I just wanted to take this opportunity to share some facts about lactose intolerance. Because if you have it and you’re looking for ways to deal, you need to know that vegans will absolutely lie to you and they’re one of the few groups I see talking about it
- Lactose intolerance is not a dairy allergy. You can, should, and hopefully will continue consuming dairy with lactose. You actually NEED lactose to fight lactose intolerance. If you cut it out of your diet completely then your sensitivity will increase. This is the big one that vegans will lie to you about. One actually tried to convince me that lactose was killing my body. No, it’s not a dairy allergy.
- This one is probably fairly obvious but you don’t need to stop drinking cow’s milk to avoid lactose in your milk. Lactose free milk is a thing and there’s lactaid pills you can take.
- Lactose intolerance isn’t “because you’re not a baby cow” like vegans like to say. It’s because your body doesn’t produce enough lactase and can’t digest lactose. It’s extremely common in people of colour with upwards of 90% of Asian people having it. It’s less common in northern Europeans which might go a ways towards explaining why white vegans as a whole know very little about it and seem to mistake it for a dairy allergy.
- Lactose is found in non dairy foods like some breads, processed meats, cereals, chips, medications, etc. And certain dairy products have higher or lower concentrations. Butter has a stupid low amount for example. And everyone’s tolerance is different.
- The average LT person can have 12 grams of lactose per sitting. You’ll likely be able to have more if it’s consumed with a large meal.
- Eat yoghurt!!! Yes, DAIRY yoghurt! The bacteria in it produce lactase. It will help.
Another reason why the difference between lactose intolerance and “dairy allergy” is important: because dairy, or rather milk protein allergy IS a thing and it is VERY DANGEROUS.
A lactose intolerant person who consumes regular dairy products is going to have an upset stomach, which could entail anything from “farting a bit worse than usual” to “stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting”.
A person with milk protein allergy may go into anaphylactic shock. Even a small amount of lactose could literally kill them.
(This is also, apart from common fucking decency, why if you work in a café or something and someone asks for soy milk, you give them their damn soy milk. Do not play roulette with someone else’s life and health.)

























