Lactose intolerance is an inability to process lactose, the sugar in milk and other dairy products. If you have uncomfortable digestive symptoms upon consuming milk or other dairy -- gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea -- you could be lactose intolerant. There are several options available to you if you find that you can't consume dairy due to the lactose.
Insufficient Lactase
The cause of lactose intolerance is insufficient lactase production. Lactase is an enzyme that is normally present in your small intestine -- it breaks down lactose, or milk sugar. Without enough lactase, lactose that you take in when you consume dairy products passes through your small intestine into the lower gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria in your large intestine break down the lactose, which leads to formation of large quantities of gas, say Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book "Biochemistry."
Problem Foods
For most individuals with lactose intolerance, almost all dairy foods cause symptoms. Milk and other dairy products all contain lactose, with the exception of yogurt. The bacteria that ferment milk to produce yogurt -- Lactobacillus and other similar bacterial strains -- actually break down lactose, meaning that many individuals who are lactose intolerant can consume yogurt without difficulty or with fewer symptoms.
Considerations
Just because you have digestive trouble when you consume dairy doesn't necessarily mean you're lactose intolerant. MayoClinic.com says that some milk allergies also result in similar gastrointestinal symptoms, including cramping, gas and diarrhea. If you're unsure as to whether you're lactose intolerant, it's best to check with a doctor. Milk allergies can be severe -- and can grow more severe with time. Particularly if you have non-digestive symptoms upon consumption of milk, allergies are the more likely culprit.
Solutions
If you are lactose intolerant, you can still consume dairy, provided that you take some precautions. You can use lactase supplements -- they're available over-the-counter -- to provide you with a temporary supply of the lactase enzyme. These tablets can't cure your lactose intolerance, but they will allow you to consume dairy for several hours without symptoms. You can also use lactose-free dairy products, which have been treated with the lactase enzyme so that they no longer contain lactose.
References
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D. and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
- MayoClinic.com: Milk Allergy
