Lactose Intolerance Treatments

Contrary to popular belief, lactose intolerance isn't a disorder along the lines of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. While lactose intolerance may produce many of the gastric symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, there are no actual physical or chemical defects within those who are lactose intolerant as such.

Lactose intolerance occurs due to a shortage of the lactase enzyme within the small intestine. Due to this shortage of the lactase enzyme, our bodies can find they become overwhelmed with lactose therefore begin experiencing symptoms of lactose intolerance. Most adults in the world are lactose intolerant to a degree and the explanation is largely a cultural one. Before the domestication of animals such as dairy cows, the only time humans were ever supposed to consume milk – the source of lactose – was during the breastfeeding period. For this reason, due to evolution, babies are often very tolerant of lactose during this period, but begin to lose much of their tolerance to lactose after this period, during the ages of 2 to 5 .

There are no permanent lactose intolerance treatments other than to simply control the amount of lactose consumed to one which is agreeable with you. The more you cut down on lactose intake the less severe you symptoms will become, any in time they may vanish completely.

One of the best ways to cut down hugely on lactose intake is to purchase a treated lactose-free milk brand instead, and ensure other dairy products you purchase such as ice cream, cheese and yogurts and so on are also lactose-free. This may take some trial and error to find which products truly are lactose-free and not simply a marketing ploy, but in time you will work out which are the best lactose-free products.

Another temporary lactose intolerance treatment comes in the form of a lactase tablet or chew which is consumed before meals containing lactose. There is also a lactose liquid variety of this in which drops are mixed into milk or milkshakes allowing the milk to be consumed with lesser side effects.