If a slice of pizza or a glass of milk produces swelling on lips or you have rashes on the skin, then it is a casein intolerance allergy. It is an obvious sign that you are allergic to a specific protein famous with the name of Casein in milk and dairy products. Whey protein intolerance is the other type that leads to food allergies. Some people are allergic to both Whey and Casein.
Immune disorders cause casein intolerance. Sometimes, Casein intolerance or allergy goes away when a kid ages 3 to 5 years. Casein intolerance is different from lactose intolerance.
This allergy occurs if the human body recognizes Casein as a threat to the human system. The immune system triggers the body to fight it off. It is entirely different from the allergy to lactose. It occurs when the human body does not make enough lactase enzymes. Lactose intolerance makes one feel uncomfortable after eating dairy products. On the other hand, casein intolerance causes anaphylaxis, breathing problems, vomiting, food malabsorption, severe pain, wheezing, and rashes. Read this article till the end to know about it in the text below.
What is Casein Made of?
We have discussed above that Casein is a milk protein, and it is made from skim milk. Pure Casein is a tasteless and odorless amorphous white solid. On the other hand, the commercial Casein comes with a pleasant odor and a slight yellow color. If you protect dry Casein from rodents and insects, it keeps well. Molds and bacteria attack the damp Casein. Casein is a mixture of phosphoproteins. It contains specific gravity from 1.25 to 1.31.
It is used to prepare dietary supplements, cosmetics, and medicines. Minor industrial applications contain dressing and seasoning of leather, soap making, insecticide sprays, textile sizing and printing, and others. Learn more about this allergy in detail in the below lines.
What Causes Casein Intolerance?
Casein allergy is usual in young children and infants. It occurs when the immune system takes it as a substance that needs to fight off. It activates an allergic reaction so that casein sensitivity symptoms appear on the body. Infants on mother feed are at a lower risk of developing a casein allergy. It is not sure why this allergy develops in infants. By the time, this allergy goes away when the kid reaches three to five years of age.
In some children, this allergy appears in adulthood. Yes, the Casein Sensitivity Symptoms in adults are common in those allergic to Casein in their nursing period. This allergy does not appear suddenly in teenagers or after it is diagnosed early in life. These people can consume a limited amount of dairy products without any issue. If you are Casein sensitive, you need to avoid milk products and milk.
They need to avoid eating sour cream, yogurt, cream, and other dairy products. Pudding, cheese, butter, and ice cream contain Casein protein so that casein-sensitive people cannot take these eatables. Moreover, they cannot eat food made of these items such as custard, pudding, cream-based soups. Some risk factors can be threatened to live, and some are here.
You or your child can be sensitive to one or both milk proteins. These are different to avoid since they are made of processed foods. These are the factors that your milk allergy can be severe and life-threatening.
Other Allergies
Children who have milk allergies have other allergies, too, since this disorder causes other allergies. Their body and the immune system become more sensitive to some special food types so that it shows the reaction against those substances quickly.
Atopic Dermatitis
It is a chronic but common skin inflammation famous for the name atopic dermatitis. Those children or adults are Casein sensitive.
Family History
If someone in your family is suffering from Casein Intolerance, the chances are higher that you have this allergy or other food allergies such as eczema, hives, asthma, and fever.
Age
In children, casein sensitivity is more common. Over time, as their digestive system matures, then their bodies react less against the milk products.
Complications
Milk allergic children may have some other problems as well, such as they suffer from hay fever. Their immune system reacts against grass pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and others. Those kids are sensitive to beef, peanuts, soy, and eggs.
Milk allergic person needs to avoid such foods and go for the treatment as soon as possible. For this purpose, it is important to know about its signs. Some of the signs are here for your concern.
How do I know if I am Lactose or Casein Intolerant?
It is not a big deal to know since you can learn about the allergy if you notice Casein Sensitivity Symptoms. These signs appear in your body within minutes of consuming casein-rich food. You may have lactose intolerance if you suffer from diarrhea, bloating, stomach gas, or skin rash after eating dairy.
