Holy Cow!

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No dairy...Oh wow. First thing that comes to mind for me is - "No More Cheese" "I can't imagine not ever having ice-cream again". The most amazing thing is that the more research I did, the more interesting, creative and incredibly yummy alternatives I found.

Lactose intolerance and dairy allergy sound a lot alike. Many people think they’re the same thing. But how they’re caused (and how they affect your body) are very different. Lactose intolerance involves the digestive system: If you have it, your body doesn’t make lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. That’s the sugar in milk. Instead of digesting normally in your stomach and small intestine, undigested lactose moves into your colon, where it’s broken down by bacteria and causes bloating and gas. It can be uncomfortable, but it’s not dangerous. Lactose intolerance is common in adults – about 30 million Americans have it by age 20. Dairy allergy involves the immune system: If you have it, your body reacts to the proteins in milk and other dairy products as if they’re dangerous invaders. It releases substances that cause allergy symptoms. This allergic reaction can be mild (rashes) to severe (trouble breathing, loss of consciousness).

Dairy allergy is one of most common allergies, especially in children. As many as 2 in every 100 children under 4 years old are allergic to milk.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance and dairy allergy may be the same:

• Diarrhoea

• Nausea; sometimes vomiting.

• Abdominal cramps

• Bloating

• Gas

But dairy allergy can also cause a reaction in other parts of your body, including the skin and lungs:

• Rash

• Hives

• Swelling, often in the lips and face

• Wheezing

• Tightness in throat

• Trouble swallowing

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