Apart from having to say goodbye to some of your favourite dairy delicacies (sigh), lactose intolerance can come with a range of unpleasant symptoms and side-effects that, unless properly dealt with, can lead to to a decreased quality of life.
Here, we take a deeper look at lactose intolerance.
What is lactose intolerance?
Although it’s possible to be born lactose intolerant, some people develop it as they get older. So while you used to enjoy your muesli and milk each morning, it can explain why for some people this is now causing a lot of discomfort.
Simply put, lactose is the sugar that occurs naturally in dairy products. In order to break down and properly digest lactose, our bodies require help from an enzyme called lactase. As we grow older, our bodies begin producing less and less lactase, causing some people to develop a lactose intolerance.
While many are fast to rule out dairy completely, this can take a negative toll on the body’s nutrition levels. A good source of calcium, foods such as milk, cheese and yoghourt provide other essential nutrients including vitamin B12, magnesium, potassium and zinc.
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Bloating and abdominal discomfort are common symptoms of a lactose intolerance. If you find your belly uncomfortably protruding after a large latte, it could be due to a build-up of lactose.
Here’s the science: When lactose can’t be broken down, it passes through the gut and into the colon. Not able to be absorbed by the small intestine, lactose begins to be fermented and broken down using naturally occurring bacteria that lives there. Within this process, gases are released and that can lead to stomach cramping; the increase in water and gas causing the gut wall to stretch and bellies to bloat.
Unfortunately, bloating depends on each individual and not the amount of lactose ingested, which means it’s important to get yourself checked out by a doctor (a real-life doctor — no Googling) if you’re experiencing stomach pain frequently.
This one’s definitely unpleasant and can make you seriously question your relationship with lattes and ice-cream.
Caused by the same lactose fermenting process that triggers bloating, you can find yourself feeling an increased need to pass wind if you’re suffering from lactose intolerance. (Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.)
When there’s an increased amount of water in the colon (again, thanks to that fermentation process) the liquid content in your stool also increases (nice!) which can lead to diarrhoea.
Intensity will differ from person to person, but reactions tend to take place around 30 minutes to two hours after consuming lactose.
Although most lactose intolerance symptoms are gut-related, studies have shown other symptoms can also indicate lactose sensitivity.
These include nausea, headaches, fatigue and even eczema.