What is lactose intolerance, and is it cure-able?!
Question: What is lactose intolerance, and is it cure-able!?
Answers:
lactose Intolerance CAN NOT be cured!.
It is a medical condition that means you cant have any dairy products!. (Chocolate, Cheese, Milk, Youghart etc!.)
If you do eat these produts you begin to feel very sick in the stomach and feel like throwing up!. (I am Lactose intolerant)
It is sort of like an allergy to dairy products!.
Hope i helped!. :)Www@Answer-Health@Com
It is a medical condition that means you cant have any dairy products!. (Chocolate, Cheese, Milk, Youghart etc!.)
If you do eat these produts you begin to feel very sick in the stomach and feel like throwing up!. (I am Lactose intolerant)
It is sort of like an allergy to dairy products!.
Hope i helped!. :)Www@Answer-Health@Com
I have this!. I can have dairy but not too much!. It seems to be worse when you get a build up of lactose as it is present in medication and many ordinary products that you can buy off the shelf!. Eating cheese, I just get a little spotty, but milk, yoghurt and items like this, I am sick, I faint, and am unwell for some time!. Cream is lethal, I had an apple turnover with cream when I was pregnant as it was a craving, I was ill for two days! Big mistake!.
Generally if sensible, it will not effect someones life too much!. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables most of the time, not have re-constituted meat ( sausages, burgers, chicken nuggets) Its just a healthy way of life!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Generally if sensible, it will not effect someones life too much!. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables most of the time, not have re-constituted meat ( sausages, burgers, chicken nuggets) Its just a healthy way of life!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
it means u cant have dairy products at all, I don't believe its a cure its like being allergic to somethingWww@Answer-Health@Com
Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest and absorb lactose (the sugar in milk) that results in gastrointestinal symptoms when milk or products containing milk are drunk or eaten!. Lactose is a larger sugar that is made up of two smaller sugars, glucose and galactose!. In order for lactose to be absorbed from the intestine and into the body, it must first be split into glucose and galactose!. The glucose and galactose then are absorbed by the cells lining the small intestine!. The enzyme that splits lactose into glucose and galactose is called lactase, and it is located on the surface of the cells that line the small intestine!.
Lactose intolerance is caused by reduced or absent activity of lactase that prevents the splitting of lactose (lactase deficiency)!. Lactase deficiency may occur for one of three reasons, congenital, secondary or developmental!.
Lactase deficiency may occur because of a congenital absence (absence from birth) of lactase due to a mutation in the gene that is responsible for producing lactase!. This is a very rare cause of lactase deficiency, and the symptoms of this type of lactase deficiency begin shortly after birth!.
Another cause of lactase deficiency is secondary lactase deficiency!. This type of deficiency is due to diseases that destroy the lining of the small intestine along with the lactase!. An example of such a disease is celiac sprue
The most common cause of lactase deficiency is a decrease in the amount of lactase that occurs after childhood and persists into adulthood, referred to as adult-type hypolactasia!. This decrease is genetically programmed, and the prevalence of this type of lactase deficiency among different ethnic groups is highly variable!. Thus, among Asian populations it is almost 100%, among American Indians it is 80%, and among blacks it is 70%; however, among American Caucasians the prevalence of lactase deficiency is only 20%!. In addition to variability in the prevalence of lactase deficiency, there also is variability in the age at which symptoms of lactose intolerance appear!. Thus, among Asian populations, the symptoms of deficiency (intolerance) occur around the age of 5, among Blacks and Mexican-Americans by the age of 10, and among the Finnish by age 20!.
It is important to emphasize that lactase deficiency is not the same as lactose intolerance!. Persons with milder deficiencies of lactase often have no symptoms after the ingestion of milk!. For unclear reasons, even persons with moderate deficiencies of lactase may not have symptoms!. A diagnosis of lactase deficiency is made when the amount of lactase in the intestine is reduced, but a diagnosis of lactose intolerance is made only when the reduced amount of lactase causes symptoms!.
Although milk and foods made from milk are the only natural sources of lactose, lactose often is "hidden" in prepared foods to which it has been added!. People with very low tolerance for lactose should know about the many food products that may contain lactose, even in small amounts!. Food products that may contain lactose include:
Bread and other baked goods
Processed breakfast cereals
Instant potatoes, soups, and breakfast drinks
Margarine
Lunch meats (except those that are kosher)
Salad dressings
Candies and other snacks
Mixes for pancakes, biscuits, and cookies
Some products labeled nondairy, such as powdered coffee creamer and whipped toppings, also may include ingredients that are derived from milk and, therefore, contain lactose!.
Smart shoppers learn to read food labels with care, looking not only for milk and lactose among the contents but also for such words as whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids, and nonfat dry milk powder!. If any of these are listed on a label, the item contains lactose!.
