Stomach issues top the list of the most common health complaints for almost half of people surveyed in the South East, according to new research.

One in five people surveyed by the a2 Milk Company believe that a food or drink intolerance maybe the reason behind their issues, and that cows' milk is the biggest culprit.

According to the company, only 38% with a problem visit a GP, over half rely on self-diagnosis and of these, some turn to friends and family to compare symptoms.

Others reportedly think they are intolerant, but seek advice and diagnosis through the internet - an increasing trend that concerns TV doctor Hilary Jones who lives in Sevenoaks.

The new research also revealed that it isn't just one person being affected by their perceived food intolerance, often the whole family has to follow suit to make life easier.

Over 1 in 4 admitted they cut cows' milk from the household to avoid having to buy both dairy and an alternative.

Dr Hilary Jones, TV doctor, said: "Many people who struggle to digest dairy often believe they are lactose intolerant.

"However this is very infrequently the case. A more common reason is in fact the protein in the milk.

"The A2 protein is less likely to cause digestive discomfort. This has important implications for people with IBS, people who have been reluctantly avoiding milk because of associated intolerance symptoms that are not related to lactose and of course anybody who has noticed minor unexplained consequences of consuming milk.”

Stomach issues beat backaches and headaches as the most common complaint.

"Many people who struggle to digest dairy often believe they are lactose intolerant" - Dr Hilary Jones

Despite cows’ milk getting a bad rap, almost three quarters of people surveyed admitted not knowing the difference between a dairy and lactose intolerance.

In 2014, the first ever human digestion clinical trial, led by Professor Sebely Pal at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, compared the impact of the commonly consumed A1 protein to that of A2 protein.

Scores for bloating were 61% higher and scores for abdominal pain went up 38% when drinking the A1 protein milk versus the A2 protein, amongst a group of people who said they were dairy intolerant. The peer-reviewed research was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The A1 protein emerged in European herds thousands of years ago through domestication and is now present in cows’ milk found in the majority of our fridges.

It is this that is commonly associated with digestive difficulties and is a major catalyst for the 1 in 5 Brits who believe they have an intolerance to milk.

Dr Jones said he became very interested in the protein after hearing about the research in Australia and will continue to suggest it to his patients suffering from stomach problems.

He added: "Most people I know who have tried it have been really, really happy and amazed at the results. I would say if you have a proven dairy allergy then this product is not for you, but if you think you have an intolerance to lactose I would say try this product, as you may be surprised."

A2 milk is now available from a range of large supermarkets including Sainsbury's.

Have you tried A2 protein milk? Let us know at messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk