Individuals with lactose intolerance cannot digest lactose – the sugar found in dairy products. The inability of eating or drinking milk products results in bloating, diarrhea, and gas, which begins at 30 minutes to two hours. These are often accompanied by headaches, stomachache, uneasiness, or vomiting as well.
The condition is quite common as one in two Filipinos suffers from lactose intolerance as reported by Philippine Star.
And, yes, I’m one of the afflicted ones.
Around the world, it affects about 75 percent of the population as studies show from the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
But what’s the cause of lactose intolerance? Is there any cure for this condition? What happens to babies who can’t digest lactose?
What causes lactose intolerance?
A lactase enzyme deficiency is responsible for the condition. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce lactase enough to digest lactose – the milk sugar. When you consume dairy products, the milk turns to two sugars, glucose and galactose, which are absorbed through the intestinal linings.
The enzyme lactase is needed to break lactose, a disaccharide, for the nutrients to be absorbed and circulated in the bloodstream.
For lactose intolerant individuals, the undigested lactose redirects itself into the colon before it can be processed and absorbed. When bacteria interact with it, it’ll cause stomachaches and other symptoms of lactose intolerance.
One can find lactose in various dairy products such as cakes, cookies, ice cream, and soups. Breast milk also contains lactose and nearly everyone can digest breast milk when they’re newborns. Doctors say it’s rare to see a baby suffering from lactose intolerance and can’t digest their mother’s milk.
Which means –
FML, I’m one of those lactose intolerant babies?
A lot of individuals have low lactase levels but have no problems digesting milk products. Some people may experience extreme effects such as diarrhea and dehydration, while others can go through the day with gas and bloating.
Four types of lactose intolerance
The condition isn’t harmful or deadly, but the after-effects can be unpleasant. There are four types of lactose intolerance and each differs on how the deficiency in lactase starts in a person.
Primary lactose intolerance
Individuals with primary lactose intolerance usually produce plenty of the enzymes during infancy to their nutrition from their mother’s milk. However, when one age, he or she replaces dairy with other foods and causes the enzyme production to decreases. Lactase production decreases by adulthood.
Secondary lactose intolerance
People who underwent surgery on their small intestines or suffered an illness or injury may become lactose intolerant. Conditions such as bacteria growth or Celiac Disease are among the associated disorders that cause lactose intolerance in certain individuals. There’s a huge chance that lactase levels may improve once treatment for such conditions begins.
Hereditary lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is caused when the condition is passed down from one generation to another. Both the mother and father should have the gene variant to affect the child.
Congenital or developmental lactose intolerance
In some cases, the baby is born lactose intolerance due to a defect on the lactase production in the baby’s body (congenital). Others happen during their gestation period when the lactase enzyme can’t be developed very well. Premature babies often are lactose intolerants because of poor body development.
Now, if you ask me which am I – I’m congenital. I was born lactose intolerant. As a baby, I couldn’t digest breast milk the most.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance
People suffering from lactose intolerance may experience various symptoms. It actually depends on how much dairy one consumes and how much lactase the body can produce. Normally, it’ll take half an hour to 2 hours after eating milk products when a person starts to feel:
- Nauseous
- Stomachache
- Uncomfortable bloating
- Gassy
- In some cases, uncontrolled diarrhea
Embarrassing, right? I’m happy so that I can discipline myself in avoiding dairy foods in public. I can eat whatever and how much I want at home.
If you’re experiencing shortness of breath, rashes, and redness all over your body, these are signs and symptoms of lactose allergy and not to be confused with lactose intolerance.
How do you know you’re lactose intolerant?
Often, people think they’re lactose intolerant when, in facts, they really aren’t. It’s a dangerous matter especially when you’re diagnosed wrongly and treated with medication. What if you’re allergic to dairy? So, it helps to see a doctor to advise you to manage the condition. You can also have confirmatory tests such as:
Hydrogen breath test
This test will help you figure out whether you have lactose intolerance by the amount of hydrogen present in your breath. People who can digest dairy liquids will release very little hydrogen on their breaths. Meanwhile, individuals who can’t digest lactose will release hydrogen and other gasses.
Stool acidity test
Fermentation of undigested lactose creates lactic acid present in the stool.
Lactose intolerance test
This allows you to undergo serum tests to measure the amount of glucose in your blood. If it doesn’t rise, your body is not digesting and absorbing lactose.
