A Gassy Stomach and Cottage Cheese

A gassy stomach that develops from eating cottage cheese is most likely the result of lactose intolerance. If you notice that whenever you eat cottage cheese and other diary products, you develop gas, bloating and diarrhea, you need to talk with your doctor. Lactose intolerance is a common digestive condition that results from a deficiency of certain digestive enzymes. Lactose intolerance has no cure but is managed through dietary changes and supplements.

According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, lactose intolerance is one of the most common causes of excessive gas in the digestive system. Lactose is a complex sugar found in milk products that needs to be broken down into simpler sugars in order for the body to absorb it. After lactose enters your stomach, lactase is required to break down lactose into galactose and glucose. When this fails to occur, lactose enters the colon and interacts with various bacterium that produce excessive gas, which leads to bloating, stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Not all dairy products contain the same amount of lactose and many people who are lactose intolerant can tolerate some level of lactose in their digestive systems. The Cleveland Clinic states that cottage cheese contains less lactose than other diary products because the cultures used to make the cheese convert the lactose into citric acid. If you develop gas from eating cottage cheese, you should talk with your doctor about using a digestive supplement to provide extra lactase for your digestive system. Some dairy manufactures remove lactose during production, making cottage cheese lactose-free.

If you've consumed cottage cheese while you were anxious, in a rush or in the middle of an argument, you may have swallowed excess air, which causes a gassy stomach. Most gas that forms from swallowed air is alleviated through belching. Eating gas-forming foods along with cottage cheese can increase your chances of having a gassy stomach. Common gassy foods include garlic, onions, whole grains, apples and pears, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

A gassy stomach that causes pain may be treated with an over-the-counter medication called simethicone. Simethicone helps break up small gas bubbles, creating larger gas bubbles that are easier to pass from the body. Do not use this, or any other medications without first talking with your doctor. Excessive gas may be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome, colitis or Chrohn's disease.