Sometimes home remedies for lactose intolerance attacks give a better result than the medicine. Before focussing on the topic first, understand what is lactose intolerance?
According to report 36% USA population are suffering with lactose intolerance. This is a huge number.
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and milk products. This results in gastrointestinal symptoms.
The symptoms of lactose intolerance vary from person to person, but many people experience bloating, gas, cramps, nausea, and diarrhea after drinking milk or eating foods that contain milk.
Fortunately, it is pretty easy to avoid foods that cause lactose intolerance, so read on to know more about home remedies for lactose intolerance attacks.
The first question is what is lactose?
This is sugar and is found in the milk of different animals and humans. Lactase, the enzyme, forms within our small intestine. This enzyme is responsible for lactose digestion in our bodies.
This enzyme breaks down the lactose into 2 simple sugars and our body absorbs that simple sugar for its essential biological activities. Inefficient production of lactase hampers lactose digestion in our bodies. That causes different digestive complications and digestive discomfort.
It is believed that infants get most of their nutrition from milk. At this stage, lactase production is lesser in our bodies. That causes stomach discomfort.
People intolerant to lactose, are often experiencing gas, acidity, bloating, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Few people are allergic to milk protein. That is different from lactose intolerance.
The intensity of the intolerance varies from person to person. Lactose intolerance does not mean say no to milk. This lactose intolerance depends mainly on the two factors. One is inherence and the other one is the milk consumption pattern.
According to a reliable survey in America, 36% percent of white Americans are affected by lactose intolerance. The percentage is dramatically higher (80-90%) in the case of African-Americans.
90% of Asian-Americans are suffering from lactose intolerance. 70% of Mexicans and 65-100% of native Americans are suffering from these problems. Almost 75% of adults are facing lactose intolerance worldwide.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance –
The common symptoms of lactose intolerance are,
- Nausea
- Bloating bowel
- Grumbling abdomen
- Excessive gas
Causes of lactose intolerance –
Few babies are born with is this complication. This starts to show symptoms from the age of 2-5 years. In the stage of adolescence, the production of lactose decreased steadily. This tendency stays throughout the lifespan.
These symptoms can come out in the later stages of life also. Effects and side effects also cause lactose intolerance. Few antibiotics and ibuprofen lower lactase production and cause severe stomach discomfort after milk intake.
Risks of lactose intolerance –
If you are worried about the health risks due to lactose intolerance, then relax. Lactose intolerance shows symptoms only after having milk and milk products. Milk consumption amount is also vital for symptom intensity.
Top 10 home remedies for lactose intolerance attack
If there is scanty lactase production, lactose intolerance is obvious. This can be treated but there is no cure for lactose intolerance. There are a few remedies that will help to improve the lactose tolerance level.
You need to control the dairy product and the consumption pattern. If you are extremely intolerant to dairy products, just skip them from the diet chart. Another thing is that have to become sure that you have lactose intolerance.
Only with intuition, you should not avoid milk and milk products. Milk is enriched with lots of essential minerals, proteins, vitamins, and calcium. This is considered a complete and superfood. The remedies are,
1. Yogurt –
If you can’t have milk, try actively cultured yogurt. This is milk-fermented foodstuff and easy to digest. Yogurt consists of a few beneficial bacteria that are essential for our better and easy digestion.
As yogurt contains a lower level of lactose, digestion is much easier than other milk products and milk. Different brands of yogurt are easily available in the market.
2. Make sure –
You have to be sure that you are lactose intolerant. Symptoms like bowel bloating, stomach cramps, and flatulence are not always common for lactose intolerance.
You can go through a test for lactose intolerance at home. On the empty stomach, have 2 glasses of milk. If the symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and gas start, that could refer to lactose intolerance.
Due to lactase deficiency, these symptoms show intensity. You should repeat this test once again. If that result remains the same, you need to consult with a gastroenterologist.
3. Have a food-milk fusion –
Having milk and milk products along with other foodstuff will actually slow down the digestion speed. That means the stomach will be busy in the digestion of the other foodstuff.
That slowing down speed will help to produce enough lactase to digest dairy products.
