 Q. “Why can’t I digest dairy foods?”
A. You may be one of the 20% of Canadians who suffer from a condition called lactose intolerance. It is a condition that interferes with the proper digestion of milk and other dairy products and is especially common among those of Asian or African heritage. Lactose intolerance is caused by the absence of an enzyme called lactase in the small intestine. Lactase is a natural tool that breaks down the lactose, a key sugar in dairy products, into simple sugars that your body can digest.
Q. “What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?”
A. The most common symptoms include stomach pain or abdominal cramps, gas, bloating or diarrhea shortly after consuming dairy products.
Q. “How can I tell if I’m lactose intolerant?”
A. A good test is to drink two 8-ounce glasses of skim or 2% milk within 15 minutes. If you experience diarrhea or bloating shortly thereafter, you are probably lactose intolerant. Since symptoms can be confused with other conditions, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor.
Q. “Why can I sometimes eat dairy…and sometimes can’t?”
A. There are different degrees of lactose intolerance. As children, we are all born with the lactase enzyme. However, as many as one in five people stop producing most or all of their lactase enzyme as they reach adulthood. If you produce minimal amounts of lactase, you’re liable to develop severe stomach upset after a single glass of milk. Or you may find you’re okay with a glass of milk or a small bowl of ice cream, but any more dairy than that produces indigestion.
Q. “Can I just avoid dairy products?”
A. The short answer is no. While avoiding foods with lactose will control your digestive problem, most doctors and dieticians would agree that’s not your wisest option. In the first place, it’s pretty hard to do since lactose is present in everything from bread to cake mixes, cream soups, salad dressings, canned meats, gravies and sauces, instant and frozen foods, and even to some vitamins and medications.
Second, a lactose-free diet would make it very difficult for you to get all the nutritional elements you need to stay healthy. Milk is the primary source of calcium, which is essential for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. Calcium helps muscles contract, plays a role in blood clotting, helps transmit nerve impulses and is involved in proper hormone functioning. And calcium plays a critical role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Canada’s Food Guide recommends adults consume two to four servings of dairy products every day.
Q. “How can I continue to eat dairy if it gives me stomach problems?”
A. Fortunately, there is a simple solution for people who suffer from lactose intolerance. You just need to replace your body’s missing lactase enzyme with a dietary supplement that contains the enzyme. This natural source enzyme allows dairy products to be digested when your body doesn’t produce enough lactase. And, because it’s an enzyme that occurs naturally in your body, not a medicine, you don’t have to worry about taking it. A good example of a natural source enzyme dietary supplement is LACTAID*, which comes in a number of different forms, from tablets to pre-treated milk. There’s also the convenient LACTAID* ULTRA format, which has more natural lactase enzyme per tablet than other options.
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