A food intolerance can be difficult to diagnose. Honestly I believe that many people are suffering from a food intolerance, but they don’t even realize it and are medicating the symptoms with prescription drugs. Casein is just one of many food ingredients that can cause problems. People can be intolerant to gluten, MSG, corn, shrimp, and caffeine, just to name a few others.
Casein should not be confused with lactose.
Most people who have difficulty digesting milk are lactose intolerant, meaning that they produce too little of the enzyme (lactase) that breaks down milk sugar (lactose) so bacteria flourish in their gut to finish the job.
Milk has a number of components. These include lactose (milk's sugar), up to four varieties of casein and other milk proteins, and fats. The percentage of each of these contained in an ounce of milk varies according to the source of the milk (which animal), where in the milking cycle the milk comes from (lactose-rich foremilk comes out first, followed by fat-rich hindmilk), and how long the individual animal has been lactating this time around. If it comes out of a box, a tin or any other kind of packaging, be sure to read the ingredients. You'd be amazed at the kinds of foods that conceal milk products. For someone with an allergy, even a pinch can be too much, so read carefully.
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The following items on any ingredients list are no-nos:
milk solids ("curds")
whey
casein (sodium caseinate, most commonly)
lactose (sodium lactylate, frequently)
lactalbumin and other names that begin with lact
and the obvious:
milk,
butter,
cheese,
yogurt...
Be especially alert when obtaining the following, as milk products creep in:
margarine
hydrolyzed vegetable protein (for the unusually sensitive person) since the processing phase may utilize casein
bread, and breaded (often fried) foods
chewing gum
soy cheeses
"non-dairy" anything, including Cool Whip. Non-dairy does not mean milk-free. It is a term the dairy industry invented to indicate less than 1/2 % milk by weight, which could mean fully as much casein as whole milk!
sour mix, such as what is used to make margaritas, or other artifically "sour" items such as some candies.
vinegar flavored potato chips/crisps. The "vinegar" may actually be a milk-derived ingredient.
whole poultry fresh from the store *may* be infused with lactose to keep it fresher. Check the ingredient list or purchase a kosher bird.
Wine! Casein is one of six substances that may be used to clarify wine. (Egg white is another.) If you call the vintner, ask if casein is used in the "fining process".
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Look for products marked "vegan", which should contain no animal products whatsoever.
Ingredient Substitutions
For butter substitute Fleischmann's unsalted margarine, Crisco or soy butter. In baking, you can also substitute lard, which produces excellent baked results.
For melted butter substitute oil or melted margarine.
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For milk used simply as a liquid, substitute water or Rice Dream. If you're baking, fruit juice can add a nice touch. Reduce the amount of sugar that the recipe calls for, though.
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hemp milk
almond milk
rice milk
soy milk
oat milk
vegan potato chips
vegan chewing gum
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coconut milk organic
Dairy free supplement
miracle noodles
