Lactose Intolerance is no fun. If you are lactose intolerant, you may experience painful cramping or embarrassing gas when you consume milk, cheese and other dairy products. Fortunately, if you know what causes lactose intolerance, and know how to find out for sure if you're affected by this condition, you can make dietary choices that will help you avoid symptoms and stay healthy.
The Facts
According to TeensHealth, lactose intolerance occurs when a person's body is unable to break down lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Lactose intolerance can affect anyone but those of Asian, African, Native American and Hispanic descent are most likely to develop this ailment early in life.
Lactose intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy. According to MayoClinic.com, food allergies, including milk allergies, are potentially life-threatening conditions. Allergic reactions occur when the immune system mistakes a benign chemical for a hostile invader, and often cause itching, hives and even breathing problems. Food intolerances usually involve the digestive system, not the immune system.
Symptoms
Lactose intolerance symptoms come from the incomplete breakdown of lactose. In those without lactose intolerance, lactose sugar is digested by the small intestine. According to TeensHealth, this doesn't happen for those with lactose intolerance. Instead, when lactose passes into the large intestine, bacteria naturally present in the gut attacks it. This produces painful gas, cramping and diarrhea.
Diagnosis
According to MayoClinic.com, doctors can diagnose lactose intolerance using one of three tests. The Lactose Tolerance Test is a blood test that is done two hours after you have a glass of milk, and it measures the amount of glucose in your blood.
The hydrogen breath test, which does not require a needle stick, measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath. This test works because lactose ferments in the large intestine, which causes an increase of hydrogen in your body.
Also, undigested lactose raises the acidity in fecal matter, allowing a doctor to use a stool acid test to diagnose lactose intolerant. Also, some people diagnose themselves by avoiding all dairy products and noting that their symptoms disappear.
Meal Options
If you are lactose intolerant, you have several options. Some people can use lactase enzyme tablets and continue to enjoy their favorite dairy foods. If this is not an option for you or you'd like to explore dairy-free cooking, it can help to look to the cuisines of cultures that do not normally use dairy products. According to Harold McGee's book "On Food and Cooking," use of dairy products is traditional to Europe and some areas of the Middle East, but not to other cultures. For example, Asian and Sub-Saharan African foods rarely include milk-based products. There are also many dairy-free foods in the traditional cuisines of Italy, India and Mexico.
Specialty Foods
As awareness of lactose intolerance has grown, and as more people have embraced the vegan lifestyle, specialty lactose-free and dairy-free foods have become more and more common. The website of The Humane Society of the United States has a helpful list of dairy-free foods. These include plant-based milks, such as soy-milk, margarine, soy-based yogurts, and even some desserts, such as dairy-free ice cream.
