The Sneaky and Not So Subtle Signs Someone May Have Lactose Intolerance

10. You Can Take Control Of Your Intolerance By Making Your Own Meals The option is not always available, but you might have to learn to… Trista - December 31, 2021

10. You Can Take Control Of Your Intolerance By Making Your Own Meals

The option is not always available, but you might have to learn to cook your own meals almost every day to minimize your symptoms. Going out and buying food that’s already made puts you at risk because you would have no way of knowing what ingredients go into your meal. Furthermore, if you’ve ingested lactose while you’re at work, you may end up having to spend a lot of time in the bathroom. That could land you in a bit of trouble.

Instead, you could learn to brown bag it. Make your meals at home, where you’re aware of everything going into it, and take it to work with you. It’s a lot of extra effort. You’ll have to get up earlier in the morning to get it done. However, at least you’re not running the risk of having to endure intestinal distress throughout the rest of the day. There are plenty of lactose-free recipes out there, too. Please don’t think that your diet is going to shrink to just vegetables and meat immediately. There are alternatives out there to help you make even your favorite desserts that would have contained milk. Now you can make them guilt-free that will keep your tummy happy.

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9. Look At Lactose-Reduced or Lactose-Free Products

You would be surprised to discover that there are actually lactose-free kinds of milk out there. It’s cow’s milk with the lactose removed. Of course, because of this, the milk will not taste the same, so it’s either something you’re going to have to get used to, or you’re going to have to consider other options on the table, like almond or soy milk. Thankfully, if you can get used to the taste, lactose-free milk still has the same amount of calcium, so your bones can still thrive from having this in your daily diet.

There are lactose-free cheeses and yogurts as well if these foods also affect you. Of course, you may have to look in a different section of the grocery store to find these alternatives. Be prepared for them to be a little more expensive, which can add up your monthly grocery bills. However, the choice is entirely up to you when it comes to your health and what you’re willing to change in your life to feel comfortable daily.

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8. The Kind Of Cheese You Eat Could Make A Difference

If you’re one of those affected by cheese, you’ll have to consider your options. There are actually cheeses out there that contain less lactose than others. Soft cheese like ricotta and cream cheese tend to have higher levels of lactose, while aged, harder cheese like parmesan and sharp cheddars contain much lower levels of lactose. So you don’t have to go without all cheese in your diet.

You may also want to look at cheeses made from sheep or goat’s milk instead, as these also contain low levels of lactose. So you can still have all of that creamy goodness of soft cheese without the intestinal distress. But as always, keep an eye out for your symptoms if you’re still not feeling great after consuming any of these suggested cheeses. It may mean you have to give these up as well, unfortunately.

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7. How Long Do Lactose Intolerance Symptoms Last?

It’s not a very serious condition, but it can leave you feeling uncomfortable all day long. The severity of the symptoms is dependent on how much lactose you’ve consumed in one period and how much lactase your body can produce; the less it makes, the stronger the symptoms will be and the longer they’ll last. The majority of symptoms resolve themselves within a period of forty-eight hours but can persist if you continue to consume lactose during that period. Bloating can resolve much sooner if you take certain medications to alleviate the sensation itself.

Nausea kicks in at least two hours after eating lactose, which can leave you feeling pretty awful. The other symptoms, such as diarrhea, gas, and pain, can onset at any time and are probably more immediate than the other symptoms, depending on how your body handles lactose. Diarrhea may be quick, or it may take some time to present itself. The pain may be persistent the entire time and appears with both gas and bloating, so you may find yourself trying to alleviate these three symptoms simultaneously.

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6. You May Want To Consult With A Dietician

Do you have to be careful about what food you eat? That daunting task can be troublesome. Not only that, it can also be stressful. Are you ready to alleviate some of those problems? All you have to do is go talk to the experts instead. Speak with a dietician as soon as possible. That way, you can get the rundown on what foods you should and shouldn’t be eating. Plus, you can discover alternatives. A dietician can teach you how to manage your symptoms more healthily. They only want to help you and set you on the right path to being both happy and healthy at the same time.

After reading this, does a dietician seem like a good choice for you? You may want to speak to your primary care physician first. Why? Because they can set you up with the right person. It will save you time of having to hunt one down yourself. Understand that it will take a few appointments before you’re set up with a diet plan that’s right for you. Please, exercise patience throughout the process. Besides, you want to get the most out of it so you can start feeling better.

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5. What Can You Do To Combat The Conditions That Arise From Lactose Intolerance?

