It’s important to note that lactose intolerance is not an allergy but, rather, an inability to break down lactose sugar found in regular milk due to a lack of the lactase enzyme in the digestive tract. Some milks, like Pauls Zymil, have the natural enzyme lactase added to make them lactose free and therefore easy to digest.
However it’s not entirely uncommon for those suffering from lactose intolerance to also suffer other food intolerances, or even allergies.
An allergy is defined as the body having an immune response to a food protein where it produces antibodies to fight the ‘invader’ protein, whereas intolerance to things such as lactose or gluten is when our bodies simply have difficulty processing them.
What are your experiences with food intolerance or allergies? Have you found any helpful or interesting ways to love some of your favourite foods again?
Zoe
I have an intolerance to gluten as well as lactose, and my four year old also has gluten intolerance. As a consequence of this we often don’t tend to eat out as it is difficult to be sure that the items on a particular menu will be entirely gluten free and I in particular am quite sensitive.
J. Marshall
I’ve been unfortunate enough to suffer lactose intolerance as well as various food allergies. Finding one’s own routines and feeling safe within the bounds of an established menu of foodstuffs certainly helps, though I’m not averse to eating out if I’m confident of the restaurant’s competency and transparency.
InTolerantChef
I have gluten InTolerance as well as lactose InTolerance, I really think this has made me a better chef as I have to think outside the box a little more than the usual. Most professional kitchens put food allergies and InTolerances in the Too-Hard basket, when all it takes is a bit more education.
The other day the 4th year apprentice made my lunch with wholemeal bread because ‘wholemeal doesn’t have any gluten’ and ‘cream sauce is OK isn’t it” about lactose. I see one of my roles at work is to show the other chefs how a few simple changes can make the world of difference to allergy and InTolerance sufferers like us.
Swapping out plain milk for Zymil milk means we can all enjoy the creme brulee or custard, it’s that simple!