FitSugar

Lactose Intolerance: Can You Grow Out of It?

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:30:00 -0700

How horrible is it to have to say no to ice cream on a hot Summer day? Unfortunately millions or Americans have to say no to ice cream, milk, yogurt, cheese and any foods containing dairy products because they're lactose intolerant. If you can't have milk, it's because your body doesn't produce the enzyme, lactase, to break down the milk sugar (lactose). So undigested lactose sits in your gut, and causes bloating, gas, and embarrassing trips to the bathroom within 30 minutes to two hours after eating anything containing milk.

So can your body ever grow out of lactose intolerance? To find out read more.

The thing is, if your body reduces the amount of lactase enzyme it produces, then unfortunately it's not likely that regular production will suddenly start to kick in. So although growing out of it is unlikely and there is no cure for lactose intolerance, there are some ways around it. Some may find that if they gradually increase the amount of dairy products they eat, the bacteria in their colons may change and be better able handle larger quantities. Other folks find that certain dairy products like cheese and yogurt are easier to digest than a glass of milk, and a little trial and error will help them figure out their personal limit. Eating dairy products with other foods may also make products containing milk more tolerable.

For most people though, their only options are to either eliminate dairy products altogether, or to take Lactaid supplements. These miracle pills contain the lactase enzyme your body lacks, so they allow you to eat all the dairy your little heart desires without the cramping or mortifying gas.

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Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:00:00 -0700

I have little kids and one of them breaks out in hives whenever she eats strawberries. Or I should say, when she used to eat strawberries because the hives just didn't seem like a normal side effect of eating fruit. Are those hives a sign of a food allergy or just a symptom of a food intolerance?

Lucky for me, the Mayo Clinic just answered my question. First off only about 2 percent of American adults and 6 percent of American children have food allergies. Many of us do have adverse reactions to certain foods, but those reactions are only considered allergic reactions if the immune system is involved.

With a food allergy, the immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or a component of a food as a harmful substance and fights that food culprit by releasing antibodies. The antibodies release histamines and other chemicals into your bloodstream to fight the good fight against this food "enemy". Signs of a food allergy may include:

Tingling in the mouth
Hives
Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat
Wheezing or breathing difficulties
Dizziness or fainting

Lactose intolerance is one example of a food intolerance. People with lactose intolerance lack the enzyme lactase needed to digest milk sugar (lactose) in milk and other dairy products. This inability to break down lactose during digestion may cause diarrhea, gas, bloating and abdominal pain, but doesn't set off the immune system response.

It is important to know the difference, because with an allergy a small amount of the food can trigger a serious allergic reaction. With an intolerance, the body can usually handle a small amount of the food without serious consequences.

Hopefully my little one will "grow out" of her strawberry allergy. Until then, we are sticking to blackberries and raspberries.

What's the Deal with: Sterilized Milk?

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 17:33:14 -0800

What is sterilized milk and should we all start filling our pantries with it?

Sterilized milk is homogenized milk heated to 300 degrees for several seconds. Sterilization destroys all germs, enabling the milk to be stored for long periods of time at room temperature.

The instructions to my milk frother machine claim that I should use sterilized milk because it is easier to digest. After some research I found that it does contain less lactose and protein, which could help with people who have issues digesting lactose. It is much darker in color and stronger in flavor (more caramel like) than average milk so beware. While I don't drink it regularly, I do keep some in the pantry (in my emergency coffee kit) because you don't want to see me without my cappuccino in the morning.

Fit's Tip: After opening it, sterilized milk should be stored in the refrigerator.

Milk Does a Body Good???

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 02:30:00 -0800

Do you often get a bellyache when you eat or drink foods containing milk? I'm sorry to say, but you may be lactose intolerant.

Lactose is the milk sugar in dairy products. Lactase is the enzyme in your body that breaks down the lactose.

Some people's bodies just don't produce enough of the enzyme to digest the amount of lactose they eat. So when they eat it, they can feel uncomfortable, gassy, bloated or get severe cramps, pains, or diarrhea.

