Lactose Intolerant: What does it mean?

Lactose is a simple sugar found in nature. Two sugars, galactose and glucose, combine to create lactose.

Are you lactose intolerant?

What are the signs of lactose intolerance? How can you tell if you are?

To find the answer, one must understand how lactose is produced.

When galactose and glucose combine, they form a bond. Your body has an enzyme, lactase, used to break these bonds.

If you do not have lactase, you cannot break the bonds, making you intolerant.

The signs would bloat, gas, diarrhoea, cramps and pain. In my case, I would throw up. I just hated the smell of milk.

There are three primary causes: age, genetic and diseases.

Your body is not born with all the enzymes required to digest food. In fact, not just milk, you might not have the enzyme to digest vegetables or fruits.

Typically, as you grow, by age six, you develop the ability to digest lactose.

Some races are born lactose intolerant, South Asians for example. In some cases, you develop Chron’s disease, Celiac’s disease or ulcerative colitis, making you intolerant.

There is no real cure for being lactose intolerant.

The severity varies. Some people bloat and develop symptoms right away. Others are tolerant of different forms. So, for example, I did not like milk, but was fine consuming cottage cheese (paneer).

So what can you do if you are intolerant?

You could add enzymes that help you digest. You could combine it with other foods, making it easier to digest.

You could spread your consumption, having smaller quantities per meal.

Personally, I found it easiest to have yoghurt. You could find the form that suits you best.

There is no law that mandates you need to consume dairy. If you are intolerant, find other ways to get your protein and calcium. Calories are easy to find in any case.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain