People with lactose intolerance are unable to digest the sugar (lactose) in milk, which causes diarrhea, bloating and gas. In some cases, this condition is caused by an inherited genetic disorder or by an intestinal infection such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance usually appear within 30-60 minutes after eating foods that contain milk or milk products. The amount and severity of symptoms you experience depend on the amount of lactose you eat, how long ago you ate it, and your overall health.
If you're lactose intolerant, your body doesn't make enough of the enzyme lactase to break down the sugars in milk and other dairy products. The enzyme normally breaks down lactose into two simple sugars called glucose and galactose, which are absorbed into your bloodstream through the lining of your small intestine.
Most adults have enough of this enzyme to digest milk and dairy products, but some people don't. This condition is known as hypolactasia. It's most common in people who are born with a defective gene that prevents the body from producing this enzyme. In rarer cases, lactase deficiency can develop in childhood and adulthood from an infection or another gastrointestinal problem.
It can also occur because of medications, such as antibiotics or pain relievers that cause your intestine to stop producing lactase. In this condition, you may have a temporary intolerance to lactose and it will improve with treatment of the infection or medication.
Your doctor can help you decide if you have lactose intolerance. He or she can perform a hydrogen breath test, which involves drinking a drink that contains lactose and breathing into a container several times during the day to measure how much hydrogen is released in your breath.
You may also be tested for the condition by removing dairy from your diet and seeing how your symptoms change. Your doctor may also suggest a type of medicine you can take before you eat food that contains lactose.
If you have an inherited condition that makes you not produce enough lactase, your doctor may recommend a treatment plan to increase your ability to digest milk and other dairy products. This usually means you'll need to avoid those products or switch to a product that has been developed specifically for people who can't digest lactase, such as lactase-free dairy.
There are now a wide variety of alternatives to milk and dairy that you can use instead. This includes non-dairy milk substitutes, soy and almond milk, as well as other beverages that contain lactase such as yogurt and cheese. These options can be an excellent choice for those who need to avoid dairy but still want to enjoy their favorite foods. Many of these products also offer added calcium, which can be a bonus for those who need to watch their calcium intake.
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