If you're lactose intolerant, you may be able to eat Activia brand yogurt without developing any symptoms. The advertised benefit of Activia is that adding the yogurt to your daily eating plan will promote regularity. Activia does not contain any more or less probiotics than other brands of yogurt and has the same benefit as other brands. If you continue to develop lactose intolerant symptoms after eating Activia, stop eating the yogurt and talk with your doctor.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a common digestive complication that typically occurs during young adulthood. When you were born, your digestive system produced large amounts of lactase, the enzyme needed to break down the sugar in milk, lactose. As you age, your small intestines stop producing as much lactase as when you were younger. If your body stops making enough lactase, you will become unable to digest lactose in certain quantities. The inability to digest lactose will cause bloating, gas, diarrhea, cramping and stomach pain with 30 minutes after ingesting dairy.
Activia
Activia is brand of yogurt manufactured by Dannon. The yogurt contains a probiotic called Bifidus Regularis. Probitotics are helpful bacteria that are found in the colon and help maintain regularity. Bifidus Regularis is the name created by Dannon to market the yogurt, but is found in other yogurt brands under the name Bifidobacterium lactis. This bacterium, along with others, converts lactose into lactic acid, giving yogurt its pungent and bitter flavor. This conversion reduces the amount of lactose found in Activia and other yogurts.
Consumption
You may or may not develop symptoms of lactose intolerance after eating Activia yogurt. The live and active cultures found in yogurt do not completely eliminate the lactose from the product. If you are severely lactose intolerant, you may still develop symptoms after eating Activia yogurt. The amount of yogurt you consume in one sitting will also determine if you develop symptoms. If you develop symptoms, take a lactase enzyme the next time you eat yogurt. Lactase supplements are sold as an over-the-counter drug, but you should discuss their use with your doctor before using the medication.
Consideration
If you continue to develop symptoms of constipation, diarrhea, or lactose intolerance after eating Activia yogurt, stop using the yogurt and talk with your doctor. Symptoms that form in other parts of the body, such as asthma, sinus congestion or skin rashes, may be an indication of an allergic reaction, not lactose intolerance.
