New York Cheese Cake (Photo: ShutterStock)
Shavuot is here and for several weeks now the cooking sections are full of dairy recipes in honor of the holiday. Most of us enjoy the dairy meal, which is usually light and healthy, but a significant part of the population will find it difficult to find a food on the table that can be eaten without causing stomach pain and diarrhea. If you also feel bloating, gas, abdominal pain after drinking dairy products, you may suffer from milk sensitivity.
Milk sensitivity can be due to allergy to milk protein or to sugar found in milk called lactose. Intolerance to milk protein is rarer and occurs mainly in infants. Lactose intolerance or lactose intolerance is one of the most common nutrition-related diseases in the population, and people with lactose intolerance have difficulty digesting dairy products that contain a sugar called lactose.
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Why is this happening?
The small intestine of each and every one of us secretes an enzyme called lactase that is responsible for breaking down lactose during the digestion of dairy products, those who secrete a low amount of the lactase enzyme suffer from difficulty breaking down lactose and then suffer from effects related to lactose proliferation in the intestine. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, flatulence and pain in the abdomen. In infants and children, in addition to the above symptoms, there may also be restlessness and weight loss.
Who is at risk?
The phenomenon can be genetic and develops at school age and worsens over the years when the level of the enzyme that breaks down sugar decreases. Sometimes lactose intolerance may occur due to other diseases of the intestine that impair the absorption of sugar.
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What is the treatment?
People suffering from diarrhea and prolonged abdominal pain will usually seek medical clarification when the doctor asks to perform tests to rule out various causes of the phenomenon, one of which may be lactose intolerance. In order to diagnose the phenomenon, a breathalyzer test can be performed. In it, the patient is required to drink a solution containing lactose and then exhale into a test tube and by analyzing the exhalation components it is possible to locate the deficiency. Further tests such as a biopsy are rarely needed. Another, much simpler option is to avoid eating dairy products for two to three weeks and see if the symptoms have passed.
What can I do?
As mentioned, lactose intolerance is one of the most common food sensitivities among all populations, how can this phenomenon be dealt with? Here are some tips.
- It is recommended to choose foods that contain as little lactose as possible, usually niger milk contains a high amount of sugar compared to solid milk, so you can avoid drinking milk but eat yogurt or hard cheeses. You should consult a dietitian for nutritional guidance.
- In light of the prevalence of this phenomenon, dairy products are produced today that do not contain lactose and therefore will not cause symptoms.
- In special cases, the attending physician will recommend a pill containing the missing enzyme in the body, the enzyme lactase, taking the pill before the dairy meal will make it easier for the digestive system to cope with the lactose in the milk and prevent the effects.
Dr. Nabil Abu Hani, Family Medicine Specialist, District Risk Management Officer - Leumit Health Services
- health
- nutrition and diet
Tags
- lactose
- milk
