Food intolerances

Hi,

I just wondered, does anybody have, or know about, dairy intolerance and the symptoms? My mother thinks that I might have it, but I've been eating it all my life without any problem, and it's only now that it's come up.

Usually I only really have milk with my porridge, butter on bread at lunch and some chocolate at the weekends. However, over the past year I've had a stuffed up nose pretty much constantly, quite often accompanied by a cold. I've also had quite a few spots on my chin which is not normal for me.

My Mother says that these signs point to dairy intolerance but I'm not so sure. I'm not a hypochondriac and I usually fall asleep when kids prattle on about their 'allergies' (when they mean preferences!). Has anyone else heard about this? Could it be something else? I could switch to soya but it would be a hassle if it's something else after all!

xxx

Chances are if you have a dairy intolerance (such as lactose intolerance?) you would have experienced it from childhood. Also, in my experience with friends who are lactose intolerant, dairy doesn't result in stuffy noses. It results in tummy turning, painful, sometimes excessive bowel movements or full- throttle constipation. So... I don't think you should attribute your cold-like symptoms to that one.

I have to partly disagree with vron082... my mums lactose intolerant, gets the whole tummy upset thing, but thats only started in the past year or so.

For me however, I do get red spots (like mini hives) all over my nose and chin when I eat certain foods, mostly wheat, onions and dairy...

Another thing about dairy, is that it can cause mucus build up in the nose/throat. I know I certainly get phlegm (sp?) whenever I eat it too.

But I would definately get it checked out. When I went to my doc with a list of foods and symptoms of what I reacted to (and its alot with me) he told me that is was most probably that I get a nervous system reaction to food as opposed to a salival reaction, which causes the flushing (which would often leave the spots and blotchyness) that I experience. I don't think my reactions have been a life long thing... but certainly since my teens. I've got meds for it, which has really helped, but I still shouldn't eat the above mentioned foods.

Also try eliminating them from your diet for, say, a couple of weeks... then eat them again to see how it goes. Mine has def gotten better... and I can now eat chocolate without getting the dreaded spot on the end of my nose... it goes somewhere else now but I can cope with that lol

Good luck!

If I eat too much dairy products, my stomach becomes really painful and I'd want to go to the toilet - although nothing will come out. =_= It's really annoying.

I didn't have a dairy intolerance until I was in my young thirties. It started making my stomach upset and making me run to the bathroom after really bad stomach cramps .

My Mom said when I was a baby she had to give me simlac as I could not tolerate her breast milk. But later in life I was able to drink cows milk with no problem until my thirties.

If you notice eating dairy bothers you then you probably do have an intolerance to it.

I have no problems with soy milk and now I prefer it to cows milk.

Cilantro makes my face break out in a rash, especially around my mouth, makes my eyes swell and generally announces that it's a nasty herb for my body.  (As if the taste alone didn't tell me that.)

Thanks for all the comments guys, I think I probably will get tested for it, or try cutting it out for a while.

Have you considered you may have an allergy to something else?
I learned when I was 30 that I had a sulfite allergy (sulfites are used in many preservatives) which results in hives, stomach cramps, etc.
These are ususally found in processed, preserved foods; pillsbury ready to cook dough, prepare cakes and cookies, instant drinks, canned fish, dried fruits and much more!