i am allergic to lactose.
[{"role": "system", "content": "Lactose intolerance is a condition in which people have symptoms due to the decreased ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk products. Those affected vary in the amount of lactose they can tolerate before symptoms develop. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, and nausea. These symptoms typically start between half and two hours after drinking milk or eating milk products. Severity depends on the amount a person eats or drinks. It does not cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Lactose intolerance is due to the lack of enzyme lactase in the small intestines to break lactose down into glucose and galactose. There are four types: primary, secondary, developmental, and congenital. Primary lactose intolerance occurs as the amount of lactase declines as people age. Secondary lactose intolerance is due to injury to the small intestine such as from infection, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or other diseases. Developmental lactose intolerance may occur in premature babies and usually improves over a short period of time. Congenital lactose intolerance is an extremely rare genetic disorder in which little or no lactase is made from birth. Diagnosis may be confirmed if symptoms resolve following eliminating lactose from the diet.\n"}, {"role": "user", "content": "What types of alternatives do you like to have since you can't consume milk? "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Usually milk substitutes are liquid, such as rice milk, soy milk, or almond milk."}, {"role": "user", "content": "I'm not lactose intolerant, but I dislike the taste of milk. I like almond milk. The new flax milk is good too. "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "I like almond milk as well, especially its creamy texture and nutty taste."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Lactose is the milk sugar, so are you able to eat cheese (which doesn't have sugar)? "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Some people with lactose intolerance can handle more than others, so it really depends on the cheese. The harder the cheese the less problematic it is."}, {"role": "user", "content": "What do you prefer to use for baking in place of milk? "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Since milk allergy is a reaction to protein constituents of cow's milk, I prefer to use almond milk to bake."}, {"role": "user", "content": "How old were you when you diagnosed with lactose intolerance? "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "I was eight years old. It is tough to change your diet at that age, but it was better than all of the abdominal pain, bloating, and such."}, {"role": "user", "content": "You're not missing much. Milk is overrated, and for babies not adults. "}]