This results in more lactose being fermented in the colon, which further increases flatulence 2. The amount of gas produced can differ enormously from person to person due to differences in the efficiency of the microflora, as well as the rate of gas reabsorption by the colon 2. Interestingly, gases produced from lactose fermentation have no odor. In fact, the odor of flatulence comes from the breakdown of proteins in the gut, not carbohydrates 2.
The fermentation of lactose in the colon can lead to increased flatulence, and the extent to which this occurs can vary significantly from person to person. The gas produced from the fermentation of lactose is odorless. Constipation is characterized by hard, infrequent stools, feelings of incomplete bowel movements, stomach discomfort, bloating and excessive straining 9.
As bacteria in the colon ferment undigested lactose, they produce methane gas. Methane is thought to slow down the time it takes food to move through the gut, leading to constipation in some people 1. Thus far, the constipating effects of methane have only been studied in people with irritable bowel syndrome and bacterial overgrowth. Therefore, constipation is not commonly associated with lactose intolerance, though it has been reported as a symptom 1 , 10 , 11 , While the primary recognized symptoms of lactose intolerance are gastrointestinal in nature, some case studies have reported other symptoms, including 4 , 13 , 14 :.
However, these symptoms have not been established as true symptoms of lactose intolerance and may have other causes 8 , Additionally, some people with a milk allergy may mistakenly attribute their symptoms to lactose intolerance.
However, they do commonly occur together, which can make it harder to identify the causes of symptoms Symptoms of a milk allergy include 16 :. Unlike lactose intolerance, a milk allergy can be life threatening, so it is important to get an accurate diagnosis of symptoms, particularly in children.
Because the symptoms of lactose intolerance are rather general, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis before removing dairy from your diet Health care providers often diagnose lactose intolerance using the hydrogen breath test.
This involves ingesting 1. Lactose intolerance is defined by the presence of reported symptoms, and that depends on how sensitive a person is to the effects of malabsorption, as well as the amount of lactose in their diet 2.
Treatment of lactose intolerance usually involves restriction or avoidance of high-lactose foods such as milk, cheese spread, cream and ice cream 8. This is equivalent to 0. Additionally, people often tolerate fermented milk products such as cheese and yogurt better, so these foods may help people meet their calcium needs without causing symptoms 1 , 2. The most common symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea and vomiting.
There have been reports of other symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue and eczema, but these are rarer and not well established. Sometimes people mistakenly attribute symptoms of a milk allergy, such as eczema, to lactose intolerance. If you have symptoms of lactose intolerance, a hydrogen breath test may help determine whether you have lactose malabsorption or your symptoms are caused by something else. Treatment involves reducing or removing sources of lactose from your diet, including milk, cream and ice cream.
However, many people with lactose intolerance can drink up to 1 cup ml of milk without experiencing symptoms. People with lactose intolerance are unable to digest lactose, the main carbohydrate in milk. This can cause various digestive symptoms. A lactose tolerance test measures how well your body can process lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products, using the enzyme lactase. Lactose-intolerant people don't have to avoid all dairy products. These 6 dairy foods have low levels of lactose and are usually well-tolerated.
Basically, if you stop exposing your gut to lactose, it's going to make less and less lactase. Also, since dairy is a major food group, cutting it out entirely means you'd lower your intake of several important nutrients, like calcium.
The best way to determine if dairy is causing your bloating is to play human guinea pig. Rumsey recommends cutting way back on dairy for a week or two and seeing if your bloating goes away. If it does, you can slowly start to add some small amounts of dairy back into your diet, starting with low-lactose products, like yogurt and hard cheese. If your symptoms return, you know your threshold for dairy.
They should be able to steer you in the right direction, give you a breath test to determine if you are, in fact, lactose intolerant, and walk you through a full-on dairy elimination diet if that's the right choice for you. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Once I realized what living life without bloating was like, it was pretty easy to say goodbye to my cheese habit. These days, I try to keep my dairy consumption to a minimum although the occasional pizza night still happens , and whenever I feel that familiar rumbling, I no longer get frustrated.
I just take my trusty Gas-X and make a note of what I ate so I can make sure to either avoid the food next time, or at least eat much less of it. Is my diet perfect? No way! But figuring out one of my main gas and bloating triggers helped me feel more empowered — and much more comfortable in my jeans.
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