What is lactose intolerance?
What it is?
Lactose intolerance is a digestive problem where the body lacks the enzyme to digest lactose, a type of sugar mainly found in dairy products. It’s different to a milk or dairy allergy, which is an immune response to the proteins found in dairy products.
Common symptoms
Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and excessive flatulence.
How to get tested?
First, talk to your GP who may recommend a hydrogen breath test or offer a referral to an accredited practising dietitian to trial an elimination diet.
How to manage it?
The good news is that people with lactose intolerance can usually tolerate a certain amount of lactose a day, so there’s no need to go completely dairy free. Some probiotic yoghurts and many hard cheeses are tolerated well and are a great source of calcium. There are also some lactose-free milk varieties available if you don’t like the taste of calcium-fortified alternatives such as soy milk.