You may have casein sensitivity if you get mucus or a stuffy nose. These are the obvious signs of whey or casein allergy. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of this allergy in detail.
Casein Protein Intolerance Symptoms
If your kid is showing Casein Sensitivity Symptoms including rashes, swelling on lips, and others after drinking milk or other dairy products, then it means he has a milk allergy. The allergy comes into being seen when the immune system mistakenly starts reacting against casein protein. It produces histamine antibodies to fight it off to show the following symptoms.
- Swelling on throat, face, tongue, mouth, lips, and others.
- Skin reactions like itching, redness, rashes, and hives
- Wheezing, coughing, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and others.
The most chronic reaction due to the casein protein intolerance is anaphylaxis. It is a life-threatening reaction that occurs instantly. If you have chest pain, swelling in your mouth, difficulty breathing, and rashes within minutes of eating dairy food, you must need emergency medical attention.
Clear your doubt about the allergy with the help of the casein intolerance test. With the help of the IgG blood test, you can learn about sensitivity against protein and other foods.
To avoid this health condition, you must know which food can be harmful to the person who is sensitive to Casein. Foods that have Casein in high-amount are here
What Foods are High in Casein?
Goat’s milk and cow’s milk are rich in Casein. You do not need to eat some other foods with this milk allergy.
Dairy Products
Sour cream, yogurt, half-and-half cream, and cheese are the common protein sources. You need to avoid pudding, cheese, butter, ice cream, and other dairy items. Some cream-based soups are harmful to these patients as well.
Other Foods
Snack crackers, cheese-flavored chips, cereal bars, semisweet chocolate, non-dairy coffee creamer, dairy-free cheese, tuna, and margarine contain casein protein. Some baked foods that are prepared with buttermilk and milk lead to allergies.
Foods that contain lactic acid
Ingredients that have artificial flavoring and lactic acid are rich in Casein. You need to learn about the foods with lactose and avoid using them.
Casein Intolerance Vs Lactose Intolerance
Suffering from specific food intolerance is not fun. It causes nausea, discomfort, abdominal pain, and others. It leads to some embarrassing signs like diarrhea, flatulence, and others. The chronic conditions are eczema, exhaustion, headaches, joint pain, and muscle aches.
Curds and whey are two major proteins in milk. The solids are the curds, and whey is a dissolved liquid. Casein intolerance is a response of the immune system that comes into being seen in inflammation and other signs.
Lactose intolerance is the allergy from protein powders and milk products too. The sign of lactose allergy is mucus and nasal congestion. Patients get lots of bloating, nausea, and loose stools because of the build-up of lactose in the large intestine.
Casein Intolerance Treatment
If you are diagnosed with milk or other food containing Casein, your doctor will treat you with injectable epinephrine. This is an immediate treatment that the doctor gives you if you accidentally eat milk products. It contains an anti-histamine chemical that the immune system produces to fight against Casein.
Casein Intolerance Foods to Avoid
A person with Casein intolerance needs to avoid mammal’s milk such as goat’s milk and cow’s milk. Avoid taking milk protein, fats, milk sugar, and lactose. Custard, pudding, cream, gelato, ice cream, cheese, kefir, yogurt, butter flavorings, margarine, butter, skim milk, and buttermilk are casein-rich food.
One must avoid eating food that contains Casein, even it includes cookies and crackers. Some of the flavoring, creamers, and other baked products contain this protein. It is important to avoid these things.
Conclusion
There is no treatment for this allergy. The only thing that can save you is the precautions. To avoid the signs of casein intolerance, it is important to evade eating this type of food. Children need a milk-free diet, and your doctor can help you plan the diet chart that is the best milk alternative. Moreover, one with this allergy should take riboflavin, vitamin D, and calcium to keep strong and healthy.