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Do you love to eat ice cream and other dairy products? Have you ever felt abdominal cramps, an upset stomach, gas and diarrhea a short time afterward you eat these products? If you have ever experienced any or all of these symptoms, you could be among the estimated fifty million people who are lactose intolerant.
If you have never heard of lactose intolerance, you are probably wondering what exactly it is. It is not a disease or illness. Instead, it is simply the body's inability to properly digest a sugar known as lactose which is most commonly found in milk and its by-products. Researchers have found that after we reach the age of two, our bodies' production of an enzyme known as lactase slows down, and continues to slow down as we get older. This enzyme is the key to our bodies digestive systems properly breaking down lactose.
Lactose is most often found in milk, cheeses, yogurt, ice cream and other dairy products. But, it doesn't stop there as lactose is added in many store-bought products such as some salad dressings, candy, cookies, biscuits, breads, and other baked goods, lunch meat, packaged rice mixes, instant potato mixes, and other such packaged mixes. Check the labels carefully and look for the words lactose, whey,dry milk, dry milk solids, or milk by-product. Lactose can also be found in some prescription drugs, so you might need to be careful there too.
Your doctor or healthcare professional can perform a simple test to find out if you are lactose intolerant, and if you are, don't be alarmed. While the actual condition cannot be treated, you can make the necessary changes in your diet to help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms associated with lactose intolerance.
Different people can tolerate different amounts of lactose levels in their bodies. So, while some people are forced to eliminate lactose from their diets completely, others can simply reduce the amount of lactose they consume and still be free from the problems and symptoms associated with lactose intolerance.
There are lactose-reduced milk products available on the market today as well as enzyme supplements that you can purchase over-the-counter to help your digestive system handle lactase better. Some aids are in the form of a tablet which you take along with the dairy food you are going to eat.
So, with the right kind of food choices, by reducing or totally eliminating lactose from your daily diet, or by taking an enzyme supplement to aid in your body's digestive system, you can successfully eliminate the symptoms and the problems of lactose intolerance in your life!
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