Lactose Intolerance - Symptoms Including Bloating

Lactose intolerance - Symptoms

Inflammation can be a symptom of lactose intolerance but there are usually additional symptoms that may not always come with other types of food intolerance. Common symptoms include:

• Pain or spasm in stomach


• Gurgling or shaking of the abdomen


• Excess gas / wind


• Loose stools or diarrhea


• Sometimes poop is foaming


• Vomit

Symptoms of lactose intolerance may be mild or severe depending on how much lactation your body makes. Symptoms usually appear within 2 hours after taking milk or milk products.

Lactose intolerance - Diagnosis

The two most common tests your doctor may recommend are:

• Hydrogen breath test. This is a simple test that involves drinking fluids containing lactose and then breathing into the machine several times over a few hours. The level of hydrogen in your breath is measured, and if it is too high it will show lactose intolerance. You need to refrain from certain foods, drugs and cigarettes for a period of time before the test is run.


• Lactose tolerance test. You can also offer a blood test. This is done after drinking fluids containing lactose. Your blood will be tested every 30 minutes within 2 hours. Again you are expected to refrain from certain foods, drugs and cigarettes for a period of time before the test.

Lactose Intolerance - Treatment

If you are diagnosed as lactose intolerant, you need to adjust to your eating and drinking habits to control your symptoms. The level of sensitivity varies from person to person, so finding your own level of tolerance is key to maintaining a healthy diet and controlling your symptoms. The most obvious first step to take is Limit the amount of milk and milk products in your diet. Unfortunately, this doesn't just mean reducing the amount of milk you drink. Unfortunately milk / milk products are present in many everyday foods. If your intolerance is severe, you may need to make profound changes to your diet. However, it is thought that most people can have about 10 - 12g of lactose daily without experiencing any adverse effects. This may be, for example, in the form of 200ml / 7oz milk, either full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free. Keep in mind that all milk contains the same amount of lactose regardless of fat content.

Working with your own level of intolerance can take time and patience, you need to adhere to a limited diet for a few days until the symptoms subsist before reintroducing the type of milk product. Some people with lactose intolerance have found that by mixing solid foods (such as cereals) with milk, they can reduce or eliminate symptoms. It is also useful for spreading the consumption of dairy products throughout the day from one sitting.

Now free lactose products are widely available from most grocery stores. It may be sufficient to control your symptoms by replacing your normal milk product with this lactose alternative. Soy products and non-dairy creams are another option.

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