Do you often experience excessive gas, bloating and stomach cramps after taking or eating foods that contain lactose? If your answer is yes, then you may be experiencing what is called lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance happens when your small intestine lack an enzyme called lactase, which normally breaks down lactose, the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. A lactose intolerance diagnosis can be confirmed by the doctor through the hydrogen breath test, lactose intolerance test or stool acidity test.
The best way to prevent symptoms of lactose intolerance is to limit food that contain lactose such as milk, yogurt, cheese, among others in your diet. You may also try to use an OTC product called Lactaid right before you eat lactose-containing food. Lactaid contains lactase enzymes, help break down lactose and thus prevent the symptoms of gas and bloating. Furthermore, look out for lactose-reduced or lactose-free products as alternatives. The use of probiotics is another option that is worth trying and I will write more about this in another post. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help balance the microbial flora in the intestines. These are also referred to as good bacteria. The presence of good bacteria in the gut aids in the digestion of food and prevent excessive gas and bloating.
While it may be tempting to cut out dairy from your diet completely, cutting out dairy from your diet may mean missing out on vital nutrients and micronutrients in diary products. The good news is that most people with lactose intolerance can still tolerate limited amount of lactose in their diets, with the use of the tips provided above you can still enjoy your favorite dairy products without the unwanted effects.
On the other hand, lactose allergy differs from lactose intolerance in that, lactose allergy occurs when the body reacts to the milk proteins causing widespread rash on the body, worsening of eczema and other pre-existing skin conditions or in severe cases, difficulty breathing. Dairy allergy is widely common in children and a possible sign is when you find blood in the stool in babies. Blood in the stool in babies requires further investigation for confirmation and ruling out other differential diagnoses. Unlike lactose intolerance, people with lactose allergy have to cut out dairy from their diets completely.
Dietary restriction should always be done under the supervision of an allergist or a dermatologist. When cutting out dairy from diet, don't forget the occult sources of dairy such as food made with some milk, eg pancakes, cakes, cookies. Also, be sure to replace milk with other sources of calcium such as: fortified fruit or vegetable juice, kale, broccoli, soybeans. Don't forget to always consult your healthcare provider to ensure proper management of your conditions.
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