Nutrition and Health

What a question. Well, milk allergy is one of a number of types of food allergy. As with any allergy, milk allergy results from a hypersensitivity of the body's immune system. In this case, the sensitivity is to the proteins in cow's milk. Indeed, cow's milk is one of the most frequent food allergens.

Food allergens? Yes, allergens are particular substances that can cause allergic reactions in the body. Milk is one of the most common foods responsible for food allergy beside egg, peanut, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.

What Reactions Occur From Milk Allergies?

A person with milk allergies will show specific symptoms, which can occur within minutes or hours after consuming the milk. These symptoms can be obvious in the skin, the digestive system, and or the respiratory system.

The reactions of milk allergy in the skin may include swelling of lips, tongue, mouth, face or throat, as well as an itchy red rash. In the meantime, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea are some of the reactions found in the digestive system. If you see running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, or shortness of breath, this means the reactions also occur in the respiratory system.

Controlling Milk Allergies

There are no medications to cure an allergy, although symptoms may be controlled with an antihistamine. The key to prevention is to avoid the allergens. In the case of milk allergy, a person with this allergy, of course, should stay away from foods containing cow's milk protein. Even a very small quantity may trigger symptoms. This will surely make a very uncomfortable condition.

Nutrition and Milk Allergies

If a person with milk allergy is worried about getting sufficient nutrition for the body, there's always a way to solve it. The important thing is to consume an adequate amount of calcium from other food sources, as well as taking a calcium supplement regularly. One note on calcium supplements, though. For maximum absorption, choose a quality calcium supplement, such as Coral Calcium, that includes vitamin D. Seafood, green vegetables (spinach, broccoli), and fish (salmon, sardines) are other great sources of calcium. There are many brands of calcium-fortified orange juice on the market as well.