If you think this info might apply to you, there's a simple breath test you can take at your doctor's office. Basically they give you a lactose-loaded beverage and then they monitor the amount of hydrogen in your breath. Don't bother getting the test if you already know how milk affects you.

What's the cure? Sorry folks - there is none. You can either avoid foods containing milk or take Lactaid pills. You can by them over-the counter and they contain the lactase enzyme. Just take a pill with your first bite of dairy-filled food - and you're good to go.

Fit's Tips: Costco sells Lactaid Fast Act Caplets, so if you use them everyday, you might as well buy them in bulk. (90 for $15.29)

Ice Cream? No Thanks, I'm Lactose Intolerant

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:30:00 -0800

Some people shudder at the sight of drinking a whole glass of milk or a slice of pizza with extra cheese. It isn't the fat they're worried about, it's the lactose. People who are lactose intolerant no longer produce the enzyme lactase in their small intestine to break down the milk sugar lactose. Symptoms can include mild bloating, gas, or just an uncomfortable feeling in the belly 30 minutes to two hours after eating or drinking a dairy product. For some people, their reaction is more severe, and they end up with painful cramps, nausea, or diarrhea. How much and what types of dairy products are consumed can play a factor in how bad the reaction is.

This video may joke around, but you wouldn't be laughing if you were lactose intolerant. So how do you know? To find out read more

If you notice that you have stomach issues whenever you eat foods that contain milk, well then it's probably safe to say that you're lactose intolerant. It can also run in families, so if your parents or siblings have a hard time digesting milk and cheese and such, then there's a good chance that you'll follow in their footsteps.

There are two tests you can take though, just to make sure.

Lactose Intolerance Test: You fast before the test and then drink a liquid that contains lactose. Several blood samples are taken over a two-hour period to measure your blood sugar levels. Normally, when a person eats a dairy product, the lactase enzyme breaks down the lactose into glucose and galactose, which raises the person's blood-sugar levels. If the lactase enzyme isn't there to do its job, then a blood sample would show no rise in the blood-sugar level, and the doctor would then confirm lactose intolerance.

Hydrogen Breath Test: You drink a liquid loaded with lactose, and your breath is analyzed. Normally the breath contains little hydrogen, but when there is undigested lactose in the colon, it's fermented by bacteria, which produces several gases including hydrogen. If your doctor sees raised levels of hydrogen in your breath, then you're lactose intolerant.

So now what? Unfortunately there is no cure for lactose intolerance, but there are two options. You can avoid all foods that contain milk or you can take lactase supplements (Lactaid pills). These allow you to pop a pill with your first bite of dairy, so you can enjoy the foods you love without the horrible symptoms.

Tips For the Lactose Intolerant

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0800

Yogurt, creamy soups, ice cream, mac 'n' cheese, ranch dressing, butter on toast - these foods are so delicious and comforting but not for everyone. If you're lactose intolerant (and many people are), a simple slice of cheese on a cracker could have you running to the bathroom. So here are some tips to help you deal with your dairy-filled world.

If your body can't tolerate any dairy products whatsoever, keep Lactaid pills with you at all times. It contains the enzyme, lactase, which lactose intolerant people's bodies don't produce enough of. This enzyme is needed to help break down the lactose (milk sugar) in your foods. If it doesn't get broken down, the lactose causes bloating, gas, or diarrhea.
If you're able to tolerate small amounts of dairy products, be sure to enjoy them with other nondairy foods. This helps reduce the rate at which the lactose enters your small intestine, and allows the small amount of lactase that your body produces to break down the lactose without feeling overwhelmed.

For other helpful tips read more.

