Suffering from a stomach upset after drinking milk is not uncommon and the condition is known as lactose intolerance. The condition stems primarily from an inability of the body to digest a sugar known as lactose that is found in milk as well as dairy products. The chain reaction that occurs under normal circumstances when an individual consumes any substance that contains lactose is that an enzyme known as lactase is broken down into glucose and galactose. This occurs as it allows the body to absorb these fuels much easier. People who are suffering from lactose intolerance, or milk causing a stomach upset, are faced with a situation in which their bodies do not produce enough of the enzyme lactose and leads to this undigested lactose sitting in the gut. When this occurs, there are a number of complications that stem up. For instance, some of the more common symptoms of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating and build up of gas.
Lactose intolerance is known to be more common in certain parts of the world as well as those from a certain heritage such as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and American Indians. Medical studies have also shown that lactase deficiency is likely to be a common problem in infants that were born prematurely. Another factor that has been known to play a rather prominent role in the development of the condition includes age. As a person gets older, the body has a natural tendency to stop producing the lactase enzyme. The primary method of diagnosis of the condition is by taking a look at the patient medical history and the help of a hydrogen breath test. The hydrogen breath test is useful because of the fact that very little hydrogen gas is detectable. However, there is a considerable amount of hydrogen in the breath in the event that the individual is suffering from lactose intolerance. A milk intestinal upset hydrogen test may also be performed. This test would require the person to breathe into a tube every half hour for a period of 2 hours. The hydrogen test will then show the hydrogen amount in the breath going up with every analyzed breath.
First and foremost, the most important stomach pain remedy is to avoid consumption of any dairy foods. You can also approach your doctor and find out if there are any supplements or medicines that can help you deal with the condition. One of the best tips for dealing with an upset stomach after drinking milk is to switch to milk with higher fat content as it is easier for the body to digest. Another option is always to choose to consume lactose free or lactose reduced milk. Your diet plays a very important role in the overall comfort that you live with the condition. For instance, a number of you should make it a point to eat a large variety of different dairy free foods that are also rich in calcium. Some examples of these kinds of foods include broccoli, tofu, soy milk and beans. Sardines are known to be a very effective food choice when dealing with lactose intolerance. This is because sardines are known to be having high calcium content. Despite the fact that yoghurt is high in lactose content, substantial research shows that it is a very good product to incorporate into your regular diet plan when dealing with a number of health issues. This is primarily because of the fact that the good bacterial cultures in the food produce some of the lactase that is needed for proper digestion.
answered by G M