In addition to food sources, lactose can be "hidden" in medicines!. Lactose is used as the base for more than 20% of prescription drugs and about 6% of over-the-counter drugs!. Many types of birth control pills, for example, contain lactose, as do some tablets for stomach acid and gas!. However, these products typically affect only people with severe lactose intolerance!.
The most obvious means of treating lactose intolerance is by reducing the amount of lactose in the diet!. Fortunately, most people who are lactose intolerant can tolerate small or even moderate amounts of lactose!. It often takes only elimination of the major milk-containing products to obtain sufficient relief from their symptoms!. Thus, it may be necessary to eliminate only milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and ice cream!. Though yogurt contains large amounts of lactose, it often is well-tolerated by lactose intolerant people!. This may be so because the bacteria used to make yogurt contain lactase, and the lactase is able to split the lactose during storage of the yogurt as well as after the yogurt is eaten (in the stomach and intestine)!. Yogurt also has been shown to empty more slowly from the stomach than an equivalent amount of milk!. This allows more time for intestinal lactase to split the lactose in yogurt, and, at least theoretically, would result in less lactose reaching the colon!.
Most supermarkets carry milk that has had the lactose already split by the addition of lactase!. Substitutes for milk also are available, including soy and rice milk!. Acidophilus-containing milk is not beneficial since it contains as much lactose as regular milk, and acidophilus bacteria do not split lactose!.
For individuals who are intolerant to even small amounts of lactose, the dietary restrictions become more severe!. Any purchased product containing milk must be avoided!. It is especially important to eliminate prepared foods containing milk purchased from the supermarket and dishes from restaurants that have sauces!.
Another means to reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance is to ingest any milk-containing foods during meals!. Meals (particularly meals containing fat) reduce the rate at which the stomach empties into the small intestine!. This reduces the rate at which lactose enters the small intestine and allows more time for the limited amount of lactase to split the lactose without being overwhelmed by the full load of lactose at once!. Studies have shown that the absorption of lactose from whole milk, which contains fat, is greater than from non-fat milk, perhaps for this very reason!. Nevertheless, the substitution of whole milk or yogurt for non-fat milk or yogurt does not seem to reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance!.
Lactase enzyme
Caplets or tablets of lactase are available to take with milk-containing foods!.
Adaptation
Some people find that by slowly increasing the amount of milk or milk-containing products in their diets they are able to tolerate larger amounts of lactose without developing symptoms!. This adaptation to increasing amounts of milk is not due to increases in lactase in the intestine!. Adaptation probably results from alterations to the bacteria in the colon!. Increasing amounts of lactose entering the colon change the colonic environment, for example, by increasing the acidity of the colon!. These changes alter the way in which the colonic bacteria handle lactose!. For example, the bacteria produce less gas!. There also may be a reduction in the secretion of water and, therefore, less diarrhea!.
Calcium and vitamin D supplements
Milk and milk-containing products are the best sources of dietary calcium, so it is no wonder that calcium deficiency is common among lactose intolerant persons!. This increases the risk and severity of osteoporosis and the resulting bone fractures!. It is important, therefore, for lactose intolerant persons to supplement their diets with calcium!. A deficiency of vitamin D also causes disease of the bones and fractures!. Milk is fortified with vitamin D and is a major source of vitamin D for many people!. Although other sources of vitamin D can substitute for milk, it is a good idea for lactose-intolerant persons to take supplemental vitamin D to prevent vitamin D deficiency!.
Sincerely Rock On,
PiperWww@Answer-Health@Com
Lactose intolerance is caused by reduced or absent activity of lactase that prevents the splitting of lactose (lactase deficiency)!. Lactase deficiency may occur for one of three reasons, congenital, secondary or developmental!.
Lactase deficiency may occur because of a congenital absence (absence from birth) of lactase due to a mutation in the gene that is responsible for producing lactase!. This is a very rare cause of lactase deficiency, and the symptoms of this type of lactase deficiency begin shortly after birth!.
Another cause of lactase deficiency is secondary lactase deficiency!. This type of deficiency is due to diseases that destroy the lining of the small intestine along with the lactase!. An example of such a disease is celiac sprue
The most common cause of lactase deficiency is a decrease in the amount of lactase that occurs after childhood and persists into adulthood, referred to as adult-type hypolactasia!. This decrease is genetically programmed, and the prevalence of this type of lactase deficiency among different ethnic groups is highly variable!. Thus, among Asian populations it is almost 100%, among American Indians it is 80%, and among blacks it is 70%; however, among American Caucasians the prevalence of lactase deficiency is only 20%!. In addition to variability in the prevalence of lactase deficiency, there also is variability in the age at which symptoms of lactose intolerance appear!. Thus, among Asian populations, the symptoms of deficiency (intolerance) occur around the age of 5, among Blacks and Mexican-Americans by the age of 10, and among the Finnish by age 20!.
