If you're new to the topic, it will help to review the following terms:
- Lactose intolerance - Lactose is a type of sugar that is present in milk. People with lactose intolerance become uncomfortable after eating dairy products, with symptoms that can include nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Lactose intolerance is not life-threatening. In people with celiac disease, lactose intolerance often improves with adherence to the gluten-free diet.
- Milk allergy - In true milk allergies, people are allergic to either casein, or whey, or both. Casein and whey are two types of milk proteins. Casein is found in the curd of the milk, and whey is in the liquid part that remains after the milk has curdled. As with gluten, sources of these proteins can be obvious (such as milk, cheese, and yogurt) or hidden (for example: in processed foods such as “vegetarian” cheeses, "vegetarian" meats, cereals, and breads). Allergies to these proteins can cause hives, eczema, chronic congestion, and diarrhea. In extreme cases, milk allergies can be life-threatening.
Interest in the combined gluten-free/dairy-free diet is not limited only to people with celiac disease. Many parents of children with autism have reported that their children benefit from avoiding gluten and casein, even in the absence of celiac disease. (For more information, see Gluten-Free Cassein-Free (GFCF) Diets and Autism.)
On the next few pages, you'll find lists of websites, blogs, mailing lists, and more. If you know of any more resources for this list, please post a note in our celiac disease forum and I'll add the information here.
