critical enzyme called lactase. Lactase is necessary to break down lactose, the predominant sugar in milk, into two simple sugars, glucose and galactose, so that the sugars can be utilized by the body. When lactose is not broken down in the small intestine, it is passed to the large intestine where it is fermented by bacteria, resulting in various gastrointestinal symptoms such as gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort, nausea, or diarrhea. It is estimated that 30 to 50 million people suffer from this intolerance. MILK AVOIDANCE DIET Important information about avoiding milk and milk products The phras