Because you need dairy to take care of your bones, they will start to suffer. However, there are other things you can do to strengthen your bones that will reduce your chances of broken bones and fractures in the future. First, you can do what is called a bone density test. This measures your bone density in the different areas of your body to detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs. Getting some exercise is also a great life choice to make, as it helps strengthen the muscles connected to your bones to reduce the chances of bones breaking.

You can make other lifestyle choices to reduce your chances of fractures, such as quitting smoking as well as reducing your daily intake of alcohol. Those who drink and smoke heavily are prone to more bone loss due to poor nutrition. There are some medications a person can take to combat bone loss, too, such as taking certain calcium supplements, going through hormone therapy (especially in women going through menopause), and bisphosphonates.

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4. Consider Eating Other Food On The Side When Consuming Dairy

You may think that having dairy with other food will only cause your intestinal distress to be worse, but most people have reported that the opposite is true. In fact, they’ve said that they’ve experienced reduced symptoms when they ingest dairy with other food that doesn’t contain lactose. For example, instead of drinking a glass of milk, have a few pieces of wheat toast with it so that your intestines have some element to work on. Food tends to put all of the intestines into overdrive so that they can break down all of the incoming substances instead of only drinking milk.

You may have to experiment to see which foods work best at reducing your symptoms when coupled with dairy. You may be surprised; having dairy with certain foods may even eliminate your symptoms! Keep an eye on these, and be sure to include them in your diet more frequently… but only if they’re still healthy for you! Again, this is why the food diary is essential, as you’ll have an accurate record of what does and doesn’t work for you.

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3. Always Keep Your Doctor In Mind

Have you already taken some of these steps to help improve your reaction to lactose? That is great news! Nevertheless, you should still keep an eye on your health. Are you no longer experiencing bloating, gas, and pain? Thank goodness! However, you should look out for other symptoms that reveal that there’s a more serious problem going on. For example, if you have a sudden change in bowel habits, take note. Does heartburn now hit and keep you from sleeping? Are you unable to keep down any food? These are all concerns. Furthermore, if there is blood present in your stool or vomit, you should go to the hospital to receive treatment.

Other diseases have similar symptoms to lactose intolerance that require different treatment other than avoiding lactose. Knowing what these diseases are and getting tested for them can make a difference in the long run. You can get you the treatment options you need to have a happier, healthier life. Speak to your doctor if you are worried about any aspect of your digestion issues. That way, you can take care of the problem before it becomes more serious.

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2. Consider Going Probiotic

There’s one dairy-related product that you should keep in your diet that’s not going to make your stomach cramp up all day! That would be the plain, low-fat yogurt. Yogurt is known for its probiotic culture, which helps your gut bacteria flourish to aid digestion issues. Nevertheless, did you know that probiotic yogurt can also help the body to break down lactose, thereby reducing your symptoms? It’s more likely than you think! Just one cup may be enough to help, and you’re still getting all of that yummy calcium that it contains.

Probiotic yogurt has been a godsend for those who suffer from digestive issues. That goes double for those due to other underlying conditions, diseases, medications, or treatments. For example, antibiotics are good at treating bacterial infections. However, it does so by attacking all bacteria in the body, including the good ones. By adding some probiotics to your diet, you can help to counteract this. In doing so, you will bring the body back to its normal functioning state. Did you just discover you are lactose intolerant? It will be in your best interest to invest in some probiotic yogurt.

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1. Finding Support for Lactose Intolerance

Just because you are lactose intolerant does not mean you have to give up dairy entirely; you just have to monitor it closely and take everything in moderation. It may take some time, but you can start to understand your body better even if you are lactose intolerant. You pay attention to your body’s natural cues and figure out how much you can eat or drink without feeling the severity of your symptoms. Few individuals have such severe symptoms that they have to cut out dairy altogether. You will know the right amount and can determine from there how much you can consume.

Milk and dairy products have many vital nutrients, and if you are lactose intolerant, you will need to find different ways to consume them. You could take calcium supplements. You may also want to increase your intake of other foods that contain calcium to make sure you are getting your recommended amount. These foods include broccoli, leafy vegetables, canned salmon, fortified cereals, oranges, and almonds. You can also try different milk substitutes, including soy, almond, oat, and rice milk. You will also need to be mindful that you are getting enough vitamin D. Why? Because people often get this vitamin supply from fortified milk. You can eat more eggs or take a vitamin supplement. Your body also naturally produces vitamin D when you are out in the sun. The bottom line is that you will want to take care of yourself and make mindful choices that impact your overall health.

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