How to treat lactose intolerance
There’s no treatment for the condition unless you’re Type II lactose intolerant. Secondary lactose intolerance, due to illness and injury, might be treated if the disease is being treated also.
However, the best thing is to avoid large servings of milk or dairy products. Drinking or eating low-lactase-based beverages such as IgCo colostrum helps because it has lower lactose level than whole milk.
An individual with lactose intolerance can make lifestyle changes. One doesn’t need to cut dairy products because it’s a source of calcium.
Lifestyle changes against lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerant individuals can predict their body’s response to various milk products. Not all have to cut out all milk products. All they have to do is be wary of the serving amounts of lactose present in the drink or food. If you’re lactose intolerant like me, here’s what you can do.
Eat lots of green leafy vegetables
Dairy products have a high concentration of calcium. But if you’re limiting the amount of milk foods in your diet, you can get your calcium in green leafy vegetables like:
- Spinach
- Rhubarb
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Cabbage variants
- And more
Maintain good nutrition all-in-all to get your daily dose of calcium.
Munch on calcium-fortified food
Calcium-rich products can also be in the form of whole wheat bread, natural fruit juices, beans, tuna, and salmon. Just watch out if they’re all-naturals and not tampered with any artificial chemicals. If you’re not much into whole milk, a low-lactose drink (IgCo, low lactase drink) can also provide calcium, anti-bodies, and minerals against ailments.
Substitute or limit dairy products
You can substitute dairy for soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk, or almond milk products. Besides, they taste better. Here are other tips to limit dairy products:
Choose a ceiling amount of dairy servings. Maybe you should try eating cake at a maximum of three times a month or taking at most of 2 ounces of milk per day. Give yourself the amount of a maximum serving to avoid suffering from any symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Take dairy drinks during breakfast and lunch meals. Drinking milk with other assortments of food slows digestion and lessens the impact of lactose intolerance symptoms. One can take warm milk before bedtime as a pre-sleep ritual, but take in small amounts!
Buy lactose-free or low-lactose drinks. These products, such as IgCo, have lower lactose level while providing enough calcium for your body. They contain anti-bodies, vitamins, and minerals to boost your immune system.
Try probiotics
Probiotics promote healthy organisms found in your stomach. It can help maintain a healthy digestive system and can help you digest lactose as well.
FML: I’m lactose intolerant
Disclaimer: Some advice and instances happen in my life were made with a pediatrician involved. Never make any dietary changes to a newborn without letting your doctor know. Make an appointment with a pedia if your child is suffering symptoms of lactose intolerance after taking breast milk. What had worked for me, might not work for your kid.
My mother told me that at 3 to 4 weeks old, I had my first taste of solid food – pureed that is. She substituted my milk feeds with mashed rice, fruits, and vegetables. It came to a point that I often rejected the milk because I knew it wouldn’t make me feel good.
I was starving myself.
When I started taking mashed solids at a month old, I started eating again. But my mother wouldn’t want me to miss my breastfeeding sessions also, so, she combined pureed food with breast milk. I still had the symptoms of lactose intolerance, but, it was all good due to my new balanced diet.
Feeding a month-old baby with pureed eats is a bit dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Always seek help from a doctor before making changes to your child’s diet.
My condition never went away. I just have to change my diet – I’m now a vegetarian. Technically, a Pescatarian. I still eat fish.
P.S:
People always ask why I’m not drinking milk tea. But, it’s not because I’m lactose intolerant. I just don’t like milk tea J or any highly commercialized milk teas there are. I like my tea plain and without any sweeteners.
Basic stereotypes of people with lactose intolerance
People with lactose intolerance are often told NOT to eat dairy products. That’s not true. We can eat and drink milk products with little to no effect at all – and it all depends on the serving size. For instance, a small serving of chocolate ice cream won’t kill people or give them flatulence. Eating a whole cup or can of ice cream in one sitting, however, can make our stomach rumble.
What’s more, lactose allergy is way different from lactose intolerance. Both may have similar symptoms, but the former is often characterized with rashes. Meanwhile, lactose intolerance is a defect on the enzyme lactase in which the body can’t produce enough of it to breakdown lactose.
Disclaimer: While we mentioned helpful products in the article, it’s still best to talk to a doctor before consuming any supplements. We are not held liable for anything that has happened to you when taking the product. Remember: What may work for us, may not work for you.
