Is a Casein-Free Diet the Solution to Your Health Issue? Hope for Autism, Digestive Disorders, and More
Casein, a protein found in milk, can cause common digestive issues like stomach pain, gas, nausea, and bloating. Cutting this protein out of the diet may also provide relief for children with neurological disorders, like autism.
If you experience digestive discomfort after drinking milk, lactose intolerance may not be to blame. A large majority of people are unable to digest the milk protein casein, which can trigger symptoms like stomach pain, gas, congestion, and itchy skin.
Although many of us are led to believe that milk does the body good, that may not always be the case. For so many of us, drinking a nice, tall glass of milk can lead to a number of digestive symptoms that include:
- Itchy skin
- Eczema
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Wheezing
- Watery eyes
- Stomach pain
- Gas
- Nausea
- Bloating
The number of children from ages 6 to 21 who receive special education for autism has increased 91% from 2005 to 2010.
As a result, a significant portion of the population today avoids dairy altogether after experiencing a number of the unpleasant symptoms listed above. While many people associate these symptoms with lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy, in most cases, they’re caused by a difficulty digesting a protein called casein.
What Is Casein?
Casein is the main protein in milk and can also be found in a number of other food products as a binding agent. In fact, casein is often present in lactose-free foods, advertised as “safe” for individuals avoiding dairy!
Since casein makes up 80% of the protein content in milk, it’s no wonder that many people find milk difficult or impossible to digest and decide to cut out dairy altogether. However, for people who believe they are lactose intolerant and must avoid dairy, casein intolerance could be the true root of the issue.
