If you're lactose intolerant, you likely experience a variety of uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms when you consume milk and other dairy products. Common symptoms include gas, cramping and diarrhea. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to cure your lactose intolerance, but there are ways to manage it -- and its uncomfortable symptoms -- while still consuming the foods you love.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is relatively rare in children and becomes increasingly common as you age. MayoClinic.com says that this is because an aging intestinal tract produces less lactase, which is the enzyme you use to digest lactose. It's also possible to become lactose intolerant -- either temporarily or permanently -- if you're ill or on certain medications. Finally, some individuals are simply born lactose intolerant. If you're lactose intolerant, consuming milk and most dairy likely causes stomach cramping and upset, in addition to gas and diarrhea.
Management of Symptoms
In general, once you know you're lactose intolerant, it's best to avoid consuming milk or dairy products that cause symptoms. However, if you accidentally consume dairy, there are some things you can do to help manage your symptoms. Over-the-counter gas-reducing agents help break up air bubbles in your intestine and may reduce your cramping and discomfort. With regard to diarrhea, eat a bland diet until the diarrhea resolves. Remember that loose stools deplete your body of water, meaning you need to stay well-hydrated.
Solutions
To avoid diarrhea and other symptoms of lactose intolerance in the future, you can take lactase supplements. Sold under a variety of brand names, lactase supplements provide you with a temporary supply of the lactase enzyme. This helps break down lactose, the sugar in milk, so that it doesn't pass undigested into the lower gastrointestinal tract. In their book "Biochemistry," Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham say that it's lactase in the large intestine that leads to gas, diarrhea and other symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Alternative Foods
If you select your foods carefully, you can manage your lactose intolerance and avoid symptoms even without having to take lactase pills. There are lactose-free milks and milk products, for instance. These have been pre-treated with lactase, which breaks down the lactose and allows you to absorb all the components of milk without digestive upset. Further, many lactose intolerant individuals can consume yogurt without diarrhea or other symptoms, because the bacteria in the yogurt have already broken down the lactose.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Lactose Intolerance
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D. and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
