Milk has long been associated with health. It’s best known as a source of protein, calcium and other nutritions that are important for children’s growth. But while it has become a staple for lots of people, milk can be something very luxurious to several others – not because of its price but because of the fact that some people are banned from including milk to their diets.

The ban usually stems from milk allergy and lactose intolerance. Since both share similar symptoms, these two terms are usually used interchangeably as if they refer to the same disorder. However, milk allergy and lactose intolerance are two different things and they should be treated differently too. So how are these two conditions different? And how to overcome them?

Milk Allergy

First of all, milk allergy happens when our immune system wrongfully treats protein in cow’s milk as a threat. Allergies in general may have various impacts on the body, from nausea, vomiting and redness on the skin to asthma, and even aphyxia that may lead to death.

To avoid allergic reactions, those with milk allergy are advised to completely rule out milk and its derivatives such as cheese, butter and other milk-based products. To babies who have been diagnosed with this condition, their mothers should also stop consuming dairy milk to keep the protein from contaminating their breast milk.

Milk allergy usually happens to kids under 1 year, and will be completely cured once they turn 3 or 4. But there are people who finally overcome their allergy in their teenage years, and there are also adults who still show allergic reactions to milk.

Lactose Intolerance

Meanwhile, lactose intolerance is a condition in which the body can’t produce enough lactase, an enzyme that plays important role in turning the lactose in milk into glucose and galactose. The less lactase produced means the less lactose processed. Lactose that can’t be processed then goes to the digestion, gets fermented by the bacteria in the colon, and causes excessive production of gas. As a result, you’ll feel nauseaus as well as abdominal pain, bloating and cramps.

Unlike milk allergy, lactose intolerance can be dealt with by limiting the consumption of milk. Those with lactose intolerance can still drink a small amount of milk, and have some dairy products like cheese and yogurt. Lactose intolerance may happen to both toddlers and adults. A lot of them are diagnosed with this condition when their bodies start to produce less lactase enzyme at 2 years old.

How to Deal With the Conditions

Avoiding its cause, which is milk in this case, is by far the most effective way to prevent allergic reactions. Meanwhile, those with lactose intolerance can still have dairy products in small quantities, or as recommended by their doctors or nutritionists.

Or you can consider non-dairy susbtitutes to milk like soy milk or almond milk, though you need to remember that in a lot of cases, people who are allergic to milk will also show allergic reactions to soy. But if you really want to taste the deliciousness of milk, then you’re more than welcomed to try out FiberCreme.

FiberCreme is multi-purpose creamer that can also serve as a substitute to milk. It tastes like and has similar creaminess to milk, and is high in fiber that’s good for your digestion. Additionally, it’s free of cholesterol, low in fat and calorie, and has low glycemic index.

However, it’s worth noting that FiberCreme also contains sodium casseinate which may cause allergic reactions. So, those with milk allergy and lactose intolerance are still recommended to see their doctors first before consuming FiberCreme.