LIVING WITH LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

We explore what life is like with lactose intolerance and how the new range from Al Ain Farms could help adults and children alike who suffer from this condition.

Lactose intolerance is the inability to properly digest the sugar (lactose) found in cow's milk and all other dairy products made from cow's milk. It is caused by producing too little of an enzyme called lactase in the small intestine. Some people will have lower-than-usual amounts of lactase but still be able to digest a certain amount of dairy without problems. However, once this tolerance limit is reached during a meal, you may begin to struggle to digest dairy. This results in a variety of symptoms that begin normally between half an hour and two hours after eating foods containing lactose. These symptoms can commonly include:

• Diarrhoea
• Nausea and sometimes vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Bloating 
• Gas

In most cases, people who become lactose intolerant begin life making enough lactase naturally. Infants, who rely fully on milk for all their nutrition, need lactase. As little ones grow and start substituting milk with various foods, the level of lactase they create falls, but usually stays at a high enough level to digest the dairy products often found in an average adult diet. However, for most people with lactose intolerance, their lactase production lowers dramatically by their early twenties, making it very challenging to digest milk products.

Secondary Lactose Intolerance

Sometimes, an injury to the small intestine can lead to the development of lactose intolerance. This can be in the form of a physical injury, illness or certain types of surgery. Conditions that have been linked to secondary lactose intolerance include digestive disorders like Crohn's disease, celiac disease, overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the gut and some internal gut infections. It's also possible to be born with lactose intolerance, although this is rare and is generally prevalent within the family already.

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