When you were a kid, your mother may have always reminded you to drink your milk.
But these days many adults find themselves experiencing some degree of whats known as lactose intolerance.
Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products.
The most common pop in of lactose intolerance is primary lactose intolerance.
In primary lactose intolerance, youre born with a normal amount of lactase.
(You may hear this described as lactose nonpersistence.)
(More on that below.)
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Heres everything you should probably know about lactose intolerance and what to do about it.
And milk allergy, which usually affects infants and children, can be life-threatening.
(The medical term for this state is hypolactasia.)
You may also want to keep track of how much dairy you eat.
(Dont forget to note when you have these foods, and what you eat them with.)
Be sure to let your doctor know which dairy foods, and how much of them, cause discomfort.
If your glucose level doesnt rise, it means your body isnt properly digesting and absorbing the lactose-filled drink.
However, due to certain conditions, these tests can be inaccurate.
You probably do not even need to cut out dairy completely.
Lactase tablets contain lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose.
you might take them before you eat or drink milk products.
you might also add lactase drops to milk before you drink it.
The lactase breaks down the lactose in foods and drinks, lowering your chances of havinglactose intolerance symptoms.
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You should also be mindful of getting enough calcium.
Ask your doctor whether it makes sense for you to take calcium supplements.
Complications of Lactose Intolerance
Research and Statistics: How Many People Are Lactose Intolerant?
In SIBO, slower-than-usual intestinal movements can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria in the bowels.
Resources We Trust
Natalia Johnsen, MD, practices internal medicine and lifestyle medicine.
She works as an internist for the Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Washington.
Johnsen trained and worked as ob-gyn in Russia before coming to the United States in 2000.
After that she worked as a general internist for two years before to switching to full-time hospital work.
Derrow also covers health for New York Presbyterian/Weill-Cornell Hospital in New York City.
She has ghost edited a number of health books and health-related memoirs.
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