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Getting To Know More Facts About Lactose

Getting To Know More Facts About Lactose

By Scarlet Black


A kind of carbohydrate or sugar which is found in milk and other dairy products is called lactose. On the other hand, lactase is the enzyme responsible for metabolizing and breaking down lactose in order for it to be used and absorbed by the body and they are found in the digestive system. Insufficient amount of lactose in the body will result into the body's inability to metabolize and absorb lactose which will result into symptoms of digestive problems including stomach pain and diarrhea. The inability of the body to produce enough amount of lactase to break down lactose or sugar in milk is known as lactose intolerance.
Babies are not usually affected by lactose intolerance but there are instances that babies experiencing irritability that is caused by consuming some foods are wrongly diagnosed and parents are recommended to change their usual baby formula into lactose free formula. Usually, lactose intolerance develops after weaning stage and this is also known as the secondary lactose intolerance. Different factors can cause secondary lactose intolerance but one of the main causes of secondary lactose intolerance is frequent occurrence of gastroenteritis which causes the lining of the stomach to weaken. However, this kind of secondary lactose intolerance is normally temporary and will improve once the stomach lining is healed and strengthened.

Abdominal pain and swelling, diarrhea and flatulence are some of the basic symptoms of lactose intolerance which occurs after a person consumes milk or other dairy products. However, the degree of lactose intolerance differs from one people to another. There are people who cannot tolerate consuming even small amounts of milk and dairy products but there are others who can consume limited amounts of milk and dairy products without the risk of experiencing the symptoms of lactose intolerance just as long as they consume only minimal amounts of that kind of food.

Lactose intolerance has four main causes including:

-Included in the four main causes of lactose intolerance is congenital. The problem with this main cause of lactose intolerance lies on the genes of the body since they are usually the main reason why your body is not able to produce sufficient amounts of lactase to be used for lactose absorption.

-Another main cause of lactose intolerance is parasitic infection which decreases the body's lactase levels temporarily which results in the body's inability to properly produce lactase.

-Another main cause of lactose intolerance is Gastroenteritis because it causes weakness to the linings of the stomach and lactase to be stripped off from the digestive system. However, this cause of lactose intolerance is typically not permanent and normal functions of the digestive system will resume once gastroenteritis has been treated and healed.

-The body's inability to digest and absorb lactose properly may also be caused by iron deficiency. This is one of the four main causes of lactose intolerance.

Despite the fact that people who are lactose intolerant should avoid intake of milk and dairy products, there is no need to worry because nowadays, there are other available foods that can substitute milk and other dairy products as main ingredients in many recipes especially for dessert recipes. Also, there are available milk and dairy products that are already lactose free which helps those people who are lactose intolerant to enjoy the foods that they normally avoid to consume.



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