Lactose Intolerance Symptoms
In reality you probably have what is called Lactose Intolerance is very different from a food allergy. An allergic reaction is when the body has an immune response to specific food proteins, Lactose Intolerance occurs when your body isn’t able to properly digest the sugar lactose which is found in milk products. The reason the body is unable to properly digest lactose is because it does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase which is produced in the lining of the small intestine. A person can be allergic to cow’s milk, but this is an immune response; Lactose Intolerance is a digestive problem.
What are the symptoms of Lactose Intolerance?
If you have bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea or even nausea after consuming dairy products then you may be Lactose Intolerance. The symptoms of Lactose Intolerance can happen very quickly or even as long as two hours after consuming dairy products. Other disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome that can cause similar symptoms, so proper diagnosis is important that to ensure that the correct treatment can be given.
There are at least three types of tests that can be used to diagnose Lactose Intolerance:
1. The Lactose Intolerance test is a blood test done over two hours. A person does not eat for a period of time and then consumes some milk product. The blood test tests how the body is processing sugar in the blood and this is a good indicator of how the body is processing Lactose from milk since it is a sugar.
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2. The Hydrogen Breath test measures the amount of hydrogen in a person’s breath. If you have very little or no lactase in your body to break down lactose in your bowel, then small intestine bacteria will break it down instead, which leads to the production of gases including hydrogen. In this test a person drinks a milk product and then their breath is tested for elevated amounts of hydrogen being produced in their body and expelled through the lungs.
3. The Stool Acidity test is usually used to diagnose Lactose Intolerance in children and infants. As the undigested lactose is broken down by small intestine bacteria a byproduct of this is lactic acid which can be detected in stool samples.
There are few different causes of Lactose Intolerance such as the decreased production of lactase as we age, damage to the small intestine through injury or disease and there have been genetic links that have been found in people with Lactose Intolerance.
There is no cure for Lactose Intolerance, but treatment is simple and very effective. One obvious treatment is an avoidance diet. This is a diet that specifically contains no dairy products. Another simple treatment is the addition of Lactase to their diet when eating dairy products, which can be bought over the counter and sprinkled on your food. Finally there are an increasing number of readily available products that are lactose free or reduced. You can look for these products in your local supermarket.
So the next time someone remarks that you have a milk allergy you can respond by saying your Lactose intolerant but you do not have to give up your chocolate Ice cream.
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