You do not feel well after eating or drinking? Let's find out if you are lactose intolerant. If you have eaten dairy products and feel bloated afterwards, we have good news: we can help you.
Complaints After Consuming Dairy Products?
Approximately 36 % of the US population experiences various complaints after consuming milk and dairy products—they are lactose intolerant.
So basically, you're one of 119,484,000 US citizens. Welcome to the community.
Unlike an allergy, food intolerance is not life-threatening (🥳) , but highly uncomfortable for those affected (😕). In some cases, individuals are unaware that they suffer from lactose intolerance.
They attribute their symptoms to stress, nervousness, or suspect other foods. In this article, we will address how lactose intolerance manifests.
Symptoms Of Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is the most well-known and common food intolerance worldwide.
The symptoms of this intolerance can manifest in various ways. After consuming milk and lactose-containing foods, lactose intolerant individuals typically experience the first complaints after 15 to 30 minutes, although it can also take up to two hours for symptoms to appear.
Consumption of milk or lactose-containing foods leads to the formation of gases in the intestines, which usually result in the following complaints:
- Flatulence
- Bloated stomach, feeling of fullness
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea and smelly, soft stools
- Nausea, vomiting
- Bowel sounds
Other symptoms that can occur as a result of lactose intolerance include headaches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, chronic fatigue and muscle pain.
Is Weight Gain also a Symptom?
Weight gain is not a direct symptom of lactose intolerance. Nevertheless, the other symptoms can trigger processes that favour weight gain, for example an unbalanced diet that lacks important nutrients or a lack of exercise due to discomfort after eating.
Looking at one's own dietary history can provide information on whether lactose intolerance is present. For this purpose, those affected should keep a written record of both food intake and digestive symptoms. This can reveal correlations between the consumption of lactose-containing foods and the occurrence of symptoms.
However, since all these symptoms are very nonspecific, they do not necessarily indicate lactose intolerance. Those experiencing the aforementioned symptoms should consult a doctor to determine the underlying cause of their complaints.
