If you’ve ever enjoyed a scoop of cookies and cream ice cream and had to make a run for the bathroom minutes later, you’re not alone. You’d be surprised to find out how many individuals suffer from lactose intolerance but are entirely unaware.
So, if you’re often complaining of a gassy stomach after lactose consumption, it’s time you get a lactose intolerance test.
Lactose Intolerance: What it is
With dairy items such as milk, yoghurt, and cheese being our predominant sources of calcium, it’s pretty perplexing why people are intolerant to lactose, especially when we’ve had it since our early days on the planet.
While milk makes up a major chunk of our diet, many people cannot digest lactose, a disaccharide sugar. This is because their bodies fail to produce substantial amounts of lactase, a digestive chemical responsible for breaking down lactose into simpler sugars. This phenomenon is vital for nutrient absorption.
How to Tell if You’re Lactose Intolerant
Although the digestive disorder can take up several forms and intensities, some frequent manifestations of the disease include:
· Bloating
· Gassy stomach and loud rumbling noises
· Diarrhea
· Constipation
· Cramping
Lactose Intolerance: Is it Passed Down?
The main reason the body cannot produce the required amounts of lactase is ageing. The condition’s onset usually starts around infancy and later progresses into a full-fledged form of the disease.
However, if you’ve got lactose intolerance running in your family, you’re likely to inherit the condition.
What is a Lactose Intolerance Test?
For timely and accurate treatment, getting diagnosed is imperative. Your physician is likely to recommend getting a lactose intolerance test.
Some frequently used methods of testing include:
Hydrogen Breath Test
This is a reasonably simple way to test for lactose intolerance. You’ll be requested to fill air into a bag first to check your breath’s initial amount of hydrogen.
You’ll then be given a glucose sugar solution to drink and asked to blow up the bag once again. Finally, periodic testing is conducted on your new sample to check for elevated hydrogen levels.
High levels of hydrogen indicate a positive result. In addition, individuals with the condition have bacteria fermenting the lactose in their large intestines.
Lactose Tolerance Blood Test
Another easy method is a glucose test on your blood sample after lactose intake. If the sugar levels in your bloodstream remain unaffected, this is a significant sign of lactose intolerance. This is due to your body’s inability to properly digest and take up lactose.
Biopsy
A sample of your inner tissue lining of the large intestine is taken through a process known as endoscopy. Microscopic observation will reveal inflammation if the patient is lactose intolerant.
Living With Lactose Intolerance
It might seem that your life has come to a halt without any dairy consumption. However, that’s certainly not the case. Instead, there are several options to look for to enjoy a diet just as healthy and nutritious.
