What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?

Common symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, gas, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea. These symptoms typically occur after consuming dairy products or foods containing lactose.

How is lactose intolerance diagnosed?

Lactose intolerance can be diagnosed through various tests, including a lactose intolerance hydrogen breath test, lactose tolerance test, or a stool acidity test.

Can lactose intolerance be cured?

Lactose intolerance is a lifelong condition. However, it can be managed by avoiding or limiting lactose-containing foods and beverages. Many individuals with lactose intolerance can still consume small amounts of lactose without experiencing symptoms.

What are some lactose-free alternatives?

There are many lactose-free alternatives available for individuals with lactose intolerance, including lactose-free milk, lactose-free yogurt, and lactose-free cheese. Additionally, there are non-dairy alternatives such as almond milk, soy milk, and coconut milk that can be used as substitutes.

Is lactose intolerance the same as a milk allergy?

No, lactose intolerance is different from a milk allergy. Lactose intolerance is a digestive issue related to the inability to digest lactose, while a milk allergy is an immune response to proteins found in milk. The symptoms and treatment of these conditions are distinct.

Living with Lactose Intolerance

Q: What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is a digestive disorder in which the body is unable to fully digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products. It occurs when the small intestine does not produce enough lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose.

by Rick Kaselj · Published January 25, 2022 · Updated November 21, 2024

Living with Lactose Intolerance Thumbnail

Last updated on November 21st, 2024 at 06:49 pm

You may be lactose intolerant. Have you drunk a café latte and had a gassy, bloated, cramped stomach afterward? Or maybe you experienced stomach pain after having your favorite cereal? If so, it might be because of the milk, more specifically the lactose, that goes with it! So, let's dive into what lactose is and Lactose Intolerance Symptoms.

What Is Lactose?

Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Lactase is an enzyme that breaks lactose down into glucose and galactose, which the body uses for high energy. There are also many sources of enzymes that break down lactose, including yogurt, cheese, and buttermilk. The amount of lactase in your system determines how much you can break down, so if you're missing this enzyme, it's possible that consuming these foods will cause gastrointestinal discomforts such as stomach cramps or diarrhea. It can be challenging to digest for some people, especially those with lactose intolerance.

What Is Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose Intolerance is also known as lactose malabsorption.

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose – a sugar in milk and dairy products. Lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose, is usually produced by cells lining the small intestine. When these cells are damaged or destroyed (by disease, injury, or surgery), less lactase is available for the digestion of dairy products like cheese and yogurt.

Moreover, for many people, dairy products are a part of their daily diet. Those individuals with lactose intolerance lack the enzymes needed to digest it. According to a 2017 review of data from around the world, a large portion of the population lacks the enzymes responsible for lactose digestion—the natural sugar in dairy products. Furthermore, about 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose, which means they experience discomfort after consuming it.

As we age, our bodies produce less and less lactase, the enzyme you need to be able to digest lactose, so it's common for people to become lactose intolerant as they get older.

Lactose intolerance is relatively harmless; however, its symptoms can be unbearable.

Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance:

Diarrhea
Gas
Bloating
Stomach pain
Constipation
Nausea
Vomiting
Headache

Hydrogen Breath – Testing For Lactose Intolerance

This test is a quick, easy-to-use tool for diagnosing food intolerances. It works by measuring the amount of hydrogen gas exhaled after drinking water or lactose-free milk with glucose. Moreover, the more hydrogen you produce, your sensitivity to sugars and other carbohydrates increases. It also involves drinking a solution of water and sugar. After consuming sugar, the person blows into a device to measure how much gas is produced by bacteria in the gut. This test, which does not require fasting or sedation, has been shown to diagnose lactose intolerance accurately and celiac disease with 88% accuracy compared with other tests such as blood tests and biopsies.

Moving Forward Without Dairy

Whether you are vegan, lactose intolerant, or just trying to reduce your dairy intake, plenty of great dairy substitutes are available. You can certainly get all the benefits of milk without consuming dairy.

Some Of The Milk Substitutes You Can Enjoy Even If You Have LactoseIntolerance Include:

- Soy Milk
- Almond Milk
- Pea Milk
- Rice Milk
- Oat Milk
- Hemp Milk
- Coconut-based Milk
- Goat Milk

If You Are Suffering From Lactose Intolerance, Be Wary Of These Products:

- Evaporated Milk
- Condensed Milk
- Ice Cream
- Cottage Cheese
- Ricotta
- Sour Cream
- Cheese Spreads

Treatment

Treatment options vary depending on your symptoms, but remedies are available. This certainly includes taking over-the-counter medications like Lactaid or eating yogurt with live cultures that help ease digestion.

Lactaid contains live active cultures that act as probiotics in your system, helping break down lactose into something your body can absorb.

Digestive problems can be miserable! Learn how to heal your gut and once again enjoy your favorite foods.

Rick Kaselj

Rick Kaselj MS, is a leading kinesiologist and injury specialist as well as co-creator of the best-selling Unlock Your Hip Flexors program. Rick creates exercise programs that help people heal injuries and eliminate pain, so they can go back to living a full, active, healthy life.