Intolerance to lactose consists in the inability to digest a type of natural sugar called lactose; this sugar is commonly found in dairy products, such as milk and yogurt.
Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine stops producing the lactase enzyme to digest lactose; when this happens the lactose moves to the large intestine, where the bacteria interact causing symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea and gas.
Index
Types of lactose intolerance
There are three main types of lactose intolerance:
- Primary intolerance: this is a natural intolerance that develops with advancing age, as we become less and less dependent on milk and follow a very varied diet.
- Secondary intolerance: due to illness or accident; Intestinal diseases such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, surgery, or an injury to the small intestine can cause lactose intolerance.
- Congenital intolerance: a defective gene can be passed on to the child, resulting in the absence of lactase; in this condition the baby will be intolerant to breast milk and must absolutely feed only with lactose-free infant formulas.
Symptoms intolerance
Symptoms of lactose intolerance develop between 30 minutes and 2 hours after eating or drinking lactose-containing products; symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- swelling
- abdominal cramps
- gas
- nausea
Diagnosis
For a diagnosis of this type, you must contact your doctor, who may want to test for intolerance through tests:
- lactose intolerance test: it consists of a blood sample that measures the body's reaction to a liquid containing high levels of lactose
- hydrogen breath test: a breath test that measures the amount of hydrogen after consuming a lactose-rich drink
- stool acidity test: this test is done most often in infants and children; it measures the amount of lactic acid in a stool sample. Lactic acid builds up when bacteria in the gut ferment undigested lactose.
Treatments for lactose intolerance
To date, there are no ways to make our body produce more lactase; treatment for intolerance involves the reduction or complete elimination of dairy products from the diet.
Many intolerant subjects are able to drink up to half a cup of milk without showing symptoms; moreover, in almost all supermarkets today there are dairy products without lactose.
There is a over-the-counter enzyme-lactase in capsules or drops, which can be taken before eating or drinking products with lactose, but the actual effectiveness varies from subject to subject.
Intolerant people may experience a shortage of:
Tips for a lactose-free lifestyle
Symptoms of lactose intolerance will cease when dairy products are removed from the diet; those suffering from intolerance must learn to read nutritional labels very well and should also avoid milk-based foods such as:
- whey protein
- casein or caseinates
- curd
- cheese
- salted butter
- yogurt
- milk powder
Many foods you don't expect contain, or may actually contain, lactose:
- salad dressings
- ready sauces and dips
- frozen products
- dry breakfast cereals
- ready soups
There are many lactose-free alternatives today, such as the following milks:
- rice
- almond
- soy
- lactose-free.
And you, do you use lactose-free products? Let us know in the comments and remember to follow us on our telegram page