Cow's milk intolerance Symptoms

Recognize the signs and discover what suits you

Not everyone reacts the same to cow's milk. Where some people tolerate a cappuccino or cheese toast just fine, others get tummy trouble, skin complaints or fog in the head. In this blog, we walk through the most common symptoms of cow's milk intolerance, how they arise, how to recognize them in your daily life and what you can do today. Down-to-earth, practical and with links to in-depth NooMooo blogs.

Note: I try to do as much research as possible, so you don't have to and find everything collected in one place. I am not a doctor and do not give medical advice. When in doubt, always consult with your doctor or dietitian.

What exactly is cow's milk intolerance

At cow's milk intolerance does your body respond sensitive to components from cow's milk, usually the milk proteins such as casein and whey protein. It is no allergy in which the immune system immediately sounds the alarm. The reaction is more subtle and often delayed. This makes recognition more difficult and symptoms more variable.

More basic reading: What is cow's milk intolerance and the distinction from allergy in What is the difference between cow's milk allergy and cow's milk intolerance.

In plain language

Cow's milk contains proteins, sugars, fats, vitamins and minerals. Some bodies especially find the proteins troublesome. You then get complaints after milk, yogurt, cheese or products in which milk is hidden. Not right away, sometimes only hours or a day later.

Symptoms by category

Everyone has their own mix. Below are common complaints, with examples from everyday life.

1. Abdomen and intestines

• Bloating
  Like suddenly your belly fills up and your pants are tighter. Example: you have a latte and an hour later you look literally size bigger.
• Abdominal pain or cramps
  Searing or stinging sensation, often in the lower left or around the navel. May come immediately after a meal or later in the day.
• Alternating stools
  From softer and more frequent to just constipated. Sometimes alternating per week.
• Nausea
  Especially after creamy dishes such as cream sauce, cheese fondue or ice cream.

That's how you recognize the pattern: complaints after dairy and processed products with milk components. Tip: Record meals and symptoms in a simple diary.

2. Energy and head

• Fatigue
  Less energy after a meal with dairy. Your battery seems empty mid-day.
• Concentration problems
  You wander off faster. Where you normally work for an hour, you notice restlessness in your head after only 15 minutes.
• Headache or migraine
  In some people, dairy products are an obvious trigger. Timing may be delayed.

3. Skin and mucous membranes

• Skin rash or eczema-like appearance
  Red, itchy spots that flare up after days with lots of dairy.
• Pimples or acne
  Especially around chin and jawline.
• Stuffy nose or phlegm
  Sometimes more snotty after cappuccinos or cheesy meals.

4. Other signals

• Restless sleep or rumbling bowels at night after a cheese board or pizza.
• Prickled feeling or short fuse, especially on days with multiple dairy moments.

Important: these symptoms can also fit other things, such as lactose intolerance or cow's milk allergy. That's why it's smart to test specifically what's at you plays. See the roadmap: How to test whether or not you can tolerate cow's milk well.

How do these complaints arise

The core is often in milk proteins. Your digestive system and intestinal barrier react to it sensitive up. This can cause local irritation, changes in the microbiome and thus complaints in the stomach, skin and energy.

More background: What are milk proteins.

In plain language

Compare your gut to a busier shopping street. Most people walk through without fuss. But when many people come in with large bags at once, it becomes too busy. The surveillance, your gut barrier, hits irritable. You can feel that as bloating, cramps or just being tired.

The difference with lactose intolerance

At lactose intolerance do you respond to the sugar in milk, the lactose. Due to too little lactase that sugar is not broken down properly, goes to ferment in the colon and that gives especially gas, cramps, a bloated belly and sometimes diarrhea, often already within 30 to 120 minutes After eating or drinking.

At cow's milk intolerance do you respond correctly to the protein in milk, the milk proteins such as casein and whey. This is not a classic allergy, but a sensitivity reaction which is a broader complaint picture can give, such as abdominal discomfort plus fatigue, headache, skin complaints or concentration dip, and those complaints come regularly delayed set up, sometimes not until hours or the next day.

In plain language

Lactose intolerance is a cutting problem in your small intestine. Cow's milk intolerance is a sensitivity problem for proteins.

Which products often cause complaints

• Fresh and creamy dairy: milk, cappuccino, cream, ice cream, cottage cheese, mascarpone.
• Cheese: mainly fresh cheeses such as young cheese and cream cheese are more likely to cause symptoms. In cases of cow's milk intolerance any cheese from cow's milk play a role, because proteins remain. Other types of cheese from sheep or goat, for example, can then. This is different than with lactose. See the nuance in Which cheeses contain high or low levels of lactose.
• Hidden dairy: stock cubes, cheese-flavored chips, sauces, cold cuts, cookies, bread, spice mixes, chocolate. Handy: Check the ingredient list.

In plain language

Sometimes milk clogged. In that case, the link to complaints is less obvious. That is why read labels really.

How to discover if your symptoms fit cow's milk intolerance

The most reliable way is structured testing.

1. Rest period
   Remove cow's milk and obvious lactose sources temporarily to your belly quiet is.
2. Targeted testing
   Test lactose loose with a product that does lactose contains but no cow's milk proteins, for example, goats or sheep. Test milk protein loose with lactose-free cow's milk. This is how you test one variable at a time.
3. Record everything
   Time, portion, complaints until next day.

Full explanation: How to test whether or not you can tolerate cow's milk well.

In plain language

Test pure so you know what triggers you: first the sugar, then the protein. Or the other way around. Not everything mixed together. Then you can choose purposefully what fits.

Common misunderstandings

• Lactose free means cow's milk free
  No. Lactose-free says something about sugar. Milk proteins remain present.
• Cheese is always a problem
  Cow milk intolerance is all about the milk proteins and any cheese made from cow's milk can cause symptoms, even if it is old. Sheep's or goat's cheese has other proteins and is better tolerated by some. With lactose intolerance, fresh and young cheeses, in particular, are more likely to cause symptoms because they contain more lactose.
• Plant-based milk is healthier
  Vegetable is lactose and cow's milk free, but not automatically healthier. Look at nutritional value, additions and the sugar.
• Lactic acid is milk
  Lactic acid is usually lactic acid Of plant or microbial origin and contains no milk protein or lactose.

When to see a family doctor

• Severe or persistent symptoms.
• Unintentional weight loss, blood or mucus in the stool.
• Doubt between allergy and intolerance.
• With children (or for yourself), you can also always seek low-level advice.

For orientation, the difference clearly explained in What is the difference between cow's milk allergy and cow's milk intolerance.

Further reading on NooMooo:

• What is cow's milk intolerance
• What is the difference between lactose intolerance and cow's milk intolerance
• What is lactose intolerance
• What does lactase do
• Check the ingredient list
• Which cheeses contain high or low levels of lactose

Note: this blog is informational. I am not a doctor and do not give medical advice. If in doubt, contact your doctor or dietician.