Milk Allergies and Protein Drinks/Products

Hi everyone,
I recenty asked a question about milk allergies and ability to use the protein drinks/ supplements post - surgery.  I am allergic to casein and was concerned that I would not be able to use products like UJURY or others as they are comprised from milk products, especially whey.  What the heck is whey anyway? I am going for RNY in late June and was worried that I would not be able to use the shakes, etc.

So - thought I would share after a little research.  I am happy to report that whey is a separate protein (plus other stuff) while casein is a different animal.   Whey, lactose and casein are found in milk - cow's milk has a lot of casein whereas human milk has less.  Per many reports, whey protein has many health benefits, especially when not de-natured (heated at too high a temperature).  

If anyone is interested, I can provide more information. I am interested in ensuring what I eat from now on has as few irritants, allergans, chemicals etc as possible ....and am trying to learn more about organics, raw roods and just how to eat a healthier diet. 

I wanted to share this in the event anyone else had milk allergy concerns.  Here is a quick description of whey:

Whey protein is a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production. Some preclinical studies in rodents have suggested that whey protein may possess anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer properties; however, human data is lacking.^[ Whey protein is commonly marketed and ingested as a dietary supplement, and various health claims have been attributed to it in the alternative medicine community.^[4] Although whey proteins are responsible for some milk allergies, the major allergens in milk are the caseins Whey is left over when milk coagulates and contains everything that is soluble from milk. It is a 5% solution of lactose in water, with some minerals and lactalbumin.  It is removed after cheese is processed. The fat is removed and then is processed for human foods. Processing can be done by simple drying, or the protein content can be increased by removing lipids and other non-protein materials. Whey protein can be denatured by heat. High heat (such as the sustained high temperatures above 72 °C associated with the pasteurization process) denatures whey proteins. While native whey protein does not aggregate upon renneting or acidification of milk, denaturing the whey protein triggers hydrophobic interactions with other proteins, and the formation of a protein gel^. Heat-denatured whey can still cause allergies in some people. Whey protein is the collection of globular proteins isolated from whey, a by-product of cheese manufactured from cow's milk. Cow's milk is 20% whey protein and 80% casein protein, whereas human milk is 60% whey and 40% casein.  Whey protein is typically a mixture of beta-lactoglobulin (~65%), alpha-lactalbumin (~25%), and serum albumin (~8%), which are soluble in their native forms, independent of pH. The protein fraction in whey (approximately 10% of the total dry solids within whey) comprises four major protein fractions and six minor protein fractions. The major protein fractions in whey are beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, bovine serum albumin and immunoglobulins.

Hi Kathy,
   Thanks for the info and your research. You are doing a wonderful job to prepare yourself.   Take care,    Mag   

Thanks Mag!
Now to do some taste tests of various protein drinks:)

For a dairy substitute, consider soy milk, there are several options present in the dairy case. Thanks for the info.

 I am allergic to the protein in milk/dairy products and was worried about that as well.  About a month prior to surgery, I started taste/reaction testing a large variety of protein drinks/shakes with the protein source from whey, hemp seeds, and soy.  The whey products seem to have the largest variety available, and surprisingly, I haven't had any issues with them (my standard dairy reaction was nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).  The hemp protein drinks/shakes I tried were NASTY!!!!  Maybe it's just me, but even with flavors I tend to adore, I couldn't even gag down a second sip!  The soy drinks/shakes weren't bad, but again, there was something 'off' in the taste to me.
Guess everyone is different, but unless the whey protein drinks/shakes caused serious issues, I would still recommend them to anyone, even those with an allergy as the surgery can alleviate or create symptoms.

Thanks so much for the information - good news as I have a similar reaction to milk which is not all that fun:)
I will do some taste testing too but may forgo the hemp - had not even seen that as an option yet so thanks!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your research with everyone here! You are indeed doing an excellent job of getting prepared for the road ahead! KUDO'S!