Top 4 Natural Cures For Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a common type of allergy that affects millions of people all over the world and can strike at any age. Lactose intolerance is the body’s inability to absorb lactose, the sugar found naturally in various dairy products like cheese, milk etc.  Normally lactose is digested in the body by an enzyme known as lactase and the body then uses it for producing energy.You develop lactose intolerance when you have insufficient lactase for breaking down lactose. Symptoms of lactose intolerance could be abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea and flu like symptoms. If you are suffering from lactose intolerance, here are some natural ways to treat this condition.

Natural Cures For Lactose Intolerance

Avoid Or Eat Very Few Dairy Products

If you have developed lactose intolerance, reduce your intake of dairy products. Since dairy products are the best source of calcium, you might think that you will develop calcium deficiency by giving up dairy products, but this is not true.You can get calcium from many other food sources like broccoli, salmon, oranges, spinach, pinto beans, fortified juices and breads and other milk substitutes like  soy milk, rice milk etc. If you are completely avoiding milk, then make sure you are getting sufficient vitamin D from foods like eggs, yogurt and liver. Also expose your body for few minutes to the sun in the morning.

Choose Dairy Products Carefully

It may not be necessary for you to completely discard dairy product from your diet. But you have to be cautious while choosing dairy products. You may digest some milk products like low-fat or skimmed milk. Increase your tolerance by gradually introducing them one by one to your diet. To increase your tolerance, try these methods.

•    Opt for smaller servings. You may be able to digest smaller servings of dairy and they may not cause gastrointestinal problems.

•    Drink milk or eat other dairy products along with food. This may aid in digestive process and increase your tolerance.

•    Choose dairy product with small amount of lactose like hard cheese (Swiss or cheddar).  They contain small amount of lactose and usually do not cause lactose intolerance. There are many lactose free or lactose reduced products available in the market. You have to experiment with various products. Watch out the labels before buying any product.

Eat Yogurt

Though yogurt is high in lactose, yet many people with lactose intolerance do not get any symptoms because yogurt is high in probiotics.Eating Yogurt containing live active bacteria releases the enzyme known as beta-galactosidase, similar to lactose, into the intestine that enhances lactose digestion by producing enzymes that are required for digesting it. Yogurt is also an excellent source of calcium.

Lactase Supplements

To digest lactose containing foods, lactose supplements with added enzymes like lactaid are available in drugstore in chewable, powdered, drops or tablet form.  It helps to breakdown lactose and help to digest dairy products.If certain types of supplement don’t work for you, try other brands. For some people, adding powdered enzyme to milk helps to digest it.

Probiotics

Probiotics are living organisms naturally present in the intestine that aid in digestion.  Probiotics supplements available in the market can help to treat lactose intolerance by soothing gastrointestinal tract and helping your body digest lactose.Watch out for hidden lactose while purchasing prepared foods like cereals, instant soups, baking mixes etc. as milk or lactose are often added while preparing these foods. Check the ingredient list while purchasing them.