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phosadaud -> RE: Can you become lactose intolerant at any age? (8/25/2008 11:53:38 PM)
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For the vast majority of folks, you develop it as you get older. It is very unusual to be born that way. It's actually the "norm" not the exception for most of the world. Believe it or not - it's actually a genetic mutation to NOT be lactose intolerant as an adult! This is true in the animal kingdom as well - it's why you shouldn't give milk to adult cats.
The good news is my favorite thing in life: LACTAID!!!! Thank you Jesus for Lactaid! Here is a link to their website - which also has a lot of good info on lactose intolerance. [:D]
Lactaid (and the generic versions) is the enzyme lactose intolerant folks are lacking. If I take it (I just need to make sure to take enough!) when I eat dairy, I don't have any problems eating all kinds of foods - in fact, as I type this, I am eating cheesecake (and it's really good!)! [:D] It's also an easy way to see if this is the issue for you - it doesn't hurt you to take it so you can try taking some and eat dairy and see if that helps the digestive issues. Just make sure to take enough. If it solves the problem, then lactose intolerance is the issue and you just need to take the enzyme when you eat or drink dairy. All my favorite foods are dairy, so this is important to me. I eat a TON of cheeses and such - so I take a lot of lactaid! [:D][:D][:D]
Also, different folks have different degrees of intolerance. For me, much of my dad's side of the family is lactose intolerant. Since my dad is, I had a 50/50 chance of having the issue. My twin isn't, I am. I can have a slice of cheese and be fine. Much more than that and I am miserable. Some folks can't eat much of anything without trouble though. The genetic aspect is why many ethnic groups have extremely high rates of it.
I think the important thing is to know whether it's lactose intolerance or something else causing the troubles. Many people confuse this was a milk allergy and that is something completely different. Lactose intolerance really isn't a big deal - the only different between my brother and I, is that I carry around lactaid so I can eat the same stuff he does without a pill. You wouldn't want to do that with an allergy but it's perfectly safe to do that with lactose intolerance.
On a side note, many of us who are lactose intolerant can eat yogurt with no problems. The bacteria in yogurt (with live cultures!) helps break the lactose down, so you can eat yogurt without the gastric issues.
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