No matter how much you enjoy dairy products, if you develop gastrointestinal complications from consuming milk, you should avoid ingesting dairy products. It’s common as your body matures from childhood into adulthood that your digestion will slow down the production of lactase, a digestive enzyme that is needed to effectively break down the sugar found in milk, lactose. Talk with your doctor for a proper evaluation and medical diagnosis.
Lactase Deficiency
When a baby is first born lactase levels are high because the newborn's digestive system can tolerate an all-milk diet. Both breast milk and formula contain lactose that needs to be digested in the small intestines. As you age, the digestive system slowly modifies the amount of lactase created because your diet is no longer based on dairy. During adolescence, your intestines may stop creating as much lactase, which can lead to lactose intolerance. Because your body doesn’t create enough lactase, the lactose ingested remains undigested, causing digestive complications, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Symptoms
Symptoms from lactase deficiency may vary in severity between individuals, depending on how much lactose is consumed. Common symptoms after consuming diary products, if you’re lactase-deficient, include gas, bloating, diarrhea, nausea and cramping, according to MayoClinic.com. Symptoms may develop within 30 minutes or up to two hours after ingesting the dairy product. Lactase deficiency symptoms do not cause any damage to the digestive system, but symptoms may be embarrassing. If you develop other symptoms unrelated to the digestive system, you may have a milk allergy, not lactose intolerance.
Treatment
Lactase deficiency is a chronic condition that is incurable, but manageable. Symptoms may be prevented by using a lactase enzyme supplement. These are used with the first bite or sip or a dairy product to help provide lactase that may be lacking in the intestines. You can also prevent symptoms by purchasing lactose-free diary products, which remove lactose during the manufacturing process by adding the lactase enzyme. Substituting milk products with alternatives, such as rice milk, soy milk or almond milk, can also prevent symptoms from developing.
Considerations
Not everyone is deficient to the same degree. You may be able to tolerate certain diary foods that are low in lactose, such as aged cheeses, sherbet, kefir, yogurt and cottage cheese, according to Drugs.com.
Member Comments