If you have lactose intolerance, your symptoms may include:
- Bloating.
- Pain or cramps in the lower belly.
- Gurgling or rumbling sounds in the lower belly.
- Gas.
- Loose stools or diarrhea. Sometimes the stools are foamy.
- Throwing up.
What are the 4 types of lactose intolerance?
Types of lactose intolerance
- Primary lactose intolerance (normal result of aging) This is the most common type of lactose intolerance. …
- Secondary lactose intolerance (due to illness or injury) …
- Congenital or developmental lactose intolerance (being born with the condition) …
- Developmental lactose intolerance.
How do you fix lactose intolerance?
Treatment
- Limit milk and other dairy products.
- Include small servings of dairy products in your regular meals.
- Eat and drink lactose-reduced ice cream and milk.
- Add a liquid or powder lactase enzyme to milk to break down the lactose.
Can I eat eggs if I m lactose intolerant?
If you’re lactose intolerant, it is perfectly safe to eat eggs. Lactose intolerance is a digestive condition in which your body cannot digest lactose, the main sugar in milk and dairy products. It’s estimated that about 75% of adults worldwide cannot digest lactose ( 3 ).
What is the main cause of lactose intolerance?
Primary lactase deficiency is the most common cause of lactose intolerance worldwide. This type of lactase deficiency is caused by an inherited genetic fault that runs in families. Primary lactase deficiency develops when your lactase production decreases as your diet becomes less reliant on milk and dairy products. What does lactose intolerance poop look like?
Without lactase, the body can’t properly digest food that has lactose in it. This means that if you eat dairy foods, the lactose from these foods will pass into your intestine, which can lead to gas, cramps, a bloated feeling, and diarrhea (say: dye-uh-REE-uh), which is loose, watery poop.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
Why does milk upset my stomach but not cheese?
You cannot digest lactose because you do not have enough lactase enzyme. The small intestine needs lactase enzyme to break down lactose. If lactose is not digested, it can cause gas and stomach cramps.
What foods to avoid if you are lactose intolerant?
Do not eat or drink the following dairy foods because they contain lactose.
- Some cheeses – generally aged cheese contains less lactose, soft and processed cheeses contain higher levels of lactose.
- Buttermilk.
- Cheese spreads and cheese foods.
- Cottage and ricotta cheese.
- Cream.
- Evaporated & condensed milk.
- Hot chocolate mixes.
Why does only milk hurt my stomach?
Too little of an enzyme produced in your small intestine (lactase) is usually responsible for lactose intolerance. You can have low levels of lactase and still be able to digest milk products. But if your levels are too low you become lactose intolerant, leading to symptoms after you eat or drink dairy.
What food contains lactose?
Foods that contain lactose in small quantities include:
- Bread and baked goods.
- Milk chocolate and some candies.
- Salad dressings and sauces.
- Breakfast cereals and cereal bars.
- Instant potatoes, soups, rice and noodle mixes.
- Lunch meats (other than kosher).
- Cheese flavored crackers and other snacks.
How do you calm a lactose stomach?
What to do if you’re lactose intolerant and you eat dairy?
Take a lactase enzyme supplement (such as Lactaid) just before you eat dairy products. These can be taken in drops or tablets and even added directly to milk. When you do drink milk or eat lactose-containing foods, eat other non-lactose foods at the same meal to slow digestion and avoid problems.
Can lactose intolerance affect weight?
Lactose intolerance is a real issue for many people and its degree of severity varies case by case. It can adversely affect your gut and produce symptoms of discomfort, but it is unlikely to be the cause of weight gain.
Does almond milk have lactose?
Almond milk does not contain lactose, since it is not an animal product. As a result, it’s the perfect substitute for people with lactose intolerance. Almond milk can be used in any recipe that calls for animal milk. Compared to animal milk, unsweetened almond milk is low in sugars and carbohydrates.
Does peanut butter have lactose?
Despite the name, peanut butter does not contain any dairy butter. Also, peanuts, being nondairy products, don’t contain any lactose themselves. Most natural peanut butter is safe to eat if you’re lactose-intolerant.
Is Mayo a lactose?
That means if you have a dairy allergy or lactose intolerance, it’s safe to eat eggs, as well as mayonnaise, because they don’t contain any lactose.
Is it bad to drink milk if you are lactose intolerant?
You read it right! Folks with lactose intolerance should be drinking milk. But let’s not stop there – cheese and yogurt should be on the menu, too. Recent research found that folks with lactose intolerance can tolerate up to 1 cup of milk in one sitting.
Can you eat yogurt if you are lactose intolerant?
In addition to some kinds of cheeses, some people with lactose intolerance may be able to eat yogurt in moderation, as the lactose has been partly broken down. While milk chocolate contains less lactose than milk or cream, it still contains dairy in high amounts.
Can a virus cause lactose intolerance?
Rotavirus and Giardia are two common organisms that cause damage to the surface of the small intestine resulting in temporary lactose intolerance. Older infants and young children will commonly be infected by a rotavirus.
Can a lactose intolerance go away?
There’s no cure for lactose intolerance, but most people are able to control their symptoms by making changes to their diet. Some cases of lactose intolerance, such as those caused by gastroenteritis, are only temporary and will improve within a few days or weeks.
Is it possible to become lactose intolerant as you get older?
It’s fairly common to notice the signs of lactose intolerance appear as you get older, says Christine Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “This enzyme production can decrease over time in some people, so most people can experience some degree of lactose intolerance as they get older,” Lee says.
How can you test for lactose intolerance at home?
Stool Acidity Test he Home Do-It-Yourself Test – Since lactose intolerance is not a serious disorder, some people may want to test themselves at home. First, avoid milk and lactose-containing foods for several days. Then on a free morning, such as a Saturday, drink two large glasses of skim or low-fat milk (14-16 oz).
What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance in adults?
The most common symptoms of lactose intolerance are belly cramps and pain, nausea, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. There is no treatment that can help your body make more lactase. You can manage your symptoms by changing your diet. Or you can take enzyme supplements when you eat or drink foods that have lactose.
Why can I eat ice cream but not milk?
Ice cream and milk have the most lactose. Ice cream also has a high-fat content, which may allow you to enjoy it without symptoms. Eating cultured milk products may also result in no symptoms because the bacteria used to culture it produces the enzyme that breaks down lactose.
What can I eat if I am lactose intolerant?
Calcium and Vitamin D
- fish with soft bones, such as canned salmon or sardines.
- broccoli and leafy green vegetables.
- oranges.
- almonds, Brazil nuts, and dried beans.
- tofu.
- products with labels that show they have added calcium, such as some cereals, fruit juices, and soy milk.

Graduated from ENSAT (national agronomic school of Toulouse) in plant sciences in 2018, I pursued a CIFRE doctorate under contract with Sun’Agri and INRAE in Avignon between 2019 and 2022. My thesis aimed to study dynamic agrivoltaic systems, in my case in arboriculture. I love to write and share science related Stuff Here on my Website. I am currently continuing at Sun’Agri as an R&D engineer.