About lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance has become a problem that more and more people are facing. Fortunately, they do not have to give up milk completely, which would be impossible for children - for example - and this is because we find a lot of alternative options on the market, such as lactose-free milk.

Lactose intolerance, or lactase deficiency, is the body's inability to digest lactose, which is actually a sugar found in milk. This condition is caused by a lack of lactase, which is an enzyme that breaks down lactose in the digestive system. Many people have low levels of lactase, but not all people have intolerance to dairy foods.

What is lactose

Lactose is a type of sugar contained in milk, which many people cannot process or digest. However, the lesser known issue is that over 50% of the world's population has some form of lactose intolerance, which may or may not manifest itself visibly. In some geographical areas, more than 90% of people cannot absorb lactose due to the lack of a certain enzyme in the body, called lactase, which is needed to break down and digest this sugar.

Lactose intolerance is often confused with milk allergy, the first consisting of an enzyme deficiency that metabolizes lactose, and the second consisting of an exaggerated reaction of the immune system to milk proteins. It appears that about 70% of the adult population is lactase deficient, which suggested that this is the normal condition.

Many people who suffer from mild forms of lactose intolerance can control their symptoms without having to completely eliminate dairy products from their daily diet. The mild indigestion they feel only makes them consume dairy products a little less often.

Risks associated with lactose intolerance.

Complications can occur due to inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake. Patients who avoid dairy products may need calcium and vitamin D supplements or include lactose-free sources of such nutrients in their diet.

Here are 4 tips from specialists to alleviate the unpleasant effects of lactose intolerance:

1. Lactose intolerance does not mean that you can never drink milk again! The advice of specialists is to start with a small portion of milk to start. Gradually it is good to increase the portion of milk and other dairy products and to monitor your symptoms. That way you will know what your tolerance level is.

2. Drink milk with other foods and never on an empty stomach. Solid food will slow down digestion, and the body will gain more time to digest lactose, which can prevent bloating, stomach pain, etc.
3. Do not avoid eating cheese, because it has a low degree of lactose. Cheddar or Parmesan cheese are low in lactose and can be more easily tolerated by the body, so don't avoid them thinking they will hurt you. Also, look for those products that are helpful, in this case, lactose-free milk. Yogurt and butter are low in lactose and are usually tolerated; also some types of cheese can be eaten by people with lactose intolerance, the more mature it is, the poorer it is in lactose, and yogurts and dairy products fermented from goat's milk. Also try to drink kefir, it does not contain lactose, but it contains probiotics that help your digestive abilities and reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
4. Use alternative sources of calcium: green leafy vegetables, broccoli, hazelnuts, walnuts, small fish (sardines), seafood, sunflower seeds. Foods rich in vitamin D: soy milk, rice, almonds fortified with vitamin D. 

At Remarkt we are waiting for you with a wide range of lactose-free products that come to help you adopt a lifestyle adapted to your needs.