Avoiding dairy is your best bet, so be a keen label reader. Look for words such as milk, milk powder, butter, buttermilk, cream, cheese, whey, curds, or milk solids. Hidden lactose can be found in baked goods, dressings, chips, instant soups, candies, pancake mixes, margarine, and certain medications. If you think a food might have dairy in it, but you're not sure, don't take the chance.
Don't be embarrassed. Tell everyone who needs to know that you are lactose intolerant. That way when you show up at a friend's house for dinner, they won't offer you a plate of fettuccine Alfredo.
If possible, remove the dairy from your favorite foods. Peel the cheese off your pizza, order the baked potato but hold the sour cream, and enjoy popcorn without the melted butter.
Look for dairy-free alternatives to your favorite foods. Drink soy, almond, or rice milk instead of cow's milk. Choose soy yogurt, creamer, ice cream, and cheese instead of the dairy-filled versions. Use olive oil or a dairy-free margarine such as Smart Balance in place of butter. Pick up some dairy-free chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

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Rice Dream Ice Cream: Dairy and Cholesterol Free

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 02:30:00 -0700

There are many delicious dairy-free ice cream alternatives out there. A few of my faves are Tofutti Cuties, Purely Decadent and So Delicious. The only thing is that all of these contain soy. We know that eating products made with soy are good for us, but we are encouraged to eat them in moderation. That's where Rice Dream Ice Cream comes in.

They make regular pints of dairy free ice cream, which are good, but for a real treat, they also make these Rice Dream sandwiches made with oatmeal cookies and coated in chocolate.

This is just the empty wrapper. Want to see what it really looks like? Then read more

Serving Size	1 sandwich
Calories	330
Total Fat	19g
Saturated Fat	8g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	50mg
Carbs	40g
Fiber	2g
Sugar	14g
Protein	3g

Okay, Okay. I never said this was healthy - just a wonderfully sweet and creamy dairy-free and cholesterol-free treat. If you are watching your cholesterol, or can't eat dairy products because you are vegan or lactose intolerant, then I'd give these Rice Dream Sandwiches a try. Besides Mint, they also come in Chocolate, Mocha (this was yummy), and Vanilla.

Sunspire Organic Chocolate Chips

FitSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Who doesn't love to eat warm gooey chocolate chips right out of the oven? Now you can feel good knowing that your morsels are made with organic chocolate.

Sunspire Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips are made with premium organic chocolate that is grown, harvested and produced using fair labor practices and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

The cocoa for their chocolate chips is grown in the tropics of Central and South America. It's blended, roasted, and stone ground, then cured in real vanilla. That's the secret to getting the smooth and rich chocolate taste that is Sunspire's signature.

They're made with real organic vanilla and organic sugar to produce a chocolate chip that rivals the top grocery store brands in both flavor and baking performance - no joke! Plus they're dairy free (great if you're lactose intolerant or vegan) and they have 1/2 the fat of Nestle's.

Here's how they compare nutritionally to Nestle's Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels. You better be sitting because there's a HUGE difference. Want to see what I mean, then read more

	Sunspire	Nestle's
Serving Size	2 tbsp	2 tbsp
Calories	70	140
Total Fat	4g	8g
Saturated Fat	2.5g	5g
Cholesterol	0mg	5mg
Sodium	0mg	0mg
Carbs	10g	18g
Fiber	1g	1g
Sugars	8g	186
Protein	1g	1g

Fit's tip: Just because you baked them and you know they are trans-fat free doesn't mean you can throw the mantra "Everything in moderation" out the window. Unless, I guess, this is your Oscar Wilde moment for the week.

Lactose intolerance

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:48:29 -0700

Illustrations

Digestive system organs

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. It is caused by not having enough of the enzyme lactase.

Alternative Names

Lactase deficiency; Milk intolerance; Disaccharidase deficiency; Dairy product intolerance

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Lactose intolerance happens when the small intestine does not make enough of the enzyme lactase. Babies' bodies make this enzyme so they can digest milk, including breast milk. Before humans became dairy farmers, most people did not continue to drink milk, so their bodies did not make lactase after early childhood.

People from cultures in which dairy farming occurred earliest are less likely to suffer from lactose intolerance, compared with those from areas where dairy farming began more recently. As a result, lactose intolerance is more common in Asian, African, African-American, Native American, and Mediterranean populations than it is among northern and western Europeans.

Lactose intolerance can begin at different times in life. In Caucasians, it usually starts to affect children older than age 5. In African-Americans, lactose intolerance often occurs as early as age 2.

