Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Many people experience problems digesting it. This condition is known as lactose intolerance and results from a deficiency in an enzyme called lactase. This enzyme is responsible for converting lactose to a couple of simpler sugars called galactase and glucose. People with lactose intolerance commonly experience symptoms of gas, bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea and nausea. These symptoms usually occur within a hour of drinking or eating a milk-based or dairy product.
Step 1
Keep a food diary. When you eat dairy products record it in your diary. Also, record the times when you experience symptoms of lactose intolerance. If the occurrence of symptoms coincides with the ingestion of milk-based products, you may be lactose intolerant.
Step 2
Eliminate all dairy products from your diet. Abstain from them for a short period of time to ascertain if your symptoms will persist. If they do, then you probably are not lactose intolerant. After a few weeks, add dairy products back into to your diet. If the symptoms return, you may have lactose intolerance. See your doctor for treatment options.
Step 3
Take the hydrogen breath test. This test is done to confirm that you have lactose intolerance. It measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath after you have ingested something that contains lactose. The presence of hydrogen constitutes a positive test.
