What happens if your lactose intolerant and drink milk

You will then drink a liquid containing lactose. Over the next several hours, the doctor will compare your blood glucose levels to your baseline. A doctor will then measure the amount of hydrogen in your breath. The test looks at the acidity of a stool sample to test for undigested lactose in the form of lactic acid. Symptoms of lactose intolerance usually begin between 30 minutes and 2 hours after consuming dairy.

The symptoms last until the lactose passes through your digestive system, up to about 48 hours later. Being lactose intolerant can make it more difficult to get your daily recommended amount of calcium. You may benefit from incorporating more dairy-less sources of calcium into your diet, such as:. Lactose intolerance is common and can cause a wide range of symptoms.

Here are 5 signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance. A lactose tolerance test measures how well your body can process lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products, using the enzyme lactase.

This article reviews the 8 most common types of food sensitivities and intolerances, their related symptoms and foods to avoid. IBS is a disorder of bowel function whereas lactose intolerance is related to an enzyme needed to digest dairy. You can develop lactose intolerance at any age.

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Military service members and their families have a higher risk of developing mental disorders, such as depression. Symptoms of the most common type of lactose intolerance—adult lactose intolerance—often start during the teen or adult years and continue for life. Symptoms of acquired lactose intolerance last as long as the small intestine does not make lactase.

Symptoms in newborns include severe foamy diarrhea, diaper rash, vomiting, dehydration , weakness and irritability, and slow weight gain.

Lactose intolerance is not the same thing as a food allergy to milk. Symptoms of a milk allergy are usually more severe than those from lactose intolerance. People who have a milk allergy cannot eat or drink any milk products. For more information, see the topic Food Allergies. If you think you might have lactose intolerance, talk it over with your doctor. Your doctor can make sure that your symptoms are caused by lactose intolerance and not by another problem.

Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to those of lactose intolerance, including irritable bowel syndrome , inflammatory bowel disease , overuse of laxatives, and problems digesting foods that contain fructose and sorbitol.

If your doctor thinks you have lactose intolerance, he or she will ask questions about your medical history and do a physical examination. Before making a diagnosis, your doctor may ask that you avoid dairy products for a short time to see if your symptoms improve.

You may also be asked to bring in a sample of your stool. The stool of a person who has lactose intolerance is usually loose or watery.

It also can be foamy. To confirm a diagnosis, your doctor may order a:. If you think you have lactose intolerance, it is a good idea to talk it over with your doctor. Your doctor can make sure that your symptoms are caused by lactose intolerance and not by another problem such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, overuse of laxatives, or problems digesting foods that contain fructose or sorbitol.

Your doctor can also make sure that your lactose intolerance is not related to another health problem. After being diagnosed with lactose intolerance, you may feel relieved to find out what has been causing your symptoms.

You may also feel frustrated by having to deal with this condition for the rest of your life. You may find it reassuring to know that there are many people who have lactose intolerance. Most can avoid discomfort and still eat or drink some milk products throughout the day. There are different ways to live with lactose intolerance. What works for one person may not work for another. Because there is no cure for lactose intolerance, controlling your symptoms is mostly up to you.

The following tips can help you prevent symptoms of lactose intolerance. Limit the amount of milk and milk products in your diet. Most people can have about 10 g of lactose each day. This can be a glass of whole, low-fat, or skim milk, for example. All milk contains the same amount of lactose. Other milk products contain different amounts of lactose:. Foods with less lactose, such as Swiss or cheddar cheese, may not cause problems.

If you are not sure whether a milk product causes symptoms, try a small amount and wait to see how you feel before you eat or drink more. Eat or drink milk and milk products along with other foods. For some people, combining a solid food like cereal with a dairy product like milk may reduce or eliminate symptoms. Spread milk or milk products throughout the day. Many people who are lactose-intolerant find it helpful to eat small amounts of lactose-containing products throughout the day instead of larger amounts all at one time.

Eat or drink milk and milk products that have reduced lactose. In most grocery stores, you can buy milk with reduced lactose. Some people like buying this kind of milk and find that it helps control their symptoms. Others find that it tastes too sweet or is too expensive. People who have diabetes may find that lactose-reduced milk raises their blood sugar levels higher than normal.

Eat or drink other foods instead of milk and milk products. You can substitute soy beverage and soy cheese for milk and milk products. You can also use non-dairy creamers in your coffee.

But keep in mind that non-dairy creamers do not contain the same vitamins and minerals as milk, and they may contain more fat than milk contains. Use lactase products. Lactase products are dietary supplements that help you digest lactose. There are many different brands of lactase products. Some are pills that you chew such as Lactaid before you eat or drink milk products. Others are liquids that you can add to milk 24 hours before you drink it.

Some foods have extra lactase added to them. Because products and brands are different, you may want to try a few to see which ones work best for you.

Eat yogurt with live bacterial cultures. Some people who are lactose-intolerant can eat yogurt without having problems, especially yogurt that contains live cultures. This type of yogurt can help people digest lactose. All yogurts are made with live cultures, but many yogurts go through a process called "heat treatment" that kills the bacteria.

If you want to be sure you are buying yogurt that still contains live cultures, check the label. It will say that it contains live and active cultures. It's best to try a small amount of different brands of yogurt to see which ones work best for you.

If you have severe lactose intolerance, you may need to avoid lactose completely. Some medicines and many prepared foods contain lactose. The older you get, the more likely it is that you could have trouble digesting dairy foods. If you have lactose intolerance, your body will usually start acting up within 2 hours of eating or drinking something that has lactose in it.

Not everyone reacts in the same way — or within the same amount of time — because some people can handle more lactose than others can.

But when your body starts trying to digest the food, you'll begin to feel yucky. If you once got a sick feeling in your stomach after gulping down a glass of milk, that doesn't mean you have lactose intolerance. But if you get an upset stomach every time you drink a milkshake, snack on ice cream, or eat a slice of cheesy pizza, there's a good chance that's what it is. Lactose intolerance can start suddenly — even if you've never had trouble with dairy products or other foods containing lactose.

If you and your parent think you might have lactose intolerance, the next step is to see your doctor. After hearing about your symptoms and doing an exam, your doctor may ask you to stop eating dairy for a period of time. If your symptoms improve on a dairy-free diet, but happen again when you try dairy again, there's a good chance you are lactose intolerant.

The doctor also can test your breath to see if you show signs of lactose intolerance. Thery'll check your breath for hydrogen say: HYE-druh-jun — a gas you cannot see or taste.

When lactose isn't digested, the bacteria that normally live in the large intestine use it and make hydrogen gas. To test the amount of hydrogen, the doctor will have you drink something with lactose in it. You'll blow into a mask or bag to check the hydrogen level in your breath about every 15 minutes during the test. If it's high, you might have lactose intolerance.

If you do have lactose intolerance, your doctor will talk to you about the best ways to treat it and help you feel your best.

You will play a big part in how you feel because it's up to you to watch what you eat. You might want to keep a list of foods that make you feel sick, so you can steer clear of them in the future.

Talking with a dietitian say: dye-uh-TIH-shun — someone who specializes in food and nutrition — could help you decide what to eat and what not to eat.