Home »  Living Healthy »  Is Gluten Related To Dairy? Here's Everything You Should Know

Is Gluten Related To Dairy? Here's Everything You Should Know

Gluten Allergy is a reaction to wheat, rye, oats and barley. If you have full blown gluten allergy it is called Celiac disease. Celiac disease is caused by a gene that gets triggered off either by a virus/ it is still being understood what really causes it.

Is Gluten Related To Dairy? Heres Everything You Should Know

Lactose Intolerance is when the body is unable to digest the sugar in milk and this is called "lactose".

HIGHLIGHTS

  1. A common myth people have is that gluten is related to dairy
  2. Lactose Intolerance is when body is unable to digest the sugar in milk
  3. Gluten Allergy is a reaction to wheat, rye, oats and barley

A common myth people have is that gluten is related to dairy. A remember a zillion types I have said my son has a gluten allergy and someone has turned around that means no wheat and no milk? A lot of people ask question on social media and have been misguided that "Off Gluten" means off milk.

Let me break both down in simple terms:

Lactose Intolerance is when the body is unable to digest the sugar in milk and this is called "lactose".



This condition occurs when the small intestine doesn't produce enough enzymes called lactase to digest milk sugar called lactose. Lactase turns milk sugar into two simple sugars glucose and galactose which is absorbed into the bloodstream through intestinal lining.

sekivsg8


A lot of people ask question on social media and have been misguided that "Off Gluten" means off milk.
Photo Credit: iStock

Also read: What Is Gluten Allergy And Gluten Intolerance: Types, Causes & Treatment

Lactose Intolerance is of three types primary, secondary and congenital or developed.

Primary is the most common one individuals who develop primary lactose intolerance start life producing plenty of lactase - a necessity for infants, who get all their nutrition from milk. As children replace milk with other foods, their lactase production normally decreases. Over a period of time can consume a certain amount of dairy or dairy products.

Secondary is this form of lactose intolerance occurs when your small intestine decreases lactase production. This is the kind you have if it's linked to Celiac Disease or Crohns disease. This one can be out grown once the gut heals.

Also read: Do I Really Need A Gluten Free Diet?

The last one is congenital or developed lactose intolerance. This is very rare but is often noticed in premature births as insufficient of lactase levels. This disorder is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of inheritance called autosomal recessive, meaning that both the mother and the father must pass on the same gene variant for a child to be affected.

Gluten Allergy is a reaction to wheat, rye, oats and barley. If you have full blown gluten allergy it is called Celiac disease. Celiac disease is caused by a gene that gets triggered off either by a virus/ it is still being understood what really causes it. Celiac is an autoimmune disease that has no cure and you can't grow out of it and requires nothing except a very strict "gluten free" diet for a lifetime. In a gluten allergy the small intestines get eroded and thus the nutrients leak out of your gut.

iuabqit8

Gluten Allergy is a reaction to wheat, rye, oats and barley.
Photo Credit: iStock

A person diagnosed with gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease may or may not have lactose intolerance and if the condition exists it is called "secondary lactose intolerance". Once a person's gut heals properly they can out grow the lactose intolerance partially or completely.

In conclusion gluten allergy/Celiac Disease isn't related to Lactose Intolerance. Lactose Intolerance can be out grown but Celiac is a lifelong situation. Lactose Intolerance is usually harmless and has no real life issues except it is uncomfortable. A caution: very serious lactose intolerance does exist but the numbers are few.

The main reason both are mixed up is that some of the symptoms are very similar like bloating, nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea. A caution: that a lot of times Celiac Disease is misdiagnosed as a Lactose Intolerance. It is imperative to check your TTG and IgA if you have no relief from stopping dairy.

Also read: Consider Low-Gluten Diet For A Quick Weight Loss? Other Health Benefits Of Gluten-Free Diet

I will conclude by quoting "Knowledge is power until it is applied" Dale Carnegie.

(Aarti Sarin Jain is the Founder of the 100% gluten free initiative, Baking From My Heart)


Promoted
Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.​ 

COMMENT

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

................... Advertisement ...................

 

................... Advertisement ...................

................... Advertisement ...................

................... Advertisement ...................

--------------------------------Advertisement---------------------------------- -