Chest Pain After Drinking Milk | Get The 12 Bona Fide Facts

Some people experience heartburn when they drink milk, but a new study in the journal Pediatrics found that drinking milk can also cause chest pain. Let’s dive into what can cause chest pain after drinking milk.

A study examined 1,200 children and found that those who drank more than three cups of milk per day were 41% more likely to experience chest pain.

Researchers think this is because lactose-intolerant people are not able to digest all of the lactose sugar in the milk; it then ferments in their stomachs and causes indigestion or inflammation.

Chest pain is common in adults and can be caused by many different things. Drinks like milk are usually harmless, but if you experience chest pain after drinking milk more than once it’s worth discussing with your physician.

To avoid these symptoms, try switching out cow’s milk for soy or almond beverages that do not contain any lactose sugars at all!

What Happens In Your Body When You Drink Milk?

Your body is incredibly smart. It works with incredible precision that often goes unnoticed by us, but can truly amaze us if we stop to think about it.

Milk contains lactose sugar, which is broken down in your stomach with the help of an enzyme called lactase. Lactase breaks down the milk sugars so your small intestine does not absorb them.

They are then passed on to your large intestine where probiotics ferment them and turn them into gas, leading to bloating and flatulence (the technical term for farting!). This also brings up another problem:

What Happens When Your Stomach Can’t Break Down Milk?

If you are lactose-intolerant, however, you lack this enzyme and it leads to a whole lot of problems. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, “lactose intolerance is an inherited condition that causes loose, watery stools and abdominal bloating,” due to undigested sugars in your intestines.

If you have even a small amount of lactase present, however, this stops being a problem since the enzyme breaks down most of the sugars before they get near your large intestine. When this happens, no gas or bloating can occur because there are no undigested sugars for them to ferment!

If you are actually lactose-intolerant then it’s time to start looking at your alternatives since the problem is not only in the dairy itself but also in your body’s ability to process it. Not sure which foods contain dairy?

Foods To Avoid That Contain Dairy

Let’s take a quick look at some of the foods that contain dairy that you should avoid. Milk, obviously, is the number one dairy product that you should avoid. Not only because of lactose issues but also because it contains high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol.

Cheeses are another common food containing dairy that you need to understand the best alternatives for. While many kinds of cheese don’t contain much lactose, they can cause problems with gas and bloating if you’re lactose intolerant since cheese is difficult for your body to break down anyway.

Now I want to take a few minutes to discuss some healthier alternatives to milk itself. Milk has essentially two purposes in cooking – as a liquid (to help make things moist) or as an ingredient (in baked goods like bread and cakes).

Any drinkable liquids like water or juice can help make a dish moist. As for milk’s role as an ingredient, it is only necessary if the recipe calls for milk specifically; your best bet will be to simply avoid those recipes.

You may want to consider using plant-based milk like soy, almond, or rice milk instead of cow’s milk (just make sure you keep these refrigerated and use them before their expiration date). They’re healthier and lactose-free.

And again, you won’t have to worry about your body having trouble digesting these because they’re primarily made up of other ingredients that are easy for your body to process. If the taste isn’t quite what you’re looking for then try experimenting with adding some lemon juice or salt in order to enhance the flavor!

Why Does Your Stomach Hurt After Drinking Milk?

Your stomach hurts after drinking milk because it has to work hard in order to digest the lactose. As your body struggles to break down this milk sugar, excess gas and hydrogen may be pushed through the intestinal tract and cause bloating and abdominal cramping.

The cramping will lead to the pain that you experience after drinking milk.

Why Does Milk Make Me Gassy?

Milk makes people gassy because as mentioned before it contains a sugar known as lactose. If you lack the enzyme to digest this hydrogen will be pushed through your intestinal tract and make its way out through flatulence or even stool if it is not absorbed by the body.

Some people are able to handle drinking milk because they have adapted over time so that their bodies do produce enough of the enzyme required to process it.

However, for those who do struggle with lactose intolerance, there are many other choices available including soy, almond, and rice milk which have much less fat along with being easier to digest since they contain much lesser amounts of lactose.

Understanding Why You Get Chest Pain After Drinking Milk

The main cause of chest pain after drinking milk is due to a condition called Lactose Intolerance which affects more than 100 million Americans.

In short, drinking milk or eating dairy products that have been made from cow’s milk can cause stomach pain and even chest discomfort in some cases because of lactose intolerance.

The main reason is that many people lack enough of the enzyme (Lactase) in their bodies which breaks down lactose found in dairy products into simpler sugars like glucose and galactose.

This is why it may be important to replace your regular daily intake of dairy with other alternatives such as almond or soy milk.

