Just because you're lactose intolerant doesn't mean you can't enjoy diary products. Many manufacturers make dairy products that have the lactase enzyme added during production to make the diary acceptable by those with lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is a common condition that causes digestive complications and should be evaluated and diagnosed by your doctor. Lactose intolerance is often confused with a milk allergy but the two condition are distinctively different.
Background
Lactose intolerance is defined by MedlinePlus as the inability to digest the sugar lactose found in dairy products because the body does not produce or does not produce enough of the enzyme used break down that sugar. Lactase is the required enzyme to break down lactose into two simpler sugars: glucose and galactose. These two simple sugars are easily digested by the body. If your digestive system cannot break down the lactose, part of the diary remains undigested and causes discomfort and inflammation in the digestive lining.
Symptoms
As a result of inflammation and irritation in the digestive system, you may develop abdominal pain, stomach cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, foul-smelling stools and stools that float. Most symptoms appear within 20 to 30 minutes of ingesting milk and should only remain for a few hours, according to the Mayo Clinic. Once the lactose is eliminated from the body, symptoms will subside. In extreme cases, you may become dehydrated, malnourished or experience excessive weight loss. Your doctor should be made aware of any complications.
Safe Dairy
All dairy should be safe for you, even if you're lactose intolerant, as long as you use the appropriate milk products and enzyme supplements. Look for dairy products that have had lactase added during manufacturing. These products can be consumed without the need for any other supplements. You can also ingest normal dairy products safely using an enzyme supplement. According to MedlinePlus, taking a lactase supplement at the first bite of dairy will prevent lactose intolerance symptoms.
Consideration
Some diary products are easier to digest if you have lactose intolerance, such as cottage cheese, yogurt and buttermilk. Every person has a different degree of intolerance, according to the Mayo Clinic. You can experiment with different dairy products to see which ones cause symptoms. Eat a ¼ cup or yogurt one day, increase it to a ½ cup the next and so on, until you experience symptoms. This will help you gauge how much of that dairy product you can tolerate. You may also consider using milk alternatives, such as soy, rice or almond-based non-dairy substitutes.
