Dealing with lactose intolerance

LACTOSE intolerance, the inability to digest milk sugar, affects 75 percent of African-Americans, causing abdominal pain, bloating and gas. The problems associated with lactose intolerance appear when the body doesn't produce lactase, the enzyme that helps the body absorb lactose. An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from this hereditary condition that also causes nausea, cramps and diarrhea after drinking milk or eating foods that contain milk.

If you think you might be lactose intolerant, see your doctor! Serious conditions like Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, an infection of the small intestine and food poisoning have similar symptoms to lactose intolerance. Doctors can perform a hydrogen breath test, which measures the amount of hydrogen produced by undigested lactose in the colon, to confirm lactose intolerance.

Doctors say there is no cure for lactose intolerance, but it can be managed with proper diet. The severity of the condition varies from person to person; some people can ingest small amounts of lactose in yogurt or cheese, while others cannot tolerate any amount of lactose. Always check food labels for terms like whey, curds and milk by-products, which are hidden forms of lactose. Medical experts say lactose can also be found in 20 percent of prescription drugs and 6 percent of over-the-counter medications, especially birth control pills and antacids.

In addition to the discomfort associated with lactose intolerance, there's an even bigger problem. According to the National Medical Association, 89 percent of African-Americans are not consuming enough calcium because they are trying to avoid calcium-rich products that may include lactose. But having to deal with lactose intolerance is no excuse for not getting enough calcium in your diet. There are many lactose-flee products, including lactose-free milk.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Johnson Publishing Co.
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