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Lactase

Lactase

Aid Overall Health

Lactase is a protein that is naturally produced in the human body. Everyone in the world actually has lactase, unless there are medical issues involved. Even if someone is lactose intolerant, they still have lactase. It is possible for the body to stop producing enough lactase because of lack of need.

What this means is that there is a gene in the body that has to code for the lactose, otherwise it won’t allow the lactase to digest the lactose the way that it should. If you reduce the amount of milk or dairy that you use, then the body produces less lactase because it doesn’t need it, which can create a deficiency.

Although science had made some connections between the accesses someone has to milk and their tolerance levels, there is no hard and fast rule regarding why someone might be lactose intolerant or why their lactase isn’t functioning correctly. Lactase deficiencies can often be corrected or lessened with nutritional supplements.  

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Summary

Lactase and Lactose Intolerance Lactose intolerance is a subject near and dear to the heart of many people. The reason for this is that over 50% of adults in the entire world are lactose intolerant and cannot effectively digest dairy of any kind. For many people this means no milk, ice cre... more

Lactase and Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a subject near and dear to the heart of many people. The reason for this is that over 50% of adults in the entire world are lactose intolerant and cannot effectively digest dairy of any kind. For many people this means no milk, ice cream or cheese.

What you don’t often hear about, however, is the cause of lactose intolerance. You can find a supplement that will allow you to drink milk. Nowadays, you can even find milk products that claim to have removed the lactose. Lactose-free dairy products allow people who are lactose intolerant to drink milk and eat ice cream once again.

There is a cause for lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance occurs when the lactase in the human body stops working the way that it should.

Lactase and Lactose

Lactose is the sugar that is found in milk. Lactose intolerance can lead to stomach upset such as bloating, gas and diarrhea. Many people are intolerant to sugar substitutes and sugar alcohols. Lactose can have the same effect on the human body as these other types of sweeteners.

However, the difference between milk sugar and other forms of sugar is that science has developed a way to allow adults to enjoy milk-based beverages without the uncomfortable side effects that it brings.

If the gene that allowed lactase to function correctly was working the way that it should, then your lactase would break down the milk sugar in your body. In a normally functioning human body, supplements or milk substitutes would not be necessary for the enjoyment of milk products.

Lactase and Having a Deficiency

Another reason that lactose intolerance occurs is because of a deficiency of lactase. In many cases, if your body isn’t producing lactase, your doctor will call it by a different name.  You may be told that you have a disaccharides deficiency; or your doctor may just tell you that you have a lactose intolerance.

The symptoms that you have a lactase deficiency are:

  • Nausea
  • Gas
  • Cramping
  • Diarrhea
  • Bad smelling gas and bowel movements

The symptoms that you have a lactose deficiency as a child include all of the symptoms of an adult as well as:

  • Malnutrition
  • Not growing at an appropriate pace

Lactase and What to Do for a Deficiency

It wasn’t so long ago that if you had a lactase deficiency that you would have to stop using lactose containing products completely. However, for some people there are alternatives, such as taking lactase supplements.

It is important to note that if you start taking lactase supplements and you still have symptoms, then you will have to eliminate dairy from your diet. The reason for this is that if the gene that allows for lactase to work doesn’t activate when you start taking lactase, then you are simply going to have to deal with the intolerance instead of trying to fix it. However, in most cases the gene will activate.

If you cannot use supplement or if they don’t work for you, then you need to ensure that you get calcium from other sources. Although, you may want to try drinking a half a cup of milk a day for about a week to see if your stomach can tolerate that. The reason for this is that studies have shown that even those with severe lactose intolerance can usually tolerate low quantities of milk.

If that doesn’t work for you, there are a number of foods that can provide you with the calcium that you aren’t getting from milk. In addition, you can take calcium supplements to fulfill your daily requirement.

Use our supplement finder to find calcium rich supplements to help round out your diet! 

Other

  • Side Effects
  • Other Names
  • Uses
Gas
Cramping
Nausea And/Or Diarrhea
Beta-galactosidase, Bêta-Galactosidase, Lactasa