Confused About Milk

[Byte Me]

Ok, so I have finally admitted to myself that I have a problem with milk. I don't know why this is so much harder for me than giving up gluten; I did that cold turkey no problem and I was a MAJOR bread/pasta addict!

I'm just confused about how I react. I've read posts on lactose vs casein problems, but I'm still not sure.

I do not have any obvious reaction to Kefir. I only drink the plain variety and I LOOOOVE it. Regular cow's milk has been an occasional problem since before I found out about being gluten intolerant, yet I have been in denial that it has continued (off and on) to be a problem since.

Lately the problems are increasingly worse in symptoms. The last few days I have been experimenting. Whole milk gives a worse reaction than 2% (or maybe not, I have switched to whole for the last month or so because I babysit my neice the majority of the week and she's little, needs the calories. I was using 2% before. Butter (spread on gluten-free homemade bread) doesn't *seem* to cause a problem, and the butter and milk baked into the bread also doesn't seem to cause any problem. I sprinkled a little kraft parmesan cheese on some homemade chicken (gluten-free)spaghetti last night, no problems there. I haven't tried any other REAL cheeses yet, except one *very* small wedge of colby/monterrey jack mix. no noticeable reaction there either.

I want to break down and cry over the milk thing, stupid I know. But I crave it madly and feel like I am depriving myself of something vital to my bone health (not to mention the pleasure of a tall cold glass!).

But, this is definitely reality now. I am having a worsening return of symptoms that I have definitely pinpointed to milk/possibly some milk products.

Anyone know how to interpret this? Seems inconsitent to me that I react to some dairy and not others.

Also, I'm looking for tried and loved alternative milks from former milk lovers. Coconut, Almond, Lactaid (acidopholus?) Milk (ithink that is what it is called) or any other suggestions (except soy. I suspect a possible problem with that also, in all forms; that is my next elimination project. I feel nourished and sick at the same time when drinking milk, if that makes any sense. It may just be upbringing; my maternal grandparents lauded the benefits of cow's milk since well, as far as I can remember in life. And I believed them.

Anyone with this/similar problem able to explain Why the inconsistency? It would be much appreciated.

Oh and, do these cravings lessen over time? so far I'm less than 48 hours with no dairy.

thanks for all input!

[aikiducky]

On one hand, the inconsistency of your symptoms makes me think it's just a lactose problem: Fat makes you digest slower, which gives your body a chance to digest the lactose. That would explain why fattier milk products don't bother you so much. There's less lactose in cheese and kefir and butter (butter and hard cheese are pretty much lactose free), than in regular milk, so those would also be easier for you.

If it's just a lactose problem, it probably means that there's an amount that you can tolerate and as long as you don't overdo it, you can have some dairy. You can buy Lactaid pills, these contain the enzyme that your body needs to break down the lactose, and take those before having dairy. Or use Lactaid milk where the lactose has already been broken down.

On the other hand, it seems that intense cravings often point to an intolerance to the food we are craving. So it might be that you would be better off with no dairy at all.

I avoid cow's milk alltogether nowadays, I seem to be ok with goats cheese though. Love cheese so I'm happy about that. I use coconut milk for making pancakes, and sometimes I have gluten-free cornflakes with fruit and coconut milk (yum). Other than that I don't really use any alternatives. I'm sure other people will have more suggestions.

The one thing I really miss is ice cream. I've been thinking about getting myself an ice cream maker and making my own coconut ice cream...

Pauliina

[dionnek]

I was wondering - if someone has a lactose intollerance (instead of casein), would taking lactaid help if your symptoms are sinus congestion? I know that dairy makes my sinuses worse, and if I drink a glass of milk I get D, but I can have cheese, yogurt, even ice cream without any problem. I was thinking of getting some Lactaid to see if that helps my sinuses - just curious what other people think, or if that would just be a waste of money

[pedro]

Hi I feel the same way.

Maybe some can explain what is the difference between lactose and casein.?

can one take lactose and no casein? or if you casein sensitive should you stay away from milk?.

Best regards to everyone.

[hathor]

Maybe some can explain what is the difference between lactose and casein.?

can one take lactose and no casein? or if you casein sensitive should you stay away from milk?.

Lactose is the sugar in milk. Some people have problems digesting it.

Casein is a protein in milk. Some people have an immune response to it.

With casein sensitivity, you cannot have dairy products or anything to which casein or a caseinate has been added. I think ghee is OK because the casein is removed in the process of making it.

[Mango04]

I was wondering - if someone has a lactose intollerance (instead of casein), would taking lactaid help if your symptoms are sinus congestion? I know that dairy makes my sinuses worse, and if I drink a glass of milk I get D, but I can have cheese, yogurt, even ice cream without any problem. I was thinking of getting some Lactaid to see if that helps my sinuses - just curious what other people think, or if that would just be a waste of money

I'm pretty sure lactose intolerance won't cause sinus congestion. If that is your symptom you are likely reacting to a protein in milk. It is definitely worth giving up dairy completely if it causes sinus congestion for you (it did for me as well). Lactaid might help with the D caused by lactose but it won't help your sinuses.

[Nancym]

I don't think lactose problems will affect your sinuses.

If you want to see what it feels like to be lactose intolerant, I think you could probably try eating a lot of diabetic candy with sugar alcohols (warning! Not recommended!) Your belly will swell up with gas, you get crampy and you might get diarrhea. The reason is, I think, similar. Those sugars can't be broken down and so they go down to the great beyond and feed the bacteria lurking in the gut. Those bacteria belch out gases and things after consuming those sugars and that is what causes your symptoms.

[Byte Me]

On the other hand, it seems that intense cravings often point to an intolerance to the food we are craving. So it might be that you would be better off with no dairy at all.

This is what I was afraid of...guess I just needed to hear someone say it :\ (err...see someone write it?? lol )

I'm pretty sure lactose intolerance won't cause sinus congestion. If that is your symptom you are likely reacting to a protein in milk.

sheesh...I have tons of sinus problems. guess this confirms even more what I didn't wanna know!

The lady at the local health food store has some kefir starter, she says she does hers with water? anyone ever hear of this?

This no more dairy thing is gonna be hard!!

Thanks for the useful info!

[Nic]

The nutrionist at my son's GI office sent my a packet on "lactose" intolerance. She said that for about a month you should remove all dairy including things made with dairy (so even the bread that is made with milk is supposed to go). She said that after a month you could start eating food with lactose only 2 times a day from a category she called group 1 which contains baked goods made with milk and foods with casein or whey. If you do not react to these foods you can move on to group II which contains processed cheese or hard cheese, sour cream, lactaid milk, or evaporated milk. She said if you do react you can try again with a Lactaid pill, and if you still react then you should avoid the food. In groups III there was ice cream, butter, and soft cheeses and then lastly group IV was milk and yogurt. She went on to explain that if a person is lactose intolerant that your body might make some lactase which is the enzyme that digests lactose. So you might be able to digest some lactose but not as much as those of us that are not intolerant. She explained that if my son was lactose intolerant he might be able to eat some dairy lets say with breakfast but then no more the rest of the day. I think it depends on the person and how intolerant they are and if they produce any lactase. But this only works for the lactose intolerant, not people with a milk allergy or intolerance. I found this interesting because I didn't know it was possible for a lactose intolerant person to eat any dairy.

Nicole