Lactose Intolerance

 

                   
Milk and its products are good sources of calcium and other vital nutrients; it also helps in growth processes in children. Milk contains a sugar called lactose. In few cases when a person consumes he/she is unable to digest lactose resulting in gastric problems in such case he/she might be suffering from lactose intolerance.

 Lactose intolerance may cause due to deficiency of lactase from birth. Primary lactase deficiency is genetic; it is present from birth and secondary lactase deficiency occurs when small intestines suffer from an injury such as severe gastric problems it usually occurs in infancy. People suffering from lactose intolerance suffer from gastric problems if they consume milk or its products. The severity of the symptoms may differ from the amount of lactose consumed; the symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea etc.

 Lactose intolerance is be diagnosed using various tests for example stool test, a person suffering from this condition should avoid eating food products that contain lactose which includes milk and its products. Since all ages groups require certain amount of calcium in their diet it is necessary for people who suffer from lactose intolerance to substitute milk with other food source which are equally rich in calcium such as soy milk.

Lactose free milk can also be consumed and also intake of foods rich in calcium such as spinach, soya beans, yogurt etc should be increased, often people with a mild lactase deficiency can tolerate low amounts of lactose hence they can consume few milk products. There is no known cure for this condition but a person can lead a healthy life following low lactose or lactose free diet depending on the severity of the condition.