Lactose intolerance: the 5 symptoms to watch out for
L "intolerance to lactose manifests itself with symptoms that can have a variable severity, which changes from person to person. Despite this, it is almost always rather annoying symptoms and which, in some cases, can create problems and inconveniences in the life of every person. day.
Lactose intolerance is due to the inability of our body to digest lactose (ie the sugar contained in milk) correctly. According to estimates, it seems that almost 70% of the adult population has difficulty digesting lactose! This difficulty is due to the lack of the lactase enzyme, whose task is precisely to help the absorption of this sugar.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance can appear from childhood (if it is a "genetic intolerance), or manifest as adults. When the lactase enzyme is deficient or absent, the lactose cannot be broken down into" inside the small intestine in the two simple sugars that make it up, galactose and glucose. This lack of cleavage leads to the fermentation of lactose inside the intestine, which causes the symptoms that we will now analyze. If you have any doubts about suffering from an undiagnosed lactose intolerance, pay attention to the appearance of the five symptoms that we propose below!
1. Swelling: one of the most common symptoms of lactose intolerance
Bloating is one of the main symptoms of lactose intolerance. If you frequently feel like a balloon after eating foods that contain lactose, it is likely that you suffer from this intolerance.
The swelling, in fact, is caused by the difficulty in digesting milk and dairy products. The lack or scarcity of lactase does not allow the absorption of milk sugar, which cannot be broken down as it should for digestion. The consequence is the fermentation of bacteria in the intestine, which causes the release of air into the "" abdomen. If bloating haunts you, in addition to eliminating lactose, try increasing your consumption of these flat stomach friendly foods:
2. Diarrhea: one of the most annoying symptoms of lactose intolerance
Among the most annoying symptoms of "lactose intolerance c" is undoubtedly diarrhea, caused by the "increase in the volume of water in the colon. Diarrhea due to" lactose intolerance is often the so-called "osmotic" one, in which the stool occurs full of water. From the moment in which the lactose is not broken down by lactase, it remains to ferment, attracting water to it in the stomach, the consequence of which are cramps and - indeed - diarrhea.
If you often suffer from diarrhea, especially after drinking milk in the morning, you know what we are talking about: it is a disorder that can upset everyday life and also lead to dehydration problems. So always remember to drink a lot, in addition to eliminating foods with lactose, in order to replenish lost fluids. Diarrhea generally occurs at least half an hour after ingestion of lactose, it rarely happens to feel bad immediately.
3. Flatulence and meteorism: the most embarrassing symptoms of lactose intolerance
Two embarrassing symptoms of lactose intolerance that usually go hand in hand are flatulence and bloating. The fermentation of lactose in the colon can lead to increased gases, which cause these disorders.
The gas is formed in the intestine due to the lack of digestion of lactose which, in the colon, is transformed into hydrogen gas through the action of bacteria, consequently leading to bloating and flatulence. These are not particularly serious symptoms, but they can certainly be annoying in everyday life.
In addition, meteorism can be accompanied by collateral problems, beyond the expulsion of gas through the anus, such as abdominal pain, gurgling and diarrhea itself.
4. Constipation and constipation: symptoms of lactose intolerance that you would not have expected
Perhaps you did not expect it, but another of the symptoms of lactose intolerance can be constipation, unlike diarrhea. The lack of digestion of lactose, in fact, can be associated with constipation due to the alteration of the bacterial flora.
According to scientific data, even 83% of the children with constipation problems examined would have had decisive improvements after eliminating lactose from their diet, while only 34% would have started to suffer from constipation again after having reintroduced it.
If you suffer from constipation, therefore, you may be lactose intolerant. Here are the foods to avoid, as well as milk and dairy products, in case of constipation:
5. Lesser known symptoms of lactose intolerance: from headaches to those on the skin
Finally, there are perhaps lesser known symptoms of lactose intolerance to pay attention to, which affect systems other than the gastrointestinal system.
The first of these symptoms is headache, which can be synonymous with various food intolerances, including - in fact - lactose. Intolerance headaches are usually characterized by throbbing pain, accompanied by hypersensitivity to light and noise. It can also cause nausea and vomiting and last several days in a row.
L "intolerance to lactose can also manifest itself on the skin in the form of eczema, dermatitis, various irritations or redness. Not infrequently it also involves joint problems, muscle pain or states of physical weakness and fatigue. Here are some foods that can help you in this case:
Lactose intolerance: treatment and remedies
If you have recognized yourself in one or more of the symptoms we have described, you may actually have a lactose intolerance. To find out, contact a medical center that can carry out an intolerance test. The most common is the "breath test", or "breath test": it is a non-invasive test that consists in the "analysis of the air exhaled by the subject after having administered lactose. When this is not digested, in fact, it begins to ferment producing hydrogen, which the test is able to detect. If, on the other hand, someone has suffered from this intolerance in the family, there are genetic tests to which they can undergo.
What are the treatments and remedies in case of lactose intolerance? Simple: eliminate all sources of lactose from your diet immediately. But be careful: you won't have to give up all dairy products! In fact, there are aged cheeses (from pecorino to parmesan to gorgonzola) with a very low percentage of lactose which, if you do not suffer from a very serious "intolerance, are easily digestible: you can therefore continue to eat them!
Cow's milk, on the other hand, must be completely eliminated: therefore, stop with fresh cheeses and milk-based products, from ice cream to bread. However, there are many "delactosed" products on the market, ie lactose-free, which you will be able to digest more easily.Always remember to consult the labels of the products you buy because milk could be found in even the most unthinkable such as bouillon cube or sausages!
For more information and scientific insights on the symptoms of lactose intolerance you can consult the Humanitas website.
