Janhvi Kapoor thinks allergy tests for gluten and milk are ‘faaltu’. Here's why she might be misinformed.

Saif Ali Khan, Jr. NTR and Janhvi Kapoor recently appeared on The Great Indian Kapil Show to promote their upcoming film Devara. Bits of the episode have been making rounds online and a certain clip caught our attention.

In one of the clips from the show, Saif is seen explaining to the audience that he has stopped consuming parathas ever since his blood tests revealed that he was allergic to milk and bread.
His co-star Janhvi responded saying, “Yeh sab faaltu ke allergy test hote hain. Hum sab itne sadiyon se doodh, maida-vaida sab khaate aa rahe hain” (all these allergy tests are nonsense. We have been drinking milk and consuming flour for ages).

While this may have been the young actor’s mostly harmless attempt at sounding relatable, gluten and lactose intolerance is a real health concern for millions of Indians. And taking these tests is among the most recommended ways to understand and alter our diets.

Gluten allergy is not new in India, gluten is!

A gluten allergy, often referred to as gluten intolerance or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), is a condition where the immune system reacts negatively to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Unlike celiac disease, gluten sensitivity does not cause damage to the small intestine, but it can trigger uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, fatigue and headaches after consuming gluten-containing foods — such as bread.

When asked if more and more Indians were reporting gluten allergies, nutritionist Dr Meghana Pasi explained that it wasn’t entirely true.

“An increase in the Indians’ wheat consumption was a result of colonisation”, she said. Most Indians primarily consumed millet before the British’s influence and wheat became a staple in our diets roughly between 50-100 years ago. And it has taken a few decades to associate the discomfort many feel after consuming wheat with a gluten allergy.

So, claiming that gluten consumption is perfectly okay since people in the past did it too, is infact entirely inaccurate.

A significant proportion of Indians are lactose intolerant

After Janhvi implies that these allergies are a hoax, Saif attempts to correct her saying, “Hum jab bade ho jate hai to sab cheezein nahi khani chahiye, bacho ko khani chhaiye ( We should refrain from eating certain things when we get older; kids should eat all of this).”

In response Janhvi says, "Main toh doodh peeti hun (I still drink milk).” Anecdotal fallacy again. Sigh.

Lactose intolerance is a digestive condition where the body is unable to fully digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products. This happens when the small intestine doesn't produce enough of the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down lactose into simpler sugars for absorption.

As a result, lactose passes undigested into the colon, where bacteria ferment it, causing symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea, gas and stomach cramps. The severity of symptoms varies, depending on how much lactose a person can tolerate. This author, for instance, needs just one pizza slice to develop a terrible gastric headache that leads to violent episodes of puking.

Regarding her claim that we have been consuming milk for ages, India has seen a notable rise in lactose intolerance as dietary patterns evolve. Studies suggest that one-third of Indians may have some degree of lactose intolerance due to genetic factors.

Historically, the diet in many parts of India included fermented or low-lactose dairy products like yogurt and paneer, which are easier to digest. However, the growing consumption of milk-based products and processed foods may be contributing to more visible cases of lactose intolerance.

Furthermore, even without the intolerance debate, science has shown that humans’ capacity to absorb milk decreases as we grow old. By the time we’re in our mid-thirties, these problems can manifest as gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastro-esophagal reflux disease (GERD).

So, while Janhvi Kapoor's casual dismissal of gluten and lactose allergies may have been made in jest, it brought forth a good opportunity to discuss a larger issue of misinformation about dietary sensitivities. As allergies and intolerances become more widely understood and recognised, particularly in the Indian context, it’s important to acknowledge that the foods we’ve consumed for generations may no longer suit everyone.

Of late, many celebrities like Janhvi, who boast millions of followers, have been caught spreading health-related misinformation intentionally or unintentionally. Despite their access to the best nutritionists and doctors, such misguided statements show blatant disregard for public health.
Instead, as a society, we should aim to foster a more nuanced understanding of how individual bodies react to different foods over time and the role modern science plays in identifying these sensitivities. In an era of growing health awareness, informed conversations around food intolerances can lead to better lifestyle choices for many.