Why Do I Feel Sick When I Eat Dairy?
There are many ways to feel sick from dairy intolerance.
Common symptoms of dairy intolerance include nausea, bloating, hives, headaches, sleeplessness, anxiety, acne, and joint pain.
These symptoms are usually written off as 'lactose intolerance' and lifelong dairy avoidance is recommended.
This is unfortunate for two reasons - firstly, lifelong abstinence from dairy is usually not required after the underlying cause of dairy sensitivity is found.
But the most important reason is that by labeling the cause of these symptoms as a generic 'intolerance' it leaves the true cause of dairy intolerance to remain present or to get worse.
In this article you will find:
Causes of dairy intolerance
The role of the mucus-producing properties of dairy in symptoms
The information in this article and on this website are intended for informational purposes only and does not take the place of seeing a doctor and should not be used for the purposes of diagnosis. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, have chest pain, or have trouble breathing, go to a hospital right away. Consult a doctor before beginning or stopping any medications or interventions.
Causes of Dairy Intolerance
A common cause of feeling sick when you eat dairy is an underlying bacterial infection. That bacterial culprit can be Streptococcus, which is the same bacteria that causes strep throat. In this case, Streptococcus inhabits the liver and intestines.
Staphylococcus is also a common culprit in those who experience symptoms from dairy as are parasites. Both parasites and Streptococcus are relatively easy to check for using testing.
Mold is also a common cause of dairy sensitivity as well as a wide range of other symptoms.
One patient I had with dairy sensitivities was a 31-year-old woman who only notices nasal congestion or tension in her forehead the night after she has eaten some dairy.
She has other symptoms including migraines around her period, frequent waking up in the middle of the night, low energy, the feeling of blocked ears, and high levels of general anxiety.
Because her 'secondary symptoms' were written off by her primary care doctor as 'hormonal' and were not considered important, this patient thought she just had to learn to live with these symptoms.
When the patient ate dairy, elements in the dairy products were feeding her Streptococcus infection so it grew quickly.
That larger infection produced waste products which caused inflammation - making her feel sick and contributing to her long term 'secondary' symptoms.
Note that these symptoms can occur right after you eat, or they can occur days later and persist for weeks.
After some testing (I ordered testing to be done at her local hospital), I was able to identify a significant Streptococcus infection throughout her intestinal tract as well as Candida overgrowth in her sinuses.
Through pharmaceutical-grade herbal supplements and diet and lifestyle modifications, we were able to completely get rid of both infections in a matter of weeks. Her secondary symptoms were fully resolved a few weeks after that.
Dairy is Mucus-Producing - Why That Matters
When your body consumes dairy, you produce excess mucus. That is why many people experience a stuffy nose or a sinus headache after consuming dairy products. Mucus is produced not only in your sinuses but all along the gastrointestinal tract.
Too much mucus in the intestines causes gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, and gas.
If you already have an underlying infection your body is producing excess mucus. This excess mucus has an important purpose as it traps bacteria and potential threats and escorts them out of your body.
So if you are highly reactive to dairy, it could be because you've already reached your upper limit of mucus in which your body can function without producing symptoms. It also indicates that you have an underlying infection or imbalance that needs to be addressed.
Lactose Intolerance vs. Dairy Intolerance
A way to see if your symptoms fall under the category of lactose intolerance or dairy intolerance is to classify your reaction based on dosage.
Generally, in the case of lactose Intolerance, you would react to dairy in whatever amount you eat. Even a very small amount would make you feel sick.
In the case of dairy intolerance, (caused by an underlying infection, parasite or other cause) symptoms are dose dependent.
Which means that you may be able to get away with a sprinkling of cheese or a sip of milk but the more you have, over a series of hours or days or weeks - the worse your symptoms will get.
With dairy intolerance, the level of inflammation can be relatively low, but it is long term. Symptoms resulting from these low levels of inflammation are regarded as 'low level' and usually disregarded.
Symptoms like poor sleep, anxiety, poor digestion and fatigue can significantly reduce your quality of life but without the use of functional medicine, it can be hard to isolate the cause.
Another thing to keep in mind is that often, lactose intolerance is also caused by an underlying infection or condition!
In the case of both lactose and dairy intolerance it is imperative to get to the bottom of what is going on in your body.
Functional Medicine Treatment For Dairy Intolerance
In most cases of individuals with dairy reactivity it is important to identify what kind of infection you are dealing with (parasitic, bacterial or viral) and where it is.
Most dairy sensitivity-related problems keep coming back because infections are only treated in the intestines.
We will also identify underlying functional problems which make it harder for your body to clear the infection (like low mucus production, adrenal fatigue, thyroid imbalance) and find out how to make your body more resilient on an intrinsic level.
Many of the interventions I prescribe are dietary and lifestyle changes that can significantly reduce symptoms while we get you back on your way to health. All of these are tailored to your specific situation.
An Overreliance on Dietary Interventions
Some people benefit from a Ketogenic-like diet temporarily while we treat their underlying conditions, although strict diets are not usually sustainable in the long term.[1]
Our goal is to always get patients to a place of metabolic resilience so they are not reliant on specific diets to remain symptom-free.
This will be highly dependent on a patient's health goals and underlying conditions.
Just as certain medications do not work the same on everyone - each person does not thrive on the same diet. The temptation may be to go to a strict Keto or Paleo diet but remember - these diets only work for some, and can exacerbate the underlying health conditions of others.
Just because it sounds good on paper or works well for someone else does not mean a diet or supplement will work with your unique genetic and biological needs.
Functional medicine testing can determine if you have any underlying conditions, if certain factors led to those conditions, and what specific interventions we can do to lessen symptoms and improve overall health. It can also be a guide in crafting an ideal diet for your health condition.
Online Consultations Available
A functional medicine consultation works a little differently from the conventional medicine appointment you would have at your yearly checkup. Rather than a short appointment followed by a routine test, we start with a lengthy hour-long new patient appointment.
The details of symptom onset and progression, family history, and a full medical history are all vital to understand your health condition and in crafting a treatment plan.
Follow up appointments are 30 minutes long during which treatment plans will be adjusted according to your recovery trajectory.
Our consultation practice specializes in treating complex and chronic symptoms naturally.
We have found that patients can resolve many long term symptoms and conditions completely, including ones that they had been told were an inevitable effect of aging.
A consultation can help you determine the cause of your symptoms, particularly if your condition is complex, and you have tried many diets and approaches with limited success.
I am currently accepting new patients and offer online consultations worldwide.
READ MORE ABOUT FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CONSULTATION
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Written by Stephanie Lum and Dr. Brian Lum
Disclaimer: If you think that you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information. Nor should you ever delay seeking medical advice or treatment due to the information contained on this Website. The information on this Website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. The information discussed is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Reliance on the information provided by this Website, Dr. Brian Lum, or Functional Healthcare Institute is solely at your own risk.
Bibliography
[1] Yuan X, Wang J, Yang S, Gao M, Cao L, Li X, Hong D, Tian S, Sun C. Effect of the ketogenic diet on glycemic control, insulin resistance, and lipid metabolism in patients with T2DM: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes. 2020 Nov 30;10(1):38. doi: 10.1038/s41387-020-00142-z. PMID: 33257645; PMCID: PMC7705738.