care of the alphabet: lactose intolerance

It is time again for an entry in my care alphabet. So slowly but surely it is growing and is complemented by a broad variety of topics in the area of health and care. Today, it is an issue that is also a good friend of mine plagues: lactose intolerance.

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is a widespread Problem and one of the most common food intolerances. Who is not affected directly, certainly knows – just like me – from the friend or someone of the milk and all dairy products to avoid, because he tolerates you, because he is “lactose intolerant”. Lactose intolerance refers to the inability of many humans to digest the milk sugar properly. Milk sugar, is the German expression for lactose consists of two sugar molecules: galactose and glucose. So that the intestine can absorb the sugar molecules need to be broken down this.

This splitting can happen the enzyme lactase ensures that you are not lactose intolerant people. It cleaves the sugar molecules in the small intestine. People with lactose intolerance lack this enzyme. Accordingly, the present in milk sugar molecules will not be broken down to the small intestine, but arrive intact in the large intestine. The living in the large intestine bacteria decompose the milk sugar. The decomposition processes of gases for various ailments such as stomach ache and diarrhoea in the affected people. After drinking cow’s milk but also sheep’s milk or goat’s milk products can set the affected persons in addition to the direct complaints of the gastro-intestinal tract, for example, General complaints such as dizziness or headache.

How is lactose intolerance?

The lack of lactase that leads to lactose intolerance, is due, in many cases, genetically passed on. However, due to various diseases can be triggered in a person who had no problems with milk and a lactose intolerance. With increasing age, the symptoms in lactose-intolerant individuals are often worse, because the existing lactase loses its functionality. So it happens that even in the case of a genetically lactose-intolerance-related complaints often first appear in adulthood.

In the diagnosis of a breath test is used. A blood test, the diagnosis is feasible. Most of the affected people but without medical help clear that lactose intolerance is because the symptoms are relatively clear. Further diagnosis options, the theme special on juvalis.de reveals.

So you can not be impair

A worry-free life is also possible if you have a lactose intolerance was diagnosed. Basically, foods that trigger intolerance should be avoided. The extent to which lactose is well tolerated, can be individually. The A tolerates no milk products, the other can tolerate, maybe cheese, but no cottage cheese. The foods that are not tolerated, are fully deleted from your diet. This can affect not only milk itself, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, and Co, but also a whole range of foods, including milk. In food, you will not connect with milk contain lactose, for example, in sausages.

Fortunately, nowadays there are however, many foods aimed at people with lactose intolerance and you live a normal life. Of milk Puddings and yogurt without lactose to cream and similar products. Soy products such as soy milk or Tofu can be quite helpful, and the kitchen in a healthy way Supplement.

Photos: Benjamin Thorn & Ursula Kröll / pixelio.de