Should people with asthma consume milk? Does milk worsen asthma? Or can milk even improve symptoms of asthma? When you research ‘milk and asthma’ online, you will find conflicting advice. Some sources say that those with asthma should avoid milk but suggest that milk alleviates asthma symptoms.

In my experience, as someone who suffers occasional asthma, I can tell you that milk can and does worsen asthma. And not just milk, but other dairy products such as cheese and ice cream. The severity of asthma exacerbated by milk will depend on the amount consumed and also the person. Some people may find they can tolerate a small amount of milk in coffee and tea without any problems while others will find this a trigger for asthma.

There is a scientific basis for milk worsening asthma. Asthma occurs due to allergies to substances such as pollen and certain kinds of proteins. Milk contains proteins – including caseins and whey proteins – that are known to trigger allergies and inflammation. In addition to this, milk also contains dozens of antibiotics and hormones. This is because cows on farms are injected with these substances to stimulate the production of milk. These drugs filter into milk (albeit in tiny amounts) and are highly allergic.

Researchers from the University of Jaen, Spain analysed 20 samples of milk produced in Spain and Morocco and found that it contained a cocktail of 20 drugs including painkillers, antibiotics and hormones. The effects of these drugs in the body is anyone’s guess. What is certain is that foreign compounds trigger allergies and inflammation in the body, which is the underlying cause of asthma.

The link between asthma and milk has been known for hundreds of years. As far back as the 12th century, a physician called Moses Maimonides wrote that asthma was exacerbated by milk. Traditional Chinese medicine also recommends that people with asthma should avoid milk. And these references were made when milk was taken straight from the cow, making it a lot purer than what we consume today.

Many people suffering asthma take steroids which suppress inflammation and allergies in the body. As such, these people may not notice the damaging effects of milk. Those who do not take steroids will notice a connection between dairy and the worsening of asthma symptoms.

In my experience, people suffering from asthma should avoid cow’s milk or at the very least cut down on the amount consumed. This can be done by switching to sheep or goat’s produce. These sources are less allergenic and, due to the fact that they are not farmed on the same commercial scale, are less likely to contain high levels of toxins. Better still would be to swap to non-dairy plant-based substitutes. Thanks to the rise in popularity of vegetarianism and veganism, there’s a wide range of foods made with almond, oat, soya or rice. These are easily available from most supermarkets and food stores.

Finally, remember that whey protein, which is one of the sources of irritation found in cow’s milk, is often added to nutritional drinks. If you consume protein shakes after a workout, it is a good idea to check whether whey protein is present in what you are consuming. Again, there is a wide range of plant-based alternatives.

 

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