Lactose: everything you need to know to digest it better

Everything you need to know about lactose: complete guide

Lactosethis sugar naturally present in milkIt still raises a lot of questions: "What is it?", "Why is it sometimes difficult to digest?", "What are the symptoms? This guide provides clear, educational answers, without jargon or medical promises. The key: better understanding for better action.

What is the lactose ?

Lactose is the sugar in milkLactose is found in all foods, whether breast milk or animal milk (cow's milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk, etc.). Lactose is formed from the combination of 2 "simple" sugars (glucose and galactose). Lactose cannot be assimilated directly by the intestine. It's an enzyme, lactasewhich is the only one capable of transforming compound sugar into simple sugars.

Some people do not produce enough lactase in their intestine. Lactose is therefore incompletely or not at all digested, the lactose remains in the intestine where it tends to retain water and ferment. This results in intestinal pain, diarrhoea and bloating, which are typical symptoms of lactose intolerance.

But milk and dairy products are so present in our diet, often in a hidden way, that it is sometimes difficult to make the link between such symptoms and milk consumption. It is also often used as a preservative, for example in cold cuts. Lactose is also present in 21% of medicines as an excipient.

What is lactose used for?

Lactose is a carbohydrate, so it has nutritional and energy benefits by providing calories to our body.

In addition, lactose and other milk sugars are beneficial for the growth of certain (good) bacteria in the intestine. They are also involved in the fight against the ageing of certain immune functions.

Why do people become lactose intolerant?

From childhood, many people naturally produce less lactase. For some, the reduction is sufficient: the undigested lactose rises lower in the intestine.

• If the quantity ingested exceeds the digestion capacity, fermentation and water retention cause typical symptoms Wikipedia+1Lactolerance.com+1.

• An intolerance varies depending on origin, genetics and the amount of lactose consumed

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?

After consuming foods containing lactose such as dairy products, cold meats or certain prepared foods, you may experience the following common symptoms:

• Bloating gas caused by the fermentation of undigested lactose
• Abdominal cramps digestive tension and contractions linked to the accumulation of fluid and air
• Flatulence and gurgling : noises and gases produced by the intestinal microbiota
• Diarrhoea or constipation Stool imbalance: retained water or slowed transit cause stool imbalance
• Nausea, fatigue (rarer) : overall feeling of discomfort after lactose-rich meals

Not to be confused with allergy to cow's milk protein (ALPV)!

This is often misunderstood:

• Intolerance is a digestive problems due to an enzyme deficiency (a lack of lactase)

• Allergies involve the immune system, with symptoms of potentially serious (breathing difficulties, skin reactions).
  It is therefore necessary to clarify this point to the public

👉 Click here to find out more 

Nos conseils pratiques pour gérer le lactose

1. Repérer les sources cachées : charcuteries, sauces, médicaments… le lactose se cache partout ! 

2. Tester son seuil personnel de tolérance au lactose : noter les portions et réactions. 👉​  Besoin d’aide ? Essayer notre diagnostic ! 

3. Utiliser un complément lactase : pris au début du repas, il aide à digérer le lactose. C’est la spécialité de LACTOLERANCE ! 👉 Cliquez ici pour découvrir nos compléments !

4. Choisir des alternatives : laits et lactose-free yoghurts ou végétaux.

In a nutshell

Lactose is a universal milk sugar (present in all mammals), digested thanks to lactase.

In adults, a drop in this enzyme leads to frequent and variable intolerance. The symptoms (bloating, cramps, etc.) are annoying, but not dangerous. Understanding how the enzyme works, identifying its limits and acting methodically will help you live better with your diet on a daily basis.

Vincent

Hello, I'm Vincent
Like you, I'm lactose intolerantI know exactly what you're going through and the difficulties you encounter on a daily basis. For over 10 years, I've been helping our customers to use our dietary supplements and giving advice and tips on how to improve their digestive comfort. I'm also a keen cook and gourmet, so you'll find my favourite recipes for a lactose-free diet in this blog.

Lactose intolerance is not inevitable! With LACTOLERANCE you can digest with complete peace of mind