Lactose intolerance is a term that’s used to describe an inability to digest lactose in dairy based products. Lactose intolerance is typically caused by a deficiency of lactase, which is an enzyme in our body. Due to the body’s inability to fully digest lactose, consumption of it can cause several symptoms such as bloating and gas.

In this post we take a look at the symptoms of lactose intolerance and the reasons why they manifest themselves in people who are lactose intolerant:

1. Diarrhea

This term is defined as being an increase in stool frequency. For someone to be diagnosed with this symptom they have to pass at least 200 grams of stool within a 24 hour period. Lactose intolerance can cause diarrhea due to increases in the amount of water that’s in the colon which leads to an increase in liquid content in the stool. Generally, in order for someone to experience this symptom in regards to being lactose intolerant, they have to consume the equivalent of 3-4 cups of milk.

2. Nausea

As mentioned above, people with lactose intolerant cannot break down lactose in their body. As such, when they consume something that has lactose in it, the body will try to reject it. As a result of this, the patient may feel nauseous. People typically start to feel nauseous anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours of consuming milk or other dairy products. These symptoms are usually the first symptom patients experience when they have consumed an item which is rich in lactose.

3. Vomiting

For more severe cases of consuming an abundance of lactose, the body may attempt to force it back out before it has a chance to get passed to the colon. Nausea and vomiting usually occurs in babies and small children who are unaware of their condition as adults patients tend to avoid the consumption of dairy products in excess. One of the things patients can do to minimize this symptom is to drink clear fluids to help the stomach go back to its healthy state.

4. Stomach cramps and bloating

Two of the most common symptoms of this condition is stomach pain and a feeling of being bloated. When our bodies are not able to break down lactose, it gets passed through our stomach until it reaches our colon. Unfortunately, carbohydrates like lactose are not absorbed by the cells in our colon. Instead, it gets fermented and broken down by naturally occurring bacteria that go by the name of microflora. This fermentation process leads to the release of methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The end result of an increase of gases and acids that eventually leads to abdominal pain and a feeling of being bloated.

5. Gas

People become lactose intolerant as a result of the fact that their bodies can’t break down lactose. The reason why their bodies aren’t able to do this varies. In some situations they may have a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestines which causes them to be sensitive to lactose. In a situation like this, when patients consume lactose, the overgrowth of bacteria tries to break down lactose and releases an abundance of various gases. This can lead to flatulence.