Help! I don’t know if I should remove dairy from my child’s diet. BY CLARE MARCANGELO
This is a common issue for many parents these days, it seems. With many children having varying issues with dairy, it is important for parents to know the facts, so that they can build their child a diet that will serve them best. One of the biggest problems parents may come across is not really understanding the cause for their child’s issue. Often they cut out dairy, switch to A2 milk, or just to lactose free products without really knowing what would be the right option. You see, issues with dairy can come
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in more than one form. If need be, your paediatrician or Immunologist will be able to diagnose your child with either of the following: Your child may have a full dairy allergy. This is the trickiest to manage, as care must be taken to completely avoid any products that may even have traces of dairy, and unfortunately, this is a long list. Symptoms for this condition can range from tummy aches, bloating, and diarrhoea all the way to full anaphylaxis. You will be happy to hear though, that unlike many allergies, a large percentage of childhood dairy allergies do resolve over time, so be sure to work with your immunologist to revisit dairy when and if this becomes an option.
The other option is lactose intolerance, which is quite different as it means a lack of the enzyme Lactase – responsible for the breakdown of lactose. Lactose is the naturally occurring sugar within cow’s milk. In this case, people may choose to still completely avoid dairy, however it is possible to consume “Lactose–free” milk products without any discomfort. Many parents report this to be a game changer for their children, but again, it’s essential to check in with a health professional to determine if this is indeed the case. As we now know the potential effects of gut health on the rest of the body, continually consuming a potential allergen will keep contributing to an imbalance within the gut and could begin
