Photo from visitcompletecare.com
Lactose intolerant people are unable to adequately digest the sugar (lactose) in milk. As a result, individuals have diarrhea, gas, and bloating after consuming dairy products. The illness, also known as lactose malabsorption, is normally innocuous, but its symptoms can be unpleasant.
Lactose intolerance is mainly caused by a lack of an enzyme generated in your small intestine (lactase). Lactase levels can be low while still digesting milk products. However, if your levels are too low, you become lactose intolerant, resulting in symptoms after eating or drinking dairy.
Most persons with lactose sensitivity can manage their disease without eliminating all dairy products.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LACTOSE INTOLERANCE?
Lactose intolerance symptoms commonly appear 30 minutes to two hours after eating or drinking lactose-containing foods. The following are some common indications and symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting and nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Bloating
- Gas
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF LACTOSE INTOLERANCE?
Lactose intolerance develops when your small intestine does not generate enough of an enzyme called lactase to digest milk sugar (lactose).
Lactase normally converts milk sugar into two simple sugars, glucose and galactose, which are then taken into the bloodstream via the gut mucosa.
Lactose in your meal travels into the colon instead of being digested and absorbed if you are lactase deficient. Normal bacteria in the gut interact with undigested lactose, generating lactose intolerance symptoms.
Lactose intolerance is classified into three categories. Lactase insufficiency of each type is caused by different reasons.
Primary lactose intolerance
People with primary lactose intolerance, the most common type, are born with enough lactase. Lactase is required for infants that derive all of their nutrition from milk.
When children substitute other foods for milk, the quantity of lactase they generate decreases but remains high enough to digest the amount of dairy in a typical adult diet. Lactase synthesis declines rapidly in adults with primary lactose intolerance, making milk products difficult to digest.
Secondary lactose intolerance
This type of lactose intolerance develops when your small intestine's lactase synthesis diminishes as a result of an illness, accident, or surgery impacting your small intestine. Intestinal infection, celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth, and Crohn's disease are all diseases associated with secondary lactose intolerance.
Treatment of the underlying illness may restore lactase levels and relieve signs and symptoms, though this may take some time.
Congenital or developmental lactose intolerance
Babies born with lactose intolerance due to a lack of lactase are possible, but uncommon. This disorder is passed down from generation to generation in an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance, which means that both the mother and father must pass on the same gene mutation for a child to be affected. Lactose intolerance can also occur in premature newborns due to a lack of lactase.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR LACTOSE INTOLERANCE?
Lactose intolerance can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Premature delivery: Lactase levels in premature babies may be lower because the small intestine does not generate lactase-producing cells until late in the third trimester.
- Small intestine diseases: Bacterial overgrowth, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease are among small intestinal disorders that can induce lactose intolerance.
- Certain cancer treatments: If you've received radiation therapy for stomach cancer or have intestinal issues from chemotherapy, you're more likely to develop lactose intolerance.
- Getting older: Lactose intolerance commonly manifests itself in maturity. In babies and early children, the syndrome is infrequent.
- Ethnicity: Lactose intolerance is most widespread in African, Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian populations.
HOW IS LACTOSE INTOLERANCE DIAGNOSED?
Based on your symptoms and response to reducing the amount of dairy items in your diet, your doctor may suggest lactose intolerance. One or more of the following tests can be performed by your doctor to confirm the diagnosis:
Hydrogen breath test: After you consume a lactose-containing liquid, your doctor will monitor the amount of hydrogen in your breath at regular intervals. Excessive hydrogen expulsion implies that you are not adequately digesting and absorbing lactose.
Lactose tolerance test: Blood tests will be performed two hours after ingesting a lactose-containing liquid to determine the amount of glucose in your bloodstream. If your glucose level does not rise, this indicates that your body is not adequately digesting and absorbing the lactose-containing drink.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR LACTOSE INTOLERANCE?
Treating the underlying illness may restore the body's capacity to digest lactose in persons with lactose intolerance, albeit this process might take months. A low-lactose diet may help you avoid the discomfort of lactose intolerance for other reasons.
To reduce the quantity of lactose in your diet, do the following:
- Limit your intake of milk and other dairy products.
- Include tiny amounts of dairy products in your daily meals.
- Consume lactose-free ice cream and milk.
- To break down the lactose in milk, add a liquid or powder lactase enzyme.
HOME REMEDIES FOR LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
You might be able to forecast your body's reaction to lactose-containing foods and figure out how much you can eat or drink without discomfort with some trial and error. Few persons have such severe lactose intolerance that they must avoid all milk products and avoid nondairy foods and drugs containing lactose.
Maintain a healthy diet
Reduced dairy consumption does not imply a lack of calcium. Calcium can also be present in a variety of other foods, including:
- Broccoli and green leafy vegetables
- Calcium-fortified foods and beverages, such as cereals and juices
- canned salmon or canned sardines
- Milk alternatives, like soy milk and rice milk
- Oranges
- Dried beans, almonds, and Brazil nuts
Make sure you get enough vitamin D, which is commonly found in fortified milk. Vitamin D is also found in eggs, liver, and yogurt, and your body produces it when exposed to sunlight.
Even if dairy foods are not restricted, many adults may not obtain enough vitamin D. To be sure, see your doctor about taking vitamin D and calcium supplements.
Limit your dairy consumption
Most lactose intolerant persons can consume some milk products without experiencing symptoms. Low-fat milk products, such as skim milk, may be tolerated better than whole-milk products. It may also be able to gradually raise your tolerance to dairy products by incorporating them into your diet.
Changing your diet to reduce lactose intolerant symptoms includes:
- Choosing fewer dairy servings: Squeeze out little amounts of milk — up to 4 ounces (118 milliliters) at a time. The lower the serving size, the less likely it is to induce digestive issues.
- Keeping milk for meals: Drink milk alongside other foods. This slows digestion and may alleviate lactose intolerance symptoms.
- Experimenting with various dairy products: Lactose levels differ between dairy products. Hard cheeses, such as Swiss or cheddar, contain trace levels of lactose but cause no symptoms.
Ice cream and milk have the highest lactose, although the high fat content of ice cream may allow you to consume it without experiencing symptoms. Cultured milk products, such as yogurt, may be tolerated since the microorganisms used in the culturing process naturally create the enzyme that breaks down lactose.
- Purchasing lactose-reduced or lactose-free items: These items can be found in the dairy section of most supermarkets.
- Using lactase enzyme pills or drops: Lactase enzyme tablets or drops (Lactaid, for example) may aid in the digestion of dairy products. Tablets can be taken right before a meal or snack. Alternatively, the drops can be mixed into a carton of milk. These items are not suitable for everyone who is lactose intolerant.