Sunday 17 November 2013

What Is Lactose Intolerance And How To Deal With It?

Not everyone can tolerate dairy. Some people feel nauseous or sick after having a glass of milk. This could be a symptom of any digestive problem but mostly, lactose intolerance is a genetic predisposition. Individuals with lactose intolerance start feeling sick 30 minutes right after having foods containing dairy components. Dairy foods contain lactose sugar and some people cannot digest it.

Immediately after eating something containing lactose, they start to show the signs of lactose intolerance such as bloating, stomach uneasiness, cramps and diarrhea. The condition arises due to the absence or inability of lactase enzyme. In normal people, this enzyme is responsible for catalyzing the hydrolysis of lactose sugar.

Lactose intolerance diagnosed, now what?


It’s not a fatal condition, so there is nothing to worry. This condition is fairly common. There is a simple solution to get rid of those unpleasant symptoms. Incorporate a lactose free diet and you still have hope for a normal life. Diet changes are compulsory in almost all cases depending upon the severity of the symptoms. Some people will do fine after minimizing lactose intake while others would require the complete eradication of lactose from the diet.

Low lactose vs. no lactose

For those who experience severe reactions to lactose, they need to formulate a diet that eliminates this sugar. In the parallel world, others allergic to lactose can do just fine with hard cheese or sugar-free yogurt. In some cases, over-the-counter medicines are given to patients who do not show any significant improvement after adjusting their diet. Some medical formulations contain lactase which offers the ability to catalyze the undigested sugar. These people can do fine with levels of lactose in their food.

However, individuals with severe reactions are suggested to have a pro-active approach when it comes to their diet. Consult a health care practitioner because he/she has the tools to diagnose the symptoms  and devise a solution that fits.

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