Did you know that some people can’t drink regular milk because they are lactose intolerant? Lactose is the natural sugar found in milk that helps with digestion. People who cannot digest lactose have to avoid drinking milk or eating anything with high amounts of it. Thus, there are many types of milk that are made without lactose so those who cannot digest lactose can still take in plenty of nutrients and vitamins. However, there are some people who even need to avoid these kinds of milk as well. If you’re one of those people, then you probably want to know if drinking lactose-free milk will cause diarrhea or any other side effects. The good news is that most people won’t experience any problems from drinking it. Keep reading to find out more about whether or not it could be dangerous for you to drink lactose-free milk.
Can Lactose-Free Milk Cause Diarrhea?
Yes and no. If you have lactose intolerance, then yes, and it can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea. If you have lactose intolerance, your body is not able to break down lactose, which is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. If you have these symptoms after drinking milk that contains lactose, it may be due to lactose intolerance. If you have lactose intolerance, try these tips to avoid these symptoms: Avoid products that contain added lactose. These include powdered milk and flavored milk drinks. No need for Lactation absence as the baby is fine.
Why Can’t You Drink Milk If You’re Lactose Intolerant?
1. You might not know you’re lactose intolerant until you try to drink milk
If you’ve never been tested for lactose intolerance, then you might not even know that it’s an issue for you. If you’ve always been able to drink milk just fine, without experiencing any bloating or stomach pains, you might not even be aware that you’re lactose intolerant at all. Most people only discover that they are lactose intolerant when they try to drink milk or eat a dairy product. If you experience any of the following symptoms, such as abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea, then you might have an intolerance to lactose: – Abdominal pain – Bloating – Gas – Diarrhea – Stomach cramps – Nausea
2. It comes from cows, and you know what that means
We’re not being judgmental, but it’s just a fact that milk from other animals is not intended for human consumption. Our bodies are not equipped to digest cow’s milk because we’re not, in fact, cows. In other words, we’re not designed to drink the milk of any other species, regardless of how it’s processed. Since we’re not designed to drink it, our bodies don’t produce the lactase enzyme necessary to properly digest the galactooligosaccharides in cow’s milk. As a result, the galactooligosaccharides in cow’s milk end up fermenting in your intestines and causing the bloating and gas that are common symptoms of lactose intolerance.
3. Dairy products can cause more gas and bloat
Another symptom of lactose intolerance is excessive gas, which can make you feel bloated. These are both uncomfortable and embarrassing conditions that come from drinking milk or eating other dairy products. The reason for this is that when the galactooligosaccharides in dairy don’t get properly digested, they end up feeding the bacteria that are in your large intestine. This leads to an overgrowth of gas-producing bacteria and a lot of gas as a result. The excess gas can cause bloating as well as abdominal pain and cramping in people with lactose intolerance. The main cause of the abdominal pain and cramping caused by lactose intolerance is actually the undigested dairy in your gut.
4. It’s full of hormones and other unpronounceable things
Another reason why you shouldn’t drink milk if you’re lactose intolerant is that it’s often full of hormones and other unpronounceable antibiotics. The dairy industry is a big business, and that means there’s a lot of money to be made for animal growth hormones and antibiotics. In fact, the majority of dairy cows are injected with hormones called rBST and rBGH, which increase the cows’ milk production. These hormones are completely unhealthy and often linked to serious health problems in humans. There are also antibiotics used in the dairy industry to treat the cows when they become ill because of the conditions they are kept in. You definitely don’t want any of these in your system, especially if you suffer from lactose intolerance.
5. It probably doesn’t even come from a happy cow
Finally, another reason why you shouldn’t drink milk if you’re lactose intolerant is that it probably doesn’t even come from a happy cow. We’re not trying to be dramatic here, but cows are typically kept in very poor conditions. They’re often kept in cramped and dirty pens, fed only corn (which is extremely unhealthy for them), and injected with the hormones mentioned above. These cows go through a horrible death and are often times skinned while they’re still alive. It’s just not a pleasant way to live, let alone die.
How Can Lactose-Free Milk Cause Diarrhea?
- We know what lactose intolerance is and we know that lactose free milk is made without lactose. But how does that lead to diarrhea? Let’s break it down: First, we need to understand that lactose-free milk is not lactose-free. It only contains a very small amount of lactose which is negligible for most people. That being said, if you are severely lactose intolerant, a small amount of lactose-free milk may be enough to cause an adverse reaction.
- A moderate reaction could be diarrhea, nausea, or stomach cramps. A severe reaction could be vomiting, headaches, migraines, and even a drop in blood pressure. It all depends on how severe your lactose intolerance is and whether or not you’ve been avoiding dairy in general.
- If you’ve been avoiding dairy, drinking lactose-free milk will cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and other symptoms. But if you drink lactose-free milk on occasion, you’re at a very low risk for an adverse reaction.
Is Lactose-Free Milk Safe for Those with Lactose Intolerance?
- Yes, but you need to know how much to drink. Those who are lactose intolerant should avoid drinking large amounts of lactose-free milk at once. You should always make sure to drink small amounts of lactose-free milk over the course of the day.
- This will help you avoid triggering an adverse reaction. To be safe, you should also drink lactose-free milk alongside a meal. That being said, you should avoid drinking large amounts of lactose-free milk if you’re extremely lactose intolerant.
- If drinking small amounts over the course of the day doesn’t work for you, then you should avoid lactose-free milk altogether. That way, you won’t have to deal with any side effects.
When Should You NOT Drink Lactose-Free Milk?
- If you experience any symptoms of lactose intolerance after drinking lactose-free milk, then you should avoid it.
- You should also avoid drinking lactose-free milk if you have an allergy to dairy. Symptoms of a dairy allergy include skin rashes, swelling around the mouth, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headaches, and shortness of breath.
- You should also avoid drinking lactose-free milk if you have a weakened immune system. That being said, you should always speak with a doctor before completely eliminating dairy from your diet.
Conclusion
All in all, can lactose-free milk cause diarrhea? Yes, it can. If you’re lactose intolerant, you should make sure to drink lactose-free milk in moderation. You should also always drink it alongside a meal. If you experience any symptoms of lactose intolerance after drinking lactose-free milk, you should avoid it in the future. That way, you can stay safe and healthy.
