Lactose Intolerance in Kids and Adults | Diet for Lactose Intolerant

Lactose Intolerance is a disease in which our body is incapable of digesting lactose (a sugar found in milk), thus causing pain in stomach after consuming milk. Here betterhealthfacts.com will bring the complete information about this medical condition. The best way to fight with Lactose Intolerance is to have complete knowledge about it and having proper diet that doesn't hurt you.

What is Lactose Intolerance ?

Our body have different enzymes in different parts of digestive tract to digest different items in our food. One such engyme is "Lactase", which digests lactose. Lactose is a sugar and lactase breaks it down into glucose and galactose, which are absorbed into our blood stream. If it remains undigested in small intestine, then bacteria in large intestine try to break it down and releases hydrogen as a byproduct. This hydrogen causes pain in our stomach region and the patient feels cramps in his/her stomach.

Types of Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance is of three types. Before we tell you these types, its necessary to know the lactase engyme. In a normal person lactase levels are high at the time of birth, as we need it to digest the milk. Milk is the primary source of nutrition for infants and lactase helps in digesting it. As we grow, we start to eat other food items as well and the lactase level gradually deceases, but it remains sufficient to digest normal input of milk. Now we can tell you the types of Lactose Intolerance.

• Primary Lactose Intolerance: Its the most common type of Lactose Intolerance. In this type a person is born with sufficient levels of lactase, but its level decreases at a rapid rate and by the time the person reaches adulthood, he/she becomes Lactose Intolerant.
• Secondary Lactose Intolerance: Sometime as a side effect of some illness, injury or surgery of intestine, the lactase production decreases heavily and the person develops the symptoms of lactase intolerance. It can be treated by treating the primary illness or injury, but it takes time to recover and rise lactase level.
• Congenital Lactose Intolerance: Its the worst and least found lactose intolerance. When a child is born with lactose intolerance then its Congenital Lactose Intolerance. Its a genetic disorder and such genes come from both father and mother.

Risk Factors for Lactose Intolerance

• Genes play the most important role. It may come from any of the parents.
• Increasing age is the second factor. As we age the production of lactase decreases gradually.
• Injury or Illness of Intestine can decrease the lactase production.
• Premature birth can also cause Lactose Intolerance as Small Intestine develops in the the third trimester. 

Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

• Watery Stools with pain in abdominal region
• Some kids and adults may feel just uncomfort or pain in abdominal region after a lactose-rich diet.
• Some occasional symptoms are muscle pain, headache and constipation

Diet for Lactose Intolerant Infact / Kid

In case of an Infant being Lactose Intolerant, the situation becomes more sensitive as infants either depend on breastfeed milk or formula milk. There are some lactose free formula milk such as Karicare Delact, Nan sensitive and S26 LF (Lacose Free). But if you are giving breastfeed to your baby then its better to consult your doctor or dietitian as this milk is rich in lactose.

Diet for Lactose Intolerant Adult

• If you are an adult than you may learn to live a lactose free life. Depending on you Lactose Intolerance level, you may choose a low lactose diet. 
• If you don't want to remove milk from your diet then lactose-free milk is also available. Lactose free yoghurts and custards are available.
• Before buying a packed food item, check its ingredients. Avoid those food item that contain milk, milk solids, non fat milk solids, milk powder, lactose, casein, whey and cream.
• Avoid regular milk, milk desserts, yoghurt, cream cheese, ice-cream, cream, custard, processed cheese, cheese spread, ricotta cheese and cottage cheese.
• To overcome the deficiency of milk, start eating food products that are rich in calcium and iron.
• Fruits, vegetables, bread and cereals are also good source of nutrition.
• Some other food items may also contain lactose such as biscuits, cakes, cake mixes, creamed soups, mayonnaise, milk chocolate, and milk flavourings. So be aware of that.
• Some doctors also recommend lactase engyme drops that can used to pre-treat the milk or other milk products before you eat or drink them.