As of 2007, between 30 and 50 million Americans suffered from lactose intolerance, a condition that causes mild to severe gas, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, and nausea, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. While some sufferers obtain relief by changing their dietary habits, others use medications or eliminate lactose from their diets altogether.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a condition that causes digestive symptoms after the affected person consumes products that contain lactose, the primary sugar in milk. To digest lactose, the body requires sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase. Without sufficient amounts of lactase, the body moves the undigested lactose-containing food into the large intestine, where bacteria breaks it down. The characteristic symptoms of lactose intolerance -- gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and nausea -- occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating. While some people experience severe symptoms, most have mild to moderate reactions to lactose-containing foods.
Identifying Sources of Lactose
Milk and other dairy products contain varying amounts of lactose, as do any foods prepared with dairy products. Consumers should check food labels for ingredients such as milk, whey, yogurt, cream or cheese in any form. Prepared foods that contain lactose include breaded or creamed vegetables, meats and fish; cream soups; entrees containing cheese, including lasagna, burritos and pizza; and desserts such as puddings, ice cream, mousse and milk chocolate candy. Some medications, including birth control pills and some over-the-counter medications for gas or stomach acid, also contain lactose.
Changing Dietary Habits
If you experience unpleasant symptoms after consuming foods containing lactose, you may find some relief from changing your eating habits. Unless you have severe symptoms, you may want to experiment with smaller amounts of milk and other dairy products, or you may find that you experience fewer digestive problems if you consume dairy products during meals rather than by themselves. You may also try different dairy products, including hard cheeses, lactose-reduced milk and yogurt, to determine if you tolerate them better than milk or soft cheeses.
Avoiding Lactose
If you have severe symptoms after consuming dairy products, you may need to avoid these foods altogether. A lactose-free diet may include a wide variety of fresh, frozen, and canned foods prepared without milk or other dairy products, including meat, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables and grains. While dairy products provide significant amounts of protein and calcium, those following a lactose-free diet can substitute other foods rich in these nutrients. A sample breakfast might include enriched orange juice, oatmeal, lactose-free milk, French bread, margarine, jam and coffee. For lunch or dinner, you might choose turkey, clear soup, salad with vinaigrette, iced tea and Greek yogurt with fruit.
Over-the-Counter Products
Over-the-counter remedies may relieve or prevent symptoms of lactose intolerance. Lactase enzyme tablets chewed or swallowed before consuming dairy products may be effective, although they do not help all lactose intolerant patients. Lactase enzyme drops added to a carton of milk help to break down the lactose and may prevent symptoms in some people. Several manufacturers offer lactose-free and reduced lactose milk, half and half, ice cream and other dairy products that some patients can tolerate. Probiotics may also be effective in preventing symptoms in some patients.
