I think I am becoming lactose intolerant. My mom became lactose intolerant when she was about my age. (24) I've been getting sick everytime I drink milk it seems. Last night I chugged a huge glass of milk and was up all night long with horrible stomach cramps, nausea and diarreah. sp? I am sitting at work miserable now. Is there anything I can eat/drink/do to feel better? Obviously I won't be drinking milk anymore... Help, I'm suffering!
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Lactose Intolerant
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I really don't think there's much you can do about it. I heard someone on TV say that humans are not meant to drink milk. Milk is for babies. No mammal drinks milk after it is weaned, why would humans be different? I think he said that the digestive system changes from when you are a baby and thus are less able to digest the milk. Milk products like cheese and different and tolerable, but I can't remember why. I guess the Lactose is broken down in the process already.
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Mammals normally lose the enzyme needed to break down lactose into its two component sugars after infancy. However many humans have a mutation that keeps this enzyme throughout life. Most Europeans and Indians (not all) have this mutation; most East Asians don't. It can be useful, because you can get a lot more protein per acre of land running dairy cattle than running beef cattle. (You can get even more by growing the right crops, but that's much more labour-intensive.)Cheese is the separated protein from milk, and doesn't contain much lactose (though it has a bit).
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Take a lactase tablet just before you start eating dairy-containing food. You can find it on the shelf of your favorite pharmacy.Lactase is an enzyme that will digest the lactose early in your digestive process, and should eliminate the gas and discomfort that results from the inability to naturally digest lactose.It's very common for adults to develop lactose intolerance. My father did in his 60's.Here is a really academic discussion about lactase.
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I'm exactly the same as you Boodiddle.Mine started when I was 14 or so though (18 now). Thing is, I'm the only one in my family like this. It wasn't much of a big deal for me, as I hate both milk and cheese - but I was a bit bummed about not being able to eat chocolate any longer. You just have to adapt - I only eat chocolate now if I know I'm not doing anything the next day, as I know fullwell that I'm going to get the shits if I do. However, I've since gone off it. After a few months you'll get used to it.And look on the bright side dude - You loose weight!
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So what do you think of the lactase tablet idea? They're cheap, safe, and effective.
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Never heard that they existed. Infact, I never consulted a doctor about the problem in the first place. I started getting upset stomachs on a regular basis when my mum suggested it might be an intollerance to dairy products. After cutting them out of my diet, the upset stomachs stopped - problem solved.I think I'll have to give the tablet a try now it's been mentioned - thanks, and I'll let you know if it works.
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Did it work?