The Connection Between Milk and Acid Reflux

There is a connection between drinking milk and acid reflux. Basically, the milk coats the esophagus, or food pipe. This can result in little “strawberries” all along your chest and especially on your upper back near the shoulders. It is these red patches that are caused by the acid reflux burning through your skin.

A much more serious problem than this is called angioedema which creates hives all over your body upon consumption of dairy products which will necessitate medical attention if left untreated. These can be very serious reactions for those who have allergies to cow’s milk.

Milk Allergies And How To Detect It

If you’re thinking you may have a milk allergy, then there is one way to know for sure. You can do an allergy test on milk. You can have an allergist give you a skin prick test, which would be the most accurate way to diagnose your allergy.

Another option is to do an elimination diet where you abstain from dairy products for 2 weeks and then reintroduce them into your regular diet. If you react right away or later on, it’s likely that you are allergic to milk.

Milk allergies are more common in children than adults so if by chance you have children, watch out for telltale reactions like bloodshot eyes, diarrhea, congestion, and respiratory problems when they drink milk.

Cow Milk vs Goat Milk

When it comes to chest pain, allergies, and being lactose intolerant, is there a difference with which milk you use? For example, cow milk vs goat milk, well the answer is yes.

Let’s look at some main points about cow milk:

1) A cow’s mammary glands produce milk only after giving birth.

2) Cows are raised as livestock on farms around the world.

3) Milk from cows is high in fat and cholesterol compared to other mammals, such as goats which have a much leaner diet.

4) Humans have been drinking the milk of cows for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until recently that anyone would drink goat milk because its taste and texture are so different from what we were used to. As a result, people who can’t drink cow milk tend to have an easier time drinking goat’s milk due to less lactose and more fat content which makes it more tolerable.

5) Some people are lactose intolerant which means their small intestine isn’t able to break down the sugar in milk properly. If you’re lactose intolerant, try drinking milk with other foods like cereal or toast so you can spread out the milk intake and lessen your body’s response to it.

Goat milk is different from cow milk as it contains less lactose, more fat and is easier for adults to digest. Some people are unable to drink cow milk due to being lactose intolerant or having an allergy which can cause them to have stomach problems after drinking milk.

There are ways one can still enjoy the taste of milk without the negative side effects so it’s best to experiment with different methods on how you can consume milk by yourself if you’re experiencing this problem.

The nutritional benefits of goat milk can be compared to cow milk and there is no significant difference between the two. Goat milk has the same amount of calcium, vitamins, sodium, potassium, carbohydrates, etc. as cow milk does so one doesn’t miss out on nutrients when consuming goat milk instead.

Can Plant-Based Milk Cause Chest Pain?

That’s an excellent question, the answer is, no. Plant-based milk doesn’t seem to have any negative side effects and is a good alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy products.

Plant-based milk is derived from plants and is free of lactose. Plant-derived milk substitutes, such as soy or almond milk, are rich in many important nutrients found in cow’s milk and generally don’t cause any discomfort in those who cannot normally consume dairy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much cow milk can you drink to not cause chest pain?

The amount you can drink will vary from person to person. Some people can drink a glass of milk a day while others suffer serious discomfort after drinking even a sip.

Do I have to give up cow’s milk forever?

It is entirely possible that for some people it may be possible to reintroduce cow’s milk into their diet at certain times and under certain circumstances.

However, if you do choose to re-introduce cow’s milk into your diet, please monitor the effects carefully and discontinue use immediately if you begin experiencing pain or other symptoms.

What should I do if I start feeling chest pain after eating dairy products?

If you experience heartburn or indigestion, stop eating dairy and figure out what triggers the symptoms by taking notes on what you’ve eaten.

What if you have multiple episodes over months?

If you experience the same symptoms every time you drink milk then it’s time for you to consult with a doctor to undergo tests.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been struggling with chest pain after drinking milk for a long time you should consult with your doctor to ensure it’s not something more serious. Milk is no longer a primary source of nutrients in the diets of adults, so if you feel tired, experience chest pain or feel sluggish after drinking it you might consider cutting down on the amount of milk you drink.

Milk can also cause mild throat irritation when consumed which could lead to extra phlegm production, creating chest congestion and making it harder for your body to fight off infections.

If taking over-the-counter antacids relieves your symptoms then that’s fine, but make sure you take the correct dose regularly instead of only when you think you need them.

Most people who regularly eat dairy products will have built up enough resistance by adulthood where they don’t experience these side effects. However, if you can’t tolerate milk then it’s perfectly acceptable for someone to avoid it in their diet.