Dairy Drama:What is Lactose Intolerance?

“Often we hide what we are ashamed of, or embarassed to admit.” -LactoseFreeFoodBaby

Introduction

Hi! I’m Lactosefreefoodbaby! I specialize in lactose intolerant products, reviews, restaurants, recipes and more! I am passionate about food, mental health, and travelling. The purpose of this article is to educate briefly about lactose intolerance, and my journey!

What is Lactose Intolerance?

I am sure you can google lactose intolerance but, I am here to break down the easiest way to understand it. As infants we are born with the innate ability to digest milk. This is because of the interexchange of lactose and lactase.

Lactose is a sugar in milk. Lactase is an enzyme that aids in breaking down lactose. Without enough lactase this can cause symptoms of lactose intolerance: bloating, nausea, diarrhea etc.

So when someone says they are lactose intolerance it really just simply means they cannot consume dairy due to the decreases of lactase production. There are many causes, and types.

Types of Lactose Intolerance:

1. Primary lactose deficiency: As we age the production of lactase decreases gradually. S0me children may not experience symptoms until adulthood.
2. Secondary lactose deficiency: This if often due to injury or illness To the small intestines. Intestinal diseases can include, not limited to: inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a surgery, and celiac disease.
3. Developmental or congenital deficiency: Developmental occurs when a premature baby is unable to produce lactase until 34 weeks. Congenital lactose intolerance is rare but, is the result of the absence of lactase due to a defective gene.

For a more scientific explanation I will provide links below, at the end of the page I will write a more in depth explanation later on.

How does this effect people?

It’s simple, the dairy drama is: those who are lactose intolerant each have a certain or unique tolerance. It is not an allergy. People who are lactose intolerant can consume dairy but are limited!

With the aid of lactase enzymes some or most can consume dairy!

Why did I start this blog about lactose intolerance?

During the coronavirus pandemic, I decided to make a blog, where I knew nobody, mysterious and new to social media I made my first post originally just posting food.

Then I asked myself, every lactose intolerant individual gets asked:

“Are you really lactose intolerant if you consume dairy?”

This inspired my blog. Often we hide what we are ashamed of. But why be ashamed and suffer? If dairy makes you bloat, swells your belly, gives you nausea or diarrhea we shouldn’t be limited to eating only “vegan” at restaurants (don’t get me wrong I love vegan food).

The options at restaurants are limited.Unless you like carrying your lactase pills on the go or drops. Most people don’t like consuming pills when they are at restaurant, and would rather suffer, because they are too embarrassed.

So I asked myself, why not break the stigma or embarrassment and post lactose intolerant foods, recipes, and education?

3 Commons Myths of Lactose Intolerance

1. “Lactose intolerance is an allergy.”

FALSE. If google “lactose intolerance is an allergy” all over the internet universities, research papers will tell you it is NOT. An Allergy is simply a response your immune systems takes to a specific food. An allergy can be life threatening, lactose intolerance is not. Lactose intolerance involves the lack of the enzyme lactase. It is simply a digestive problem.

2. You cannot consume dairy.

FALSE. Each person is unique. Each person has a different tolerance to dairy, some invideal’ s can consume more or less depending on their tolerance.

3. Lactose intolerance individuals can only consume lactose free products that are vegan.

FALSE. There is a misconception those who are lactose intolerance can only eat dairy free. Lactose free simply means there is no lactose in it. The words “dairy free” and “lactose free” are often acted on being interchangeable but, should not. There is lactose free milk from a cow. In comparison dairy free would be a plant based product such as oat milk.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Tik Tok and Youtube: Lactosefreefoodbaby

Next Post: 7 Tips to Tolerate Dairy!

Further Reading:

Seithi, S., & Cafasso J. (2 August 2019). Healthline. Everything You Need to Know About Lactose Intolerance.https://www.healthline.com/health/lactose-intolerance#types

Disclaimer: This is no way providing medical advice. This is for general information. Please consult your physical or healthcare provider for medical concerns.