Everything you want to know about
milk intolerance

Are you milk intolerant?

Individuals suffering from milk intolerance are not able to digest the sugar in milk completely. Because of this they have gas, diarrhoea, and bloating after consuming dairy products.

Although this condition is usually harmless, its symptoms might prove to be uncomfortable. A lactase deficiency is typically responsible for this condition.

Even though many people have low lactase levels, they have the ability to digest milk products without any problem.

In case you happen to be lactose intolerant, your deficiency in lactase can result in symptoms after consuming dairy products.

The majority of the individuals suffering from milk intolerance are able to manage this condition without any requirement of giving up all dairy products.

What are the symptoms of milk intolerance and other dairy products?

One will usually observe the symptoms of milk intolerance after 30 minutes to a couple of hours of consuming foods. The typical symptoms in the digestive system include the following:

• Cramps in the abdomen
• Diarrhoea
• Bloating
• Nausea, and at times, vomiting
• Gas

Are you having any of these symptoms? Having discomfort after drinking milk or any other dairy product may be a sign of intolerance.

✔ Find out more by taking the Lactose Tolerance Test!

Who can develop dairy intolerance?

Most of the adults are not able to digest milk and, in fact, 40% of the humans cannot produce sufficient lactase for digesting milk between 2 and 5 years of age. This condition is most common amongst:

• African-Americans
• Asian-Americans
• Native Americans
• Mexican-Americans

How to understand that I am lactose or milk intolerant?

The 2 common tests for adults happen to be:

1. DNA test: provides a valuable information on the predisposition, samples are taking with a mouth swab.
2. Breath test: This is going to show whether you have high hydrogen levels while exhaling. In case you do, then you are perhaps milk intolerant.
3. Blood test: This is going to show how your system is reacting after you have drunk something with plenty of lactose. Nevertheless, this test is not so common.

What should I do if I have the condition?

You might nevertheless be capable of consuming small portions of milk. Some individuals fare better in case they consume the dairy along with a meal. You’ll also find several dairy products on the market which are free from lactose.

However, in case you do not consume milk at all, you will still be able to receive lots of vitamin D, calcium, and other nutrients provided you consume a healthy diet.

You can substitute milk with some foods including dried beans, almonds, kale, fatty fish, egg yolks, beef liver, and collards.

If you are having any symptoms of milk intolerance, make it a point to consult your physician.

What causes milk intolerance?

You will come across 2 primary types of milk intolerance which can have different causes.

Primary Lactose Intolerance

This is the most common condition which is caused by a deficiency in the production of lactase with age such that lactase is not properly absorbed.

This kind of intolerance can be caused by genes in most cases.

Secondary Lactose Intolerance

This condition is quite rare which is usually caused by an illness like a stomach bug or celiac disease, a more serious condition.

It is because the inflammation within the gut wall can result in a temporary decline in the production of lactase.

What are the food items which consist of milk and therefore have lactose?

Lactose can be present in milk and dairy foods as well as products containing dairy. The subsequent food items contain lactose.

• Goat’s milk
• Cow’s milk
• Cheese
• Ice cream
• Butter
• Yoghurt

Foods that can sometimes contain milk and lactose like cookies and biscuits, confectionery and chocolate, cakes, instant soups, breakfast cereals, ready meals, bread, processed meats, potato chips, nuts, custards as well as desserts.

Milk allergy is not the only intolerance you may suffer, there are other food allergies that can affect your small intestine and not being aware of.

Many people have already taken the Intolerance test and they found the results shocking!

Individuals suffering from milk intolerance might be capable of consuming some dairy

Although all the dairy products consist of milk, it does not imply that individuals suffering from this condition cannot consume them at all.

So, what is the amount of lactose your body can tolerate?

The majority of the individuals with this condition are able to tolerate small portions of lactose. It is believed that people having lactose intolerance will be able to tolerate as many as 18 g of lactose in a single day.

According to studies, it has been depicted that many individuals suffering from this condition are able to tolerate as many as 12 g of lactose in a single sitting.

Also, you will come across some dairy products which are quite low in the content of lactose, for example, butter. In fact, it is possible to tolerate dairy products such as butter, cheese, and yoghurt more than milk.

Treatments for milk intolerance

At present, there is no way to enhance the production of lactase within your system.

However, it will be possible to stay away from the digestive problem and the discomfort caused by this condition by sticking to the following guidelines:

• Staying away from large servings of dairy products including milk.
• Drinking and consuming lactose-reduced milk and ice cream.
• Incorporating small servings of dairy items in the regular meals.
• Consuming standard milk after adding a powder or liquid so that it is able to break down the lactose.
• In case you do not like to give up consuming dairy, there are several natural treatments which can help you.

Having good digestion is essential for a healthy lifestyle and is not uncommon that people with milk intolerance are having other allergies and disease. There are different effective ways to improve your health at a reasonable price. For instance,  taking a Gut Microbiome Test may help you understand your microbiome and therefore improve your health and diet.

Enzyme supplements

Enzymes can be purchased for helping in digesting lactose.

These come in the form of either tablet which has to be swallowed or drops which have to be added to foods as well as drinks.

Nevertheless, the usefulness of these products as a substitute for milk intolerance is going to vary from individual to individual.

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