Maybe I’m just dairy intolerant?

If only it were so simple… let’s have a quick look at what the deal is with dairy.

Let’s start with the basics: what is it about dairy that can irritate your bowels? Milk is made up of many components, each of which interacts with our bodies differently. These are casein (the primary protein in milk, not a FODMAP), lactose (the sugar in milk, is a FODMAP), and fat (not a FODMAP).

The interesting thing about dairy is that people who are dairy intolerant either have a “milk allergy” and are reacting to the casein, or they’re “lactose intolerant”. People on a low-FODMAP diet will be avoiding dairy products which are high in lactose, however the casein isn’t an issue, so IBS sufferers can have some dairy products (like cheese!).

IBS and lactose intolerance can both cause bloating, pain, diarrhea, and gas, and therefore can be easily enough mistaken one for the other. In some cases, people may be unfortunate enough to suffer from both. So potentially, yes, you might have a milk allergy or be lactose intolerant. If you find that eliminating dairy from your diet does the trick, congratulations! If not, stay strong, and continue on your FODMAP journey – eventually you’ll work out your trigger(s) and be able to create a lifestyle that works for you.

For more information, here are some links we found:

http://www.ibsfree.net/news/2017/3/2/ibs-myth-no-dairy-for-ibs

https://ibstreatmentcenter.com/2012/06/most-dairy-reactions-are-not-lactose-intolerance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance