Lactose Intolerance: A Deeper Look
You've had an evening out - perhaps a romantic meal, dinner with friends - or even a quick pizza with the kids before heading home....
You're feeling full but that's to be expected - isn't it?
Then maybe you feel almost too full.... with mild discomfort and pain?
Why is it you seem to be the only one who suffers, when your friends are all ready to continue on with a club or party and you just want to go home and let your stomach expand and pop?
Could you be Lactose intolerant?
What Is Lactose Intolerance?
Anything we eat needs to be digested by the body so it is able to use it for fuel. The small intestine makes the enzyme lactase to break down lactose into simple glucose sugars that are easier for our bodies to absorb and use for energy.
People with lactose intolerance do not make enough lactase in their small intestine and without lactase, the body can't properly digest food that has lactose in it.
Unfortunately this means that when you eat dairy foods, the lactose from these will pass into your intestine and in turn can lead to gas, cramps, a bloated feeling, and diarrhoea. A lot of people can be lactose intolerance.
There are tests available but one of the best ways of finding out has to be in keeping a food diary and removing dairy from your diet. You can slowly re-introduce certain foods and monitor their effects on your digestive system. For further advice please consult your GP.
Who Gets It and Why?
There is no definite cause or reason as to why someone becomes lactose intolerant, however there is a genetic link and it can run in families.
People who suffer from other illnesses which keep the intestine from producing enough lactase (Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) like Crohn's disease) or other long-term problems can be affected.
Certain medication or a simple bowel infection can all cause an intolerance.
Your body starts making less lactase when you are around 2 years old. The older you get, the more likely it is that you could have trouble digesting dairy foods.
If you have an intolerance to lactose your body will usually start protesting within 2 hours of eating or drinking something that has lactose in it.
Not everyone reacts in the same way or within the same amount of time because some people can handle more lactose than others can but when your body starts trying to digest the food, you'll begin to feel the effects.
If you get an upset stomach every time you drink a milk, eat ice cream, or have a slice of cheesy pizza then there is a chance that you are lactose intolerant. It can start suddenly, even if you have never had trouble with dairy products or other foods containing lactose.
The important thing to remember is that if you are lactose intolerant then you will need to watch what you eat and lactose can hide in the strangest of places!
You will have to study labels of processed foods - or avoid them altogether and start eating fresh.
What do you do?
Are you lactose intolerant? Does it affect your diet and lifestyle? How did you discover you had an intolerance?
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