4. Say OK to cheese –
During cheese production, almost all the lactose contents go off. The old and hard cheese types like parmesan, cheddar, and Swiss have the lowest lactose contain.
5. Small dairy intake –
You can add a small amount of milk and dairy products along with your diet. Sometimes, a larger quantity of milk consumption irritates the stomach more. One thing that needs to keep in mind is that whole milk is health-friendly than skimmed milk.
6. Try soy milk as an alternative –
Buttermilk or acidophilus milk is not at all good for lactose intolerants. As an alternative to animal milk soy milk is the best option to have.
This can be paired with cereals and cooking. This is digestion-friendly. This is produced from soybeans. The food value of this soy milk is extremely high and health-friendly.
7. Have more calcium –
You have to maintain the mineral, calcium, protein, and vitamin level in the body. Drastically elimination of milk products and milk will lower the calcium level rapidly.
That will trigger other symptoms. That is why lactose intolerants need to have a calcium-rich diet.
8. Go for low lactose foods –
If the other options do not work, have low-lactose milk. This is easily available in the market. This kind of dairy product contains at least seventy percent low lactose than the common dairy products. These are sweeter than common dairy products.
Other than that, you can purchase liquid lactase or lactase tablets from the pharmacy. Add 5 drops of the liquid or a tablet with the milk and have it.
This process will help to eliminate all the lactose from the commercially produced milk and 70 percent lactose from pure milk.
Having lactase supplements before the milk intake, will not be that effective. Mixing the lactase supplements along with the milk is the most convenient and effective way for lactose intolerants.
9. Skip –
The ultimate option is to sacrifice the milk and other dairy products if you are totally intolerant to them.
10. Focus on the label –
Before buying any product, just go through the label. FDA instructs the food and beverage companies to mention the ingredients on the product label.
So you need to go through the milk, other dairy products, and sweet foods. Few artificial sweeteners contain lactose.
No such prevention method is found for lactose tolerance. The above-mentioned home remedies for lactose intolerance could be helpful to reduce the symptoms. You need to consult with the physician if the symptoms are chronic.
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Frequently Asked Question:-
what does a lactose intolerance attack feel like?
If you are suffering from a lactose intolerance attack, you can feel pain in the abdomen, occasional abdominal cramps. It can associate with bloating, gas formation, nausea, and diarrhea too.
How long does a lactose intolerance attack last?
It depends upon the condition of the patient. Patient wise it can change the time of suffering. The general rule is that as long as the lactose is present in the stomach the symptoms will sustain. Problem sustains long for the patient with the preexisting stomach problem.
what to eat after a lactose intolerance attack?
You can take antidiarrheal drugs to relieve diarrhea and abdominal spasm. Make sure you are hydrating yourself. The condition can be worse if the patient presents with IBS. Don’t take any lactose or dairy products after the attack of lactose intolerance. Rather, taking lactose-free or low in lactose products gives better relief.
How long do lactose attacks last?
The severity of gastrointestinal symptoms that arise after consuming lactose depends on the amount of lactose eaten. In some cases, an individual can have as few as few as two servings of milk or milk products before symptoms become unbearable. However, in others, symptoms may not appear until a large amount of lactose is consumed in one sitting.
What helps a lactose attack?
A lactose attack is the result of eating foods that contain a large amount of lactose. Common foods that cause these lactose intolerance attacks include dairy, yogurt, and ice cream. To help alleviate symptoms, try ingesting a probiotic supplement. This will replace the bacteria in your intestines and may help with digestion.
What are severe symptoms of lactose intolerance?
As mentioned earlier, symptoms of lactose intolerance vary from person to person but many people experience bloating, gas, cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.
Here are some severe symptoms that a person might experience if they have lactose intolerance:
-Abdominal pain and spasms
-Occurrence of other digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease
-Weight loss
-Nervousness or depression
-Fatigue
-Fever or flu-like symptoms
-Breathing difficulties
Can lactose intolerance hit suddenly?
Lactose intolerance can happen at any age, but it often develops in adulthood. There is no known cause for lactose intolerance, but some people experience symptoms after having an injury, or after a surgery or illness that affects the intestines. Lactose intolerance is not contagious.