What happens when you are lactose intolerant?
People with lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest the sugar (lactose) in milk. As a result, they have diarrhea, gas and bloating after eating or drinking dairy products. The condition, which is also called lactose malabsorption, is usually harmless, but its symptoms can be uncomfortable.
Is being lactose intolerant a bad thing?
The condition isn’t harmful, but it can be uncomfortable and may be embarrassing. There’s no cure, but you can manage it by watching how much milk or milk products you drink or eat. Being lactose intolerant is not the same as being allergic to milk.
What makes someone lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerance is usually the result of your body not producing enough lactase. Lactase is an enzyme (a protein that causes a chemical reaction to occur) normally produced in your small intestine that’s used to digest lactose. If you have a lactase deficiency, it means your body does not produce enough lactase.
Can you develop lactose intolerance as a teenager?
Kids and teens are less likely to have it, but many people eventually become lactose intolerant in adulthood. Some health care providers view lactose intolerance as a normal human condition and not a disease or serious health problem. Besides age, people can become lactose intolerant due to: Ethnic background.
Can lactose intolerance make you gain weight?
Lactose intolerance is a real issue for many people and its degree of severity varies case by case. It can adversely affect your gut and produce symptoms of discomfort, but it is unlikely to be the cause of weight gain.
Does lactose intolerance go away?
There’s no cure for lactose intolerance, but most people are able to control their symptoms by making changes to their diet. Some cases of lactose intolerance, such as those caused by gastroenteritis, are only temporary and will improve within a few days or weeks.
Can a 12 year old be lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerance is a digestive issue that is rarely seen in infants or toddlers. Lactose intolerance symptoms can start in late childhood or adolescence, and can become more noticeable into adulthood.
What are the signs and symptoms of being lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerance symptoms. The most definitive symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, gas, watery and odd-smelling stools (diarrhea), and even abdominal pain in some cases. How bad your symptoms are depends on how much dairy you have consumed and how much of a tolerance you have for lactose.
What would cause someone to be lactose intolerant?
Increasing age. Lactose intolerance usually appears in adulthood.
Can being lactose intolerant kill you?
For a lactose-intolerant person, consuming lactose usually leads to gastrointestinal distress. It’s not gonna kill you, but you’re gonna feel icky. Anyone within ten feet of you will be displeased, as well, if you know what I mean.
What can we do if we are lactose intolerant?
Diagnosis. Your doctor might suspect lactose intolerance based on your symptoms and your response to reducing the amount of dairy foods in your diet.