It is important to emphasize that lactase deficiency is not the same as lactose intolerance!. Persons with milder deficiencies of lactase often have no symptoms after the ingestion of milk!. For unclear reasons, even persons with moderate deficiencies of lactase may not have symptoms!. A diagnosis of lactase deficiency is made when the amount of lactase in the intestine is reduced, but a diagnosis of lactose intolerance is made only when the reduced amount of lactase causes symptoms!.
Although milk and foods made from milk are the only natural sources of lactose, lactose often is "hidden" in prepared foods to which it has been added!. People with very low tolerance for lactose should know about the many food products that may contain lactose, even in small amounts!. Food products that may contain lactose include:
Bread and other baked goods
Processed breakfast cereals
Instant potatoes, soups, and breakfast drinks
Margarine
Lunch meats (except those that are kosher)
Salad dressings
Candies and other snacks
Mixes for pancakes, biscuits, and cookies
Some products labeled nondairy, such as powdered coffee creamer and whipped toppings, also may include ingredients that are derived from milk and, therefore, contain lactose!.
Smart shoppers learn to read food labels with care, looking not only for milk and lactose among the contents but also for such words as whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids, and nonfat dry milk powder!. If any of these are listed on a label, the item contains lactose!.
In addition to food sources, lactose can be "hidden" in medicines!. Lactose is used as the base for more than 20% of prescription drugs and about 6% of over-the-counter drugs!. Many types of birth control pills, for example, contain lactose, as do some tablets for stomach acid and gas!. However, these products typically affect only people with severe lactose intolerance!.
The most obvious means of treating lactose intolerance is by reducing the amount of lactose in the diet!. Fortunately, most people who are lactose intolerant can tolerate small or even moderate amounts of lactose!. It often takes only elimination of the major milk-containing products to obtain sufficient relief from their symptoms!. Thus, it may be necessary to eliminate only milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and ice cream!. Though yogurt contains large amounts of lactose, it often is well-tolerated by lactose intolerant people!. This may be so because the bacteria used to make yogurt contain lactase, and the lactase is able to split the lactose during storage of the yogurt as well as after the yogurt is eaten (in the stomach and intestine)!. Yogurt also has been shown to empty more slowly from the stomach than an equivalent amount of milk!. This allows more time for intestinal lactase to split the lactose in yogurt, and, at least theoretically, would result in less lactose reaching the colon!.
Most supermarkets carry milk that has had the lactose already split by the addition of lactase!. Substitutes for milk also are available, including soy and rice milk!. Acidophilus-containing milk is not beneficial since it contains as much lactose as regular milk, and acidophilus bacteria do not split lactose!.
For individuals who are intolerant to even small amounts of lactose, the dietary restrictions become more severe!. Any purchased product containing milk must be avoided!. It is especially important to eliminate prepared foods containing milk purchased from the supermarket and dishes from restaurants that have sauces!.
Another means to reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance is to ingest any milk-containing foods during meals!. Meals (particularly meals containing fat) reduce the rate at which the stomach empties into the small intestine!. This reduces the rate at which lactose enters the small intestine and allows more time for the limited amount of lactase to split the lactose without being overwhelmed by the full load of lactose at once!. Studies have shown that the absorption of lactose from whole milk, which contains fat, is greater than from non-fat milk, perhaps for this very reason!. Nevertheless, the substitution of whole milk or yogurt for non-fat milk or yogurt does not seem to reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance!.
Lactase enzyme
Caplets or tablets of lactase are available to take with milk-containing foods!.
Adaptation
Some people find that by slowly increasing the amount of milk or milk-containing products in their diets they are able to tolerate larger amounts of lactose without developing symptoms!. This adaptation to increasing amounts of milk is not due to increases in lactase in the intestine!. Adaptation probably results from alterations to the bacteria in the colon!. Increasing amounts of lactose entering the colon change the colonic environment, for example, by increasing the acidity of the colon!. These changes alter the way in which the colonic bacteria handle lactose!. For example, the bacteria produce less gas!. There also may be a reduction in the secretion of water and, therefore, less diarrhea!.
Calcium and vitamin D supplements
Milk and milk-containing products are the best sources of dietary calcium, so it is no wonder that calcium deficiency is common among lactose intolerant persons!. This increases the risk and severity of osteoporosis and the resulting bone fractures!. It is important, therefore, for lactose intolerant persons to supplement their diets with calcium!. A deficiency of vitamin D also causes disease of the bones and fractures!. Milk is fortified with vitamin D and is a major source of vitamin D for many people!. Although other sources of vitamin D can substitute for milk, it is a good idea for lactose-intolerant persons to take supplemental vitamin D to prevent vitamin D deficiency!.
Sincerely Rock On,
PiperWww@Answer-Health@Com