Avoid Drinking Whole Milk If You Have This Medical Condition

Lactose intolerance isn't the only health condition that may force a person to avoid certain types of milk. People with pancreatitis, characterized by pancreas inflammation, will also want to bypass any cartons of whole milk when grocery shopping in the dairy aisle.

Located behind the stomach, the pancreas is essential to insulin production and digestion, explains the Mayo Clinic. The organ creates digestive enzymes that are transferred to the small intestine, where they become activated. Cell damage can occur, however, if the enzymes activate while still inside the pancreas. This triggers our immune system into action, which can result in swelling and more. People with acute cases of pancreatitis may experience pain in the upper abdomen, tenderness, upset stomach, fever, and vomiting, among other symptoms. Those with chronic cases of pancreatitis may experience more severe belly pain after a meal, weight loss, or produce oily, foul-smelling stool. People with chronic pancreatitis are unable to produce sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes necessary for nutrient absorption (per Cleveland Clinic). Depending on the severity of the case, your doctor may suggest making certain dietary changes to help lessen symptoms, including avoiding whole milk.

The pancreas helps the body break down fat, so eating foods that contain higher amounts of fat will increase the workload placed upon the organ. For this reason, whole milk lands on the list of worst foods for people with pancreatitis (per Medical News Today).

Staying away from whole milk may be particularly important for people with diabetes. In a 2019 case report published in BMJ Case Reports, a man in his late 30s with type 2 diabetes, who had discontinued his medications, came to the hospital reporting pain in the upper abdomen. The patient had been diagnosed with one prior case of acute pancreatitis years earlier. The man was found to have developed acute pancreatitis and hypertriglyceridemia (high triglyceride levels). Researchers traced the root of the condition to extreme overconsumption of dairy. For the last six months, the man had drunk upwards of 2 pints of full-fat milk daily, sometimes as much as 6 pints. The researchers noted, however, that with only one other documented 2017 case report of milk-induced acute pancreatitis in a diabetic patient, such incidents are exceedingly rare (via BMJ Case Reports).

While people with pancreatitis will want to steer clear of whole milk, cream, and other high-fat dairy products, this doesn't necessarily mean that milk is entirely off the table. Cleveland Clinic experts note that almond milk is a great option as well as flax milk, both of which are easier on the pancreas. The key is to stick with low-fat or nonfat dairy options.

In addition to avoiding certain food items, your doctor may suggest prioritizing others. This may include dietary sources of antioxidants, such as leafy greens, blueberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, walnuts, and more. Avocado, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish, however, should not be consumed in excess. Whole grains, fruits, and veggies are cholesterol-lowering foods that fuel the body with fiber. In turn, this lowers one's risk of gallstones and elevated triglyceride levels, which are known causes of acute pancreatitis. To learn more, here are some simple tips for lowering triglyceride levels.

Last but certainly not least, people with acute pancreatitis are also advised to drink plenty of water, refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol, and to give the pancreas a break by eating several smaller meals throughout the day rather than three larger servings of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.