According to the Cleveland Clinic, 30 million to 50 million people suffer from lactose intolerance. People with lactose intolerance are unable to digest lactose, the sugar found mostly in milk and dairy products. If you are lactose intolerant, you may experience gas, abdominal bloating or cramps, nausea or diarrhea when you drink milk or eat foods that contain lactose. Some people are more sensitive than others and are not able to tolerate as much lactose as other people. Through trial and error, you can determine how much milk you can tolerate before experiencing any symptoms.
Gas, Bloating and Cramps
If you drink more milk than you can tolerate, your symptoms may worsen. You may feel extremely uncomfortable due to increased cramping, gas or bloating. When you are lactose intolerant and drink milk, the lactose stays in your intestine. This increases the amount of fluid, and as it enters your colon, bacteria are affected. The bacteria try to break down the lactose, causing more fermentation that creates gas. The bacteria break down lactose to monosaccharides. This changes the concentration in your colon, and your body responds by drawing more liquid into your colon, which leads to diarrhea.
Nausea
Another symptom of lactose intolerance is nausea. If you experience nausea when you drink milk, your appetite will most likely decrease so you may not eat enough. Cutting back on the amount of foods you eat could lead to weight loss or possibly malnutrition.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is another common symptom of lactose intolerance. Left untreated, diarrhea can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Symptoms of dehydration include excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, lack of urine, dizziness, weakness, lightheadedness, confusion and cramping. If you become dehydrated due to diarrhea from lactose intolerance, stop drinking milk and drink plenty of other liquids.
Prevention
Depending on the severity of your lactose intolerance, you may be able to tolerate small amounts of milk or other dairy products. Cheese and yogurt contain less lactose and are sometimes tolerated better than milk. Try drinking small amounts of milk with your meals to slow digestion and possibly reduce your symptoms. Use lactose-free milk or other reduced-lactose dairy products. You can also take lactase enzyme tablets or drops. These will help you digest the lactose more easily. Consult a registered dietitian or your health-care provider about other sources of calcium or calcium supplements if you need to restrict your dairy intake.
