The difference is lactose intolerance is not an allergy. Your body doesn't absorb the lactose, which causes water to stay in your gut due to osmosis. Annoying but ultimately not that dangerous.

Allergies cause inflammation, and repeated exposure to food allergens reduces your guts ability to absorb nutrients and can be very very dangerous.

Make sure you read up on the difference between milk allergies and lactose intolerance, and be aware of the differences in risk.

[–] volvoxvsmarla@lemm.ee 23 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Allergies cause inflammation, and repeated exposure to food allergens reduces your guts ability to absorb nutrients and can be very very dangerous.

I'd argue that's the best case scenario. Witnessing someone going into anaphylactic shock from eating something with honey is a whole different level of nightmare fuel.

Another thing to be aware of: there is lactose intolerance and milk allergy. I had a friend who constantly got served lactose free catering at conferences etc because he announced way beforehand that he has a milk allergy. He always felt like an asshole not eating the obviously milk protein containing foods that were prepared especially for him. But, like, when the alternative is going to the hospital, politeness won't be your choice.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 10 months ago

This is me with my celiac. I ask people specifically not to make things for me, and I feel like an asshole, but there are so many considerations to be made. I don't expect everyone to know how to prepare food in a safe celiac-friendly way, but it's not worth the gamble.

And at restaurants too. Just because something is labeled "gluten free" on the menu doesn't mean that I can eat it. There are sites that can help with that, but even some of them are outdated or wrong.

And I also have lactose intolerance, which isn't as bad, but I'm not sure how people just ignore that like in the meme. I'd have to literally wear diapers, and that's not something I'm willing to revisit.

[–] shikogo@pawb.social 3 points 10 months ago

Yeah, I was mostly basing my point on someone whose allergy symptoms are similar to lactose intolerance, but it can definitely be much worse.