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.

Prevent These Foods and Stay Away From Lactose Intolerance

Do you have an allergy to any specific food item? If you happen to be lactose intolerant, there are many food items that will be skipped from your diet. Not only do you have to suppress your desires for dairy but every other recipe that may involve milk or dairy. This means a whole chunk of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals will be missing from their diet. Let's find out the foods they should avoid.

Certain beverages have lactose
 

The troubling ingredient in dairy products is lactose sugar. The patient cannot digest this sugar and this causes bloating. Unfortunately the lactose sugar is also present in certain morning beverages like shakes and flavored milk. Beverages that completely lack dairy can easily be absorbed through the intestine.
 

Desserts and sweets have lactose
 

Cakes, puddings and custards are among the most traditional and frequently made desserts. A lactose intolerant individual needs to skip them completely. Hence desserts that completely lack lactose sugar can be safely consumed and digested by these people.
 

Bread and pasta have to lactose free
 

The recipe for most bread and biscuits involve milk. So you have to find a bakery that makes bread without milk. That could be tough but you can count on your luck. The person who lacks lactase enzyme by default will also find it difficult to digest any type of pasta. Pasta is made from starch which is simplified by digestive enzymes to yield lactose and this cannot be simplified further. As a result, the person suffers from symptoms like gas, diarrhea, bloating and nausea.
 

Vegetables cooked with dairy are to be avoided
 

Vegetables are free from any lactose content if they are eaten raw. However, there are certain vegetable recipes that require the addition of milk or any other dairy product such as cheese or whey. Hence, its better for patients with this condition to avoid dairy. This precaution will keep them at bay from severe diet-related disorders and annoying symptoms.