For many people, particularly those living with lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome, cheese can be difficult to digest. Due to their low fiber content, high fat content and moderate levels of lactose, cheeses can trigger unpleasant digestive symptoms, such as gas, bloating, constipation and pain. Fortunately, most of the detrimental effects associated with cheese are mild and preventable.
Lactose Content
Lactose intolerance is a common digestive condition marked by deficiencies in the enzyme lactase, which enables the body to digest milk sugar, or lactose. As a dairy product, cheese contains some lactose and might trigger lactose-intolerance symptoms, such as gas and cramping. However, MayoClinic.com reports that cheese usually causes no symptoms, because it has far less lactose than unprocessed dairy products. Gastronet.com echoes this, noting that a serving of hard cheddar cheese contains only 1/60th the amount of lactose found in unaltered milk. Nevertheless, some people with lactose intolerance could experience digestive symptoms from eating cheese.
Constipation
Cheese is one of many foods capable of triggering constipation. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NDDIC, notes that cheese and other milk-based foods are among the most common causes of acute constipation. Cheese is high in fat and low in fiber, so, along with other animal products, it can tax the digestive tract without providing roughage to facilitate bowel movements. The NDDIC recommends a diet low in animal products and high in fiber to prevent and minimize constipation and related symptoms.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Cheese is one of many common "trigger foods" associated with worsening symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, IBS. Symptoms of IBS include bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea. MayoClinic.com advises IBS sufferers to keep track of the foods that cause their IBS symptoms. Other potential trigger foods include coffee, chocolate, sugar-free sweeteners, cabbage, beans, broccoli and cauliflower. Simple dietary modifications can prevent many of the most troublesome symptoms associated with IBS.
Prevention
Several simple interventions can prevent the painful gastrointestinal problems associated with cheese. MayoClinic.com suggests the use of drops or tablets containing lactase, which can facilitate the easier digestion of dairy products. For those prone to constipation, fiber supplements and whole grains can help to enable easier, less painful bowel movements. People with significant digestive disorders also might benefit from prescription drugs, such as dicyclomine to calm colon spasms.
Member Comments