Lactose
We produce an enzyme called lactase as infants to help us digest the lactose in our mothers milk. After weaning this enzyme greatly reduces and in many people stops being produced. We need lactase to digest dairy products and if you are missing this enzyme you are lactose intolerant. Consuming dairy whilst lactose intolerant can lead to many unpleasant symptoms such as flatulence, diarrhoea, bloating, stomach cramps and nausea. There are different degrees of lactose intolerance and some people can consume small amounts of dairy with no problems. Also different dairy products contain different levels of lactose. Work with a nutritional therapist to help guide you through this confusing condition, find out delicious alternatives to dairy, determine how to maintain adequate calcium levels.