Is it true that … we’re all a little bit intolerant to dairy? | Health & wellbeing

MThe most of us are not intrinsically intolerant intolerant, but we can go through periods when we become more sensitive to lactose in our diet, explains Amanda Avery, associate professor in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Nottingham.

She says that when people speak of being “dairy intolerant”, they generally refer to lactose, sugar found in milk and dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt. In most people, this sugar is broken down by an enzyme called lactase, which is found in our small intestine. It helps our body digest and absorb lactose without causing discomfort. “We were born with a lot of lactase. But as our diet diversifies, our lactase levels decrease, ”explains Avery. “If there is a minimum of milk in the dairy diet, the lactase levels can be zero, so people of certain cultural circles and countries where the dairy contribution is negligible can be intolerant.”

People who do not produce enough lactase can find themselves having gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and loose stools when they consume dairy products. Some people may find that their lactase activity is temporarily reduced when their intestinal function is disturbed by antibiotics or stress. This can lead to “transitional lactose intolerance” – a period when your body fights to digest dairy products even if you were not previously sensitive.

If people cut dairy products and then reintroduce them, they could also feel abdominal symptoms for a short period while their lactase activity is restored, explains Avery. But that does not necessarily mean that you are permanently intolerant. It could be your intestinal enzymes playing the catch -up. “Good practice, even if you think you are slightly intolerant, is to try to keep a little dairy products in your diet – cheese or yogurt should be ok. The cheese has very little lactose, and in yogurt, a large part of lactose is decomposed by the bacteria. Even having a little milk in your tea helps in Avery.

So, is it true that we are all a little intolerant to dairy products? No, but our ability to digest it can certainly fluctuate. For many, it is not a life intolerance but a temporary reaction.