Food sensitivity and special precautions go hand in hand. From the grocery store to the lunchbox, meal planning can be a complicated process for parents of children with food intolerances or allergies. Those looking to add probiotics to their kids’ diets quickly realize that good bacteria, milk, and lactose are closely linked. But do dairy-free probiotics even exist? Sensitivity, Allergy, or Intolerance? In the field of nutrition, we often confuse—and wrongly so—the concepts of food sensitivity, allergy, and intolerance. What differentiates them from one another? Food sensitivities encompass all allergies and intolerances. It’s characterized by an undesirable reaction to a certain food that can normally be ingested without any danger. As for food allergies, these are caused by a reaction of the immune system to the protein contained in a specific food. A milk allergy, which is more dangerous for kids’ health than lactose intolerance, occurs when the immune system has an abnormal reaction to milk proteins. Finally, food intolerances are sensitivities that do not trigger an immune response. Intolerance symptoms often manifest themselves in the gastrointestinal system, usually due to the body’s inability to digest or absorb certain foods. In cases of lactose intolerance, the body doesn’t produce enough lactase—the enzyme that allows for digestion of the lactose in milk. If your child seems to be having a negative reaction to certain foods, consult your doctor to determine the cause. Are Non-Dairy Probiotics an Option? Probiotic foods and supplements have been gaining popularity in recent years, and the scientific community has highlighted the numerous benefits of consuming them. If your child is sensitive to milk or lactose, giving them probiotics can be complicated, since dairy probiotics tend to be the norm. Thankfully, it is possible to find good lactose-free bacteria in fermented vegetable sources. In terms of vegan probiotics, there’s tempeh, sauerkraut and miso. The only problem is, most of these foods have a probiotic content inferior to that of supplements. To meet the specific needs of little ones and grown-ups alike, Bio-K+ offers different varieties of dairy-free and lactose-free probiotics, including the brand-new, raspberry-flavoured Bio-Kidz. Made from green peas, this vegan product contains 12.5 billion good bacteria in every serving. And with a taste and texture similar to juice, it’s sure to appeal to your child’s taste buds! References http://www.albertaenaction.ca/admin/pages/37/allergie_sensibilite_alimentaire.pdf https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-canada/services/aliments-nutrition/salubrite-aliments/allergies-alimentaires-intolerances-alimentaires.html https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-canada/services/allergies-alimentaires-et-intolerances-alimentaires/intolerances-alimentaires/sensibilites-et-intolerances-alimentaires.html https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerance https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11157344/
