16 LOSE IT! VOLUME 30
After being
diagnosed as
lactose intolerant
I’ve gone dairy-
free. I’ve tried a
variety of dairy-
free alternatives such as almond
milk and coconut cream but I
don’t enjoy the taste of any of
them. Is it okay for me to have
goat’s milk products or are these
classified as dairy?This is a very
common question.
Before answering,
please note that a
medical diagnosis
of an allergy or intolerance is
established with a blood test
called an IgE (Immunoglobulin
E), where antibodies that protect
us against bacteria, viruses and
allergens are measured. IgE
antibodies are normally found in
small amounts in the blood, but
higher amounts can be a sign that
the body overreacts to allergens.
In general, all mammal milks
(sheep, goat, camel, etc.) and
their related products (cheese,
yoghurt, sour cream and so on)
are classified as dairy. The milks
from different mammals have
slightly different compositions,
which is why some people may be
allergic to cow’s milk but able to
tolerate goat’s milk. Human milk
is obviously the least allergenicand two other
reader
questions for
our clinical
nutritionist,
Ruth Marcus.milk for humans, as it is ‘designed’
specifically for our bodies. The
closer a milk is in composition
to human milk, the lower the
probability of allergenicity.
Goat’s milk is slightly closer in
composition to human milk than
cow’s milk is, with proteins that
may be easier to digest. However,
the lactose levels in goat’s milk
and cow’s milk are very similar
(4.1% and 4.7% respectively),
so lactose intolerant individuals
might experience little to no relief
from making the switch. My advice
would be to try it and assess how
you feel. If you don’t experience
negative symptoms, you can safely
consume these foods.GOAT’S MILK IS CLOSEST
TO HUMAN MILK