How to Recognize and Treat Lactose Intolerance

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By musicdeb
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Lactose intolerance can sneak up on you. Even if you have had no problems ingesting milk-related products in the past, you may one day realize that you are dealing with lactose intolerance. There are some symptoms to be aware of when attempting to treat mild cases of lactose intolerance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Milk is one source of lactose intolerance.

Take note of how much lactose you ingest.

Do you drink large glasses of milk throughout the day or eat ice cream every evening? Maybe you only take in lactose infrequently via the cheese on your pizza or whipped topping on your dessert. To be able to identify if you have an intolerance for lactose, first determine how much lactose you usually ingest.
Step 2

Stomach pain is a common symptom of lactose intolerance.

Be familiar with the symptoms.

The most common symptoms of lactose intolerance are abdominal pain, diarrhea flatulence (gas). Some people may experience bloating and nausea after eating foods with lactose. The symptoms range from mild to severe.

Begin to be aware of how your body reacts after you eat or drink lactose foods. Does there seem to be a correlation between drinking milk or eating cheese and stomach discomfort? Do you have excess gas after eating breakfast foods such as pancakes or biscuits? Try to narrow down when your discomfort is occurring and what foods were eaten prior to your pain.
Step 3

Avoid lactose-loaded foods.

Be aware of products that contain lactose.

Milk and cheese are not the only culprits. The following foods can also contain lactose: bread and other baked goods, processed breakfast cereals, instant potatoes, soups, and breakfast drinks, margarine, lunch meats, salad dressings, candies and other snacks, some mixes for pancakes, biscuits, and cookies.
Step 4

Severe symptoms? See your doc.

Check food labels for the presence of lactose.

If your symptoms are mild to moderate, you may want to use over-the-counter liquids or pills to relieve your uncomfortable situation. Maybe your body can tolerate small amounts of lactose, but more than two or three servings begin to affect you negatively. By keeping track of what you eat and when the symptoms occur, you can adjust your diet.

If your symptoms are severe, employ a doctor's help in tapering treatment to your particular situation.

Comments

fcornelius said

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on 11/1/2009 Great info on lactose intolerance.

jamiekucharski said

on 7/30/2009 I am sure this article will help ALOT of people! I have a serious food allergy to gluten - myself. But... that is more rare for people. The inability to digest lactose is very common.