Lactose Intolerance
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is a natural product that is found in dairy and milk products. When the body cannot easily digest the lactose, the person is said to be suffering from Lactose Intolerance.
About Lactose Intolerance
Lactose Intolerance usually occurs in adults. Small intestine secretes an enzyme, known as lactose that helps in digestion or breakdown of lactose. When the small intestine is not capable of manufacturing enough Lactase enzymes in the body, the person develops Lactose Intolerance.
Causes
Small intestine may not be able to make Lactose as an aftermath of short-term diseases such as stomach flu or due to a lifelong illness like cystic fibrosis. Sometimes if during a surgery, minor part of the small intestine is removed then it is not capable of secreting Lactose. In such cases, the problem may be temporary or permanent.
Lactose intolerance may run into a family and in rare cases, it is found in a newborn baby. In premature babies, the problem may be temporary as for a short time they are not able to produce Lactose.
Symptoms
A person suffering from Lactose Intolerance is not able to digest foods prepared from milk. Depending upon the amount of the Lactose a body secretes, the problem may be either mild or severe. The symptoms may occur after 30 minutes to 2 hours of consuming the milk products.
The of symptoms of Lactose Intolerance are:
- Vomiting.
- Cramps in the lower belly.
- Diarrhea.
- Gas.
- Rumbling or gurgling sound in the belly.
- Bloating.
Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance in newborn babies are:
- Dehydration.
- Vomiting.
- Diaper rash.
- Weakness.
- Slow weight gain.
- Foamy diarrhea.
Lactose Intolerance Remedies
There is no cure of Lactose Intolerance, but by exercising some precautions one can control the symptoms. Avoid consumption of large servings of dairy products. You can introduce small serving up to 4 ounces of milk products in your regular meal. Consume low- lactose or lactose-free dairy products. Add a powder or liquid of drugs that contains lactose enzyme which helps the body to digest milk products, to break down the lactose in the milk, before drinking it. To slow down the digestive process and to lower the symptoms of Lactose intolerance, you can drink milk with other dairy products. Cultured milk products such as yogurt may not cause lactose intolerance symptoms as the bacteria that are used for the process of culturing are capable of producing enzymes that break down the lactose. Hard cheese may also not cause the symptoms.
