Lactose intolerance

[Lizz612]

Within the past week I have had hot chocolate and a mocha made with cows milk. I can't remember when before that I drank cow's milk. But after both of these drinks I got a very upset stomach (gas I think), and it was no fun. I know that lactose tolerance is something you are supposed to loose after you finish nursing, but it is perpetuated in western culture by drinking cows milk. Is it possible that in the months (maybe longer) since I had cows milk I have lost my lactose tolerance? :shrug:

[Elad]

1. Lactose intolerance means

your body no longer produces the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the sugar in milk (lactose). All mammals naturally stop producing lactase as they get older, but as you said, our culture's high consumption of dairy triggers most of us to continue producing it.

It's not for certain that your reaction was due to indigestion from the lack of lactase. Modern milk is a very unhealthy food and it could just be that your body got used to not having that junk in it, and thus rejected it when you consumed it again. Speaking as someone who consumes very little sugar, when I drink a soda or something, my body reacts very strongly, sending me a clear message that it doesn't want that put in it.

It could be that you were lacking in lactase, though, as well, it's hard to say. While I wouldn't recommend it, you can purchase digestive enzymes that contain lactase if you absolutely must have milk products but are lactose intolerant.

[LeftyMom]

2. It could be that you're just more sensitive to the problem

In retrospect I don't think I ever tolerated dairy well, but it was only after I reduced my intake that I really understood that the bloat and the phlegm and the gas weren't normal.

It could also be that your intestinal flora need to readapt. If you want to drink cows milk you could try introducing a little bit every day or eating some active culture yogurt to help your gut adapt to cow's milk again.

[underseasurveyor]

3. Cows milk is for baby cows

That's what my grandfather always told us. I don't know if this is where he learned this or not but, he graduated medical school in Toronto Canada in the early 1900's. Hospitals there were, and still are known for their A-1 research and break-though medical discoveries. He said that human beings after the age of 2 years were not meant to digest milk from any other animal except that of a human.

As some one who is struggling to remove animal products from her diet, me , when I have a weak moment after doing so well and I cave in to a glass of milk, my gut painfully bloats with gas within a half hour or less. (:looks down: I know grandfather I know :evilfrown: ) Yeah he's burning somewhere but that's for another forum but by paying attention to how my own body reacts, I know he was right about it all those decades ago.

I can still hear his voice echoing in my head about it, "Cows milk is made for baby cows. Human milk is made for baby humans." And he never did have milk/dairy products of any sort in his house that I can remember. He did eat meat though.

[livinginphotographs]

4. My lactose intolerance lasted for about two years.

It seems to come and go. Both my parents would be lactose intolerant for a few years then it would go away. It's weird like that. ;)

I can eat cheese now, but a few years ago, it would've left me sick as hell. That's how I was so ready to become vegan; I'd spent so many years reading ingredients that it wasn't that much of a change for me.