Lactose is a carbohydrate composed of two sugar units, glucose and galactose.  It is the sugar found naturally in milk and milk products. In order for lactose to be digested and absorbed in the small intestine, the two sugar units must be separated from each other.  Quite simply, the enzyme lactase is needed to separate glucose and galactose.

Many people either have low levels or lack the enzyme lactase for digestion of lactose, resulting in annoying symptoms.  Symptoms generally occur within 30 minutes to two hours after consuming foods containing lactose and include abdominal pain/cramping, bloating, excess gas, nausea and diarrhea. Let’s take a closer look at the signs of lactose intolerance:

1.       You experience a myriad of symptoms: These symptoms include those mentioned above. Bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and nausea.

2.       Rapid onset of symptoms: Depending on how much lactose you consume, symptoms of lactose intolerance usually hit between 30 minutes and 2 hours of eating lactose.  Everyone has a different threshold, but typically the severity of the symptoms increases with the amount of lactose consumed.

3.       You are high risk: Lactose intolerance falls into two categories, primary and secondary intolerance. Primary lactose intolerance is related to your genetic makeup and has a higher incidence in people of African, Asian and Hispanic origins.

4.       You have an underlying intestinal problem: Secondary lactose intolerance is a temporary lactose sensitivity triggered by another intestinal issue. This could be Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or another type of infection. Your body needs to heal from that infection first, before you can digest lactose again.

Unlike what the general public thinks, lactose intolerance is not a milk allergy.  People with a milk allergy need to avoid dairy foods to avoid a serious reaction.  Lactose intolerance is a sensitivity to lactose and the symptoms are not life-threatening.

In order to diagnose lactose intolerance, your doctor may do a series of tests. These tests include a lactose intolerance test, a hydrogen breath test, and a stool acidity test. Unfortunately, there is no way to treat lactose intolerance by raising the amount of lactase that is produced. However, there are ways to manage the condition’s symptoms that cause discomfort. Treating lactose intolerance may include avoiding milk and other dairy products, using lactase supplements, and drinking lactose-free milk.

Some treatment options for this disorder include:

• Limiting the amount of milk products in your diet
• Eating or drinking milk products along with other foods
• Spreading out consumption of milk or milk products throughout the day
• Eating products with reduced lactose
• Using lactase products
• Eating yogurt with live and active culture