A dairy allergy and dairy intolerance are not the same thing
What is a dairy allergy?
If you’re allergic to milk, it means you have an immune system reaction in response to consuming milk or milk products. There are two main proteins in milk: casein and whey. Some people are allergic to both, and others are allergic to just one or the other. Whey is the more allergenic of the two. Allergic reactions involve the immune system reacting to something it feels is attacking your body. An intolerance is something different.
What is a dairy intolerance?
Unlike food allergies food intolerances don’t involve the immune system. In fact, it’s important to know that a dairy allergy and a dairy intolerance are not the same thing. Food intolerances typically occur in the digestive tract, so a dairy intolerance typically will cause symptoms in the digestive tract, such as bloating diarrhoea or gas
Is lactose intolerance curable?
When lactose intolerance happens for genetic reasons, it can’t be reversed.t sometimes, lactose intolerance can be caused by conditions like Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, IBS celiac disease, intestinal infections, and bacterial overgrowth. These conditions can cause lactase production to decrease, so treating the condition could mean lactase production starts up again, and symptoms of lactose intolerance lessen or resolve.
I’m dairy intolerant can I take sheep’s milk?
Sheep’s milk has a different type of protein compared to most of the cows milk commonly on sale in the Northern Hemisphere. The protein in cow’s milk is an A1 casein whereas the protein in sheep’s milk is an A2 casein.
Sheep’s milk also contains more of the so-called ‘good fats’ (medium-chain fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA) than cow milk and both this protein and fat composition is thought to make sheep’s milk easier to digest and therefore less allergenic. This appears to be the reason that many people report that they can tolerate sheep’s dairy products but not cow dairy products.
What To Do If You Think You Are Dairy Intolerant
Please note we always advise that if you feel you have any intolerance or digestive issues consult a qualified health professional first. Do NOT be convinced by influencers, on line blogs (including this one) it is very important to listen to the science and the facts
Sources
Sheep Milk More Easily Digested Than Cows Milk
