Are You Allergic to Cow's Milk?

It is commonly known that cow's milk is one of the food allergies that children have issues with. The reason why is probably the first foreign protein they come across. While cow's milk allergies in babies is gradually becoming common, a majority of allergic children outgrow them before their seventh birthday. Unfortunately, lactose intolerance is rarely outgrown and normally becomes worse from time to time. Being caught up in a milk allergy is an allergy to all dairy products which includes cheese, milk and butter. All these milk products will not be tolerated.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose is the main sugar that is found in all dairy products including all types of milk. When one is lactose intolerant, this simply means that you are not able to digest this type of sugar. This usually happens as there is a shortage of digestive enzyme known as lactase. Lactase is normally produced in the small intestine and is responsible for breaking down milk sugar, making it easier to be absorbed into the blood stream. When there is insufficient lactase to digest lactose gastrointestinal symptoms surface. These symptoms commonly diarrhea, bloating, cramps and nausea.

The severity of these symptoms varies in every individual, depending on how lactose intolerant one is. In other term, how much lactase is produced by each intestine. Also, it depends on how much lactose is being consumed.

No doubt there is an ethnic link to this condition and Westernized Africans and South-east Asians tend to be one of the largest victims with as many as 90 percent suffering. A tiny percentage of babies are actually born without the ability to produce lactase which makes feeding very difficult. There are other causes including digestive disorders, injuries to the small intestine and also repeated courses of antibiotics which will destroy the healthy bacteria and upset the intestine's ability to produce this enzyme. However, this is normally easy to be resolved.

Young children with lactase deficiency should avoid food containing lactose. However adults or growing children can manage with small quantities but acceptable levels varies. Also, it is possible to purchase the lactase enzymes at health food shops or over any pharmacies. These lactase enzymes comes in a variety of forms including the drops and chewable tablets. Drops for example can be added to milk and left for a day after which the lactose content is lessened significantly. Chewable tablets are taken before any meal which contains lactose.

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