When people with lactose intolerance eat or drink milk products, they may have symptoms such as abdominal bloating, excessive intestinal gas, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping.

Lactose intolerance is very common in adults and is not dangerous. Approximately 30 million American adults have some degree of lactose intolerance by age 20.

Lactose intolerance is sometimes seen in premature babies. Children who were born at full term generally do not show signs of lactose intolerance until they are at least 3 years old.

Not having milk in the diet can result in a shortage of calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, and protein. Therefore, a milk substitute is needed. For infants younger than 2 years, soy formulas are good substitutes. Good alternatives for toddlers are soy or rice milk. Older children may also use lactase-treated cow's milk. Goat's milk is low in lactose, but should only be used in children if it is properly supplemented with essential amino acids and vitamins.

Most people with low lactase levels can tolerate 2-4 ounces of milk at one time (up to half a cup). Larger (8 oz.) servings may cause problems for people with some degree of milk intolerance.

Lactase deficiency may also occur as a result of intestinal diseases such as celiac sprue and gastroenteritis, or it may follow bowel surgery. Temporary lactase deficiency can result from viral and bacterial infections, especially in children, when the cells lining the intestine are injured.

Symptoms

Abdominal cramps
Bloating
Flatulence
Weight loss
Malnutrition
Slow growth
Abdominal distention
Diarrhea
Floating stools
Foul-smelling stools

Symptoms often follow eating or drinking milk products, and are often relieved by withdrawal of milk products. Large doses of milk products may cause worse symptoms.

Signs and tests

Test for stool-reducing substances
Lactose tolerance test
Lactose-hydrogen breath test
Enteroscopy

Treatment

Removing milk products from the diet usually improves the symptoms. Other sources of calcium should be added to the diet if milk products are removed.

Fermented milk products such as yogurt can usually be tolerated. Buttermilk and cheeses have less lactose than milk. Goat's milk can sometimes be tolerated but should be consumed with meals, not alone.

Choosing lactose-free milk and milk products may be helpful. Lactase enzymes can be added to regular milk or may be taken in capsule or chewable tablet form.

Read food labels. Lactose is also found in some non-milk products -- including some beers.

Expectations (prognosis)

Symptoms usually go away when milk products are removed from the diet.

Complications

Weight loss and malnutrition are possible complications.

Calling your health care provider

If you or your child has symptoms of lactose intolerance, consult with your physician regarding food substitutions.

Also call if symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms develop.

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent the development of lactose intolerance.

If you have the condition, avoiding or restricting the amount of milk products in your diet can reduce or prevent symptoms.

Review Date: 10/13/2006

Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

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Source Doc: 1_000276

Milk May Not Do Your Body Good

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:30:14 -0700

Many of you have tried a dairy-free diet either for ethical reasons or because it upsets your stomach. Although the message from the dairy industry is that milk does a body good, 60 percent of adults can't digest dairy. It's not that they're allergic, meaning their immune system is affected; it's that their stomachs can't digest the lactose, the sugar found in milk. The enzyme lactase is needed to break it down, and for most of us, that enzyme stops being produced when we're between 2 and 5 years old. Without the enzyme to break down the lactose, the undigested milk sugars end up in our colons and ferment, causing cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

If you have no trouble digesting milk products, you're actually in the minority. That's why scientists don't like the term lactose intolerance, because it gives the impression that it's a disease. Lactose tolerance is actually a genetic mutation. It may have to do with the fact that thousands of years ago, depending on where people lived, milk was a source of food, calcium, and vitamin D. So people kept drinking cow's milk even after they stopped nursing (breast milk also contains lactose), and their bodies continued to produce the lactase enzyme to break it down. That's why there's a connection between your nationality and your sensitivity to milk. Those of European, Irish, Dutch, and Scandinavian decent are usually more tolerant of milk, while Native Americans, Asians, and those of African and Caribbean decent are more sensitive.

Tell me, where do you stand when it comes to sensitivity to milk?