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Question
19 Sep 2009
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Lactose Intolerant??
doc, how do i knwo if im lactose intolerant. lately when i take a dairy product especially milk(on its own) or have a chocolate (plain)my stomach gets bloated. i noticed this as well when i used to drink coffee now i only drink black rooibos tea. and i have no caffeine.Suprisingly when i eat youghurt with Live cultures i dont get the same reaction so i am quite baffled. Coudl there be something else causing this?
DietDoc
Dear Lindiwe
The best way to find out if you are lactose intolerant is to ask your gp to send you for the relevant tests, otherwise you may cut out all dairy foods for nothing and end up with a calcium deficiency. From what you say it seems likely that you are lactose intolerant if you react to drinking milk. The possible reason why you don't react when you eat yoghurt is that the lactose in milk is digested and more or less "removed' by the fermentation process that is used to produce yoghurt. So may individuals who suffer from lactose intolerance can still use moderate amount of yoghurt.
Best regards
DietDoc
The best way to find out if you are lactose intolerant is to ask your gp to send you for the relevant tests, otherwise you may cut out all dairy foods for nothing and end up with a calcium deficiency. From what you say it seems likely that you are lactose intolerant if you react to drinking milk. The possible reason why you don't react when you eat yoghurt is that the lactose in milk is digested and more or less "removed' by the fermentation process that is used to produce yoghurt. So may individuals who suffer from lactose intolerance can still use moderate amount of yoghurt.
Best regards
DietDoc
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