Milk Bothering You?

If downing a glass of cold milk seems to bother your body, you may be lactose intolerant.

Do you suffer from frequent abdominal pain, bloating, gas, nausea, or diarrhea? If so, you may be lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance, also known as lactase deficiency, is the insufficient ability or inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk and milk products. This inability to digest lactose is caused by a deficiency of lactase, an enzyme made by your small intestine. Without sufficient amounts of lactase, your body cannot break down lactose to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Therefore, 30 minutes to two hours after drinking or eating dairy products, you get the uncomfortable and often embarrassing symptoms listed above.

Thankfully, the cure may be as simple as small changes in your diet, but you've got to be aware of the need for changes in order to make appropriate ones. To get the scoop on lactose intolerance, read on to learn more about this common digestive problem.

Not an Allergy

It is important to know that lactose intolerance is not an allergy to cow's milk. A true milk allergy is when the body's immune system reacts to a milk protein, thinking it is a foreign substance to be attacked. Genuine milk allergies can be life threatening when even a small amount of milk is consumed. Such an allergy usually presents itself in the first year of life, while lactose intolerance is most common in adolescence and adulthood.

Who's at Risk?

Though anyone can wind up suffering from lactose intolerance, certain racial populations are more prone to the condition. These include blacks, American Indians, Hispanics, and Asians.

Because a baby's lactase levels don't fully develop until late in pregnancy, premature infants are more likely to develop a lactase deficiency. Also, your body's production of lactase decreases as you age, making you more prone to developing an intolerance to lactose later in life.

Secondary lactose intolerance is caused by an illness, injury, cancer treatments, or surgery to the small intestine, which cause your body to decrease its production of lactase.

While rare, can be born with lactose intolerance. This genetic condition is passed down when both the father and mother have a defective gene. These babies have diarrhea from birth and must be on a special formula.

How Is it Diagnosed?

If you suspect you or your child has an intolerance to lactose, make an appointment to see the doctor. Since other conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, can cause similar problems, it's hard to diagnose lactose intolerance solely by digestive symptoms. Therefore, your doctor will record your medical history and perform a physical examination. As a first step, you may be asked to completely eliminate all dairy products to see if the symptoms improve.

Tests are also available to further diagnose lactose intolerance by measuring how well your body digests lactose. These include the hydrogen breath test, the lactose tolerance test, and the stool acidity test.

Management

While there is no cure for lactose intolerance and you can't force your body to produce lactase, there are ways to successfully manage your symptoms with dietary changes. The first is to be aware of foods with lactose and opt for lactose-free options.

Today, there are many foods and milks available that are lactose-free or lactose-reduced. In addition, over-the-counter lactase tablets or drops are available to be taken with the first bite of dairy products to make them more digestible. Probiotics found in certain yogurts or in tablet form may also help ease your symptoms and aid in the digestion of lactose.

What about Calcium?

Calcium is essential for the health of your bones at any age. Without enough calcium, your bones will become brittle and break easily. Since milk is a primary source of calcium and other essential nutrients, lactose-intolerant individuals must seek other sources, which include salmon, sardines, dark green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, soymilk, oranges, almonds, pinto beans, and tofu.