Lactose intolerance is inability to digest lactose (milk sugar). This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Lactase breaks down milk sugar into simpler forms (glucose and galactose) so it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. When the lactose is not split, it remains undigested in the intestinal tract. It retains fluid and ferments in the colon, producing gas, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. Although it can cause digestive disruption and discomfort, lactose intolerance will not produce dangerous results. Fortunately, it can easily be controlled through careful diet.
Causes:
•Certain digestive diseases and injuries to the small intestine can reduce the amount of lactase enzymes produced. In rare cases, children are born without the ability to produce lactase.
•For most people lactase deficiency is a condition that develops naturally over time. After about the age of 2 years, the body begins to produce less lactase. However, many people may not experience symptoms until they are much older.
Symptoms: The severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of lactose each individual can tolerate. Symptoms generally begin 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming dairy products.
•Diarrhea, gas, and abdominal cramps.
•In infants, symptoms include foamy diarrhea with diaper rash, slow weight gain and development, as well as vomiting.
Natural Remedies:
•Studies indicate that cocoa powder and sugar, or chocolate powders, may help the body digest lactose by slowing the rate at which the stomach empties. The slower the emptying process, the less lactose that enters your system at once. That means fewer symptoms.
•Never drink milk alone: take it with solid food (such as whole-grain cereal).
•Since you cannot drink milk, eat foods which are rich in calcium. This includes sardines, canned salmon (or any other canned oily fish with bones), tofu, broccoli, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, cooked dried beans, dried apricots, and sesame seed products.
•Take supplemental calcium powder (calcium citrate, calcium gluconate; but do not take calcium lactate).
•Take a lactose supplement (in drops, capsules, or tablets) along with a milk product at a meal, to help digest that milk. When several drops of the enzyme in the supplement are mixed with a quart of milk and then refrigerated for 24 hours, about 70% of the lactose in the milk will have been predigested before you drink it. To speed up the process, heat the milk to 90°F before the enzyme is added.
Important things to know if you are lactose intolerant:
•Avoid all milk and dairy products. This includes ice cream, frozen yogurt, powdered milk, whipped cream, creamed soups.
•Beware of products which contain small amounts of added milk ingredients. Such as "milk solids. "Lactose is added to many processed foods, including cookies, pancake mixes, breads, canned and powdered soups, flavored coffee, powdered drink mixes, processed meats, hot dogs, milk chocolate, non-dairy creamers, protein powder drinks, biscuits, candies, snacks, and ranch dressing.
•Many pharmaceutical drugs contain lactose as a filler.
•During a lactose attack of diarrhea, do not eat any solid food. Just drink lots of good water and replace lost minerals.
•Acidophilus milk does not help the person with lactose intolerance because the acidophilus works to improve conditions in the colon.
•If you can't avoid drinking milk it is best to drink it hot because it is better tolerated by the stomach than the cold ones.
•Good milk substitutes include soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, or a milk product which contains the lactose-digesting enzyme, lactase. It is also safe to consume small amounts of plain yogurt, goat's milk, or fat-free milk because they have smaller amounts of lactose and allergy-causing components of whole milk.
Sensitivity test: To find out if you are sensitive to milk, cut out all dairy products for 10 days and see how you feel. If your symptoms disappear during those 10 days, and then return when you start drinking it again, you probably have milk sensitivity. During the test, it is best that you only eat food you have prepared yourself at home.
Infections that can result in lactose intolerance: irritable bowel syndrome, regional enteritis, and ulcerative colitis.
Warning: If you are pregnant and there is lactose intolerance in your family, plan to breast feed your child or give him a nondairy formula (such as soy milk).
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