As long as dairy products don't trigger your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, you can drink lactose-free milk if you have IBS. Lactose-free milk contains the same proteins as regular milk and can still trigger your symptoms. Talk with your gastroenterologist before consuming any dairy products if you've been diagnosed with IBS. If you notice adverse reactions after you drink lactose-free milk, stop drinking it and call your doctor.
Lactose-Free Milk
Lactose-free milk is manufactured for people who are lactose intolerant. Lactose is the sugar found in dairy products that can cause digestive complications if your body doesn't create enough lactase to properly digest the lactose. Lactase is an enzyme that breaks lactose down into glucose and galactose. Lactose-free milk is created by adding lactase during the manufacturing of milk. By adding the lactase enzyme, the lactose is converted into lactic acid and is easily absorbed into the body. Lactose-free milk is not recommended for people who are allergic to milk.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a common gastrointestinal condition, affecting about 20 percent of the American population, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. IBS is not caused by a defect in the digestive system and is not fully understood by the medical community. It is known that the condition affects the large intestine and results in irregular bowel movements. If you have IBS, you will develop chronic constipation or diarrhea as a result of the condition. Some people with IBS are also lactose intolerant.
Milk and Lactose Relationship
Milk is one food that commonly triggers IBS symptoms. For some people, it is related to lactose intolerance, which can trigger chronic diarrhea. If your IBS symptoms are caused by lactose intolerance, then drinking lactose-free milk should not trigger your symptoms. If your IBS symptoms are triggered because of the proteins in dairy products, drinking lactose-free milk will still cause symptoms to develop. Your doctor may recommend the elimination of all dairy products from your diet, including lactose-free milk.
Consideration
If you're prescribed to eliminate dairy from your diet, you need to increase naturally calcium-rich foods in your diet. Most people receive their calcium primarily from dairy products. Eat foods such as broccoli, fortified fruit juices, spinach and fortified soy based beverages to ensure your daily calcium intake. Your doctor may recommend a daily calcium supplement if you eliminate dairy.
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