Lactose Intolerance

[LaurieG]

I had an ah-ha moment reading another thread and wanted to check it out...

Do alternative milks (hemp, rice, almond, coconut, etc) contain lactose? If someone is severely lactose intolerant can they tolerate these other milks? I know breastmilk contains lactose but also contains lactase to help with digestion, right? So if you had a DC whose only tolerable milk was breastmilk could this be a severe lactose intolerance? What exactly is the process that happens in your body with lactose intolerance?

[kjbrown92]

Originally Posted by LaurieG

I had an ah-ha moment reading another thread and wanted to check it out...

Do alternative milks (hemp, rice, almond, coconut, etc) contain lactose? If someone is severely lactose intolerant can they tolerate these other milks? I know breastmilk contains lactose but also contains lactase to help with digestion, right? So if you had a DC whose only tolerable milk was breastmilk could this be a severe lactose intolerance? What exactly is the process that happens in your body with lactose intolerance?

As far as I know, only animal milks contain lactose, not alternative milks. Lactose intolerance is when your body is actually missing the enzyme (lactase, I believe) that digests lactose (milk sugar). Yes, breast milk has lactose, and it is extremely rare for an infant to have lactose intolerance. If it's ONLY lactose intolerance, then yes, a person should be able to tolerate all those alternative/non-animal milks. If a child could tolerate breastmilk, and NOT any of the alternative/non-animal milks, I would say there is something in those other milks (not lactose) that the child doesn't tolerate. For instance, my DS can have coconut milk, but because of various intolerances he can't tolerate rice milk, soy milk, hemp milk, almond milk, or potato milk. But he isn't lactose intolerant. He's milk intolerant, potato intolerant, almond intolerant, rice intolerant, soy intolerant, etc.

[LaurieG]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

As far as I know, only animal milks contain lactose, not alternative milks. Lactose intolerance is when your body is actually missing the enzyme (lactase, I believe) that digests lactose (milk sugar). Yes, breast milk has lactose, and it is extremely rare for an infant to have lactose intolerance. If it's ONLY lactose intolerance, then yes, a person should be able to tolerate all those alternative/non-animal milks. If a child could tolerate breastmilk, and NOT any of the alternative/non-animal milks, I would say there is something in those other milks (not lactose) that the child doesn't tolerate. For instance, my DS can have coconut milk, but because of various intolerances he can't tolerate rice milk, soy milk, hemp milk, almond milk, or potato milk. But he isn't lactose intolerant. He's milk intolerant, potato intolerant, almond intolerant, rice intolerant, soy intolerant, etc.

I was thinking that since BM has lactase in it, that makes it easier to digest and not likely to cause issues with lactose intolerance but other "milks" with no lactase in them (due to processing/ pasterization / etc) might be hard. But the more I think about it I think you are right that those alternative milks wouldn't have lactose anyway. I was thinking maybe DD is allergic / intolerant to cows milk as well as being lactose intolerant.

Oh well, I'm thinking it's time to stop trying to figure out why she's reacting and time to just deal with it.

Kathy, how do you bake with no milk option? I don't know how to make most of the things I like to make with no options for milk at all. Pancakes, muffins, the sauce for my chicken potpie, cakes...

[kjbrown92]

My DS can have coconut milk, so I use coconut milk in some things, but for some things it's too strong a taste. I use water in my bread recipe and waffles/pancakes. I use rice milk in my scalloped potatoes/white sauce, but that's because he can't have it anyway. I guess it depends what it is. Can she have rice? If so, but she can't have the regular store-bought brands because of the added ingredients, you could make your own. I used a SoyQuik soymilk maker to make rice milk and would use the rice milk in baking.

[lil_miss_understood]

Have you heard of zucchini milk, Laurie? Does your DC react to zucchinis?
I would be happy to pm you the recipe for zucchini milk from The Allergy Self-Help Cookbook if you think it may be tolerated.

[cagnew]

Just a suggestion- some people who are lactose intolerant find that they can drink raw milk with no problems. Apparently pastuerization (sp) does something to the milk that causes it to be hard for people to digest. There are a ton of articles on the internet about it if you google "raw milk." We started using it this summer to see if it would help with our dd who is showing signs of autism. It has actually helped a lot!

Just make sure the cows are healthy and grass-fed. Raw goat's milk is just as good.

[LaurieG]

Originally Posted by cagnew

Just a suggestion- some people who are lactose intolerant find that they can drink raw milk with no problems. Apparently pastuerization (sp) does something to the milk that causes it to be hard for people to digest. There are a ton of articles on the internet about it if you google "raw milk." We started using it this summer to see if it would help with our dd who is showing signs of autism. It has actually helped a lot!

Just make sure the cows are healthy and grass-fed. Raw goat's milk is just as good.

I used to have a plan to try raw cow or goats milk with DD but anymore I'm pretty sure she is too sensitive to either for it to work. She's not just lactose intolerant - she's intolerant of all milk derivatives. I wouldn't be surprised if she turned up IgE to milk if we ever get her tested again.

I do, however, really want to find a raw milk supplier for the boys in my family. Its great to hear that you've had good success going that route.