Lactose intolerance

[nucleargirl]

Is anyone else lactose intolerant? What symptoms do you have? Is it possible to develop lactose intolerance as an adult?

Basically, I never used to have any problems with milk products... until recently! About a year ago I went through a phase of cutting out all milk products out of my diet for health reasons, and this lasted about 6 months. After which I decided to drink milk and eat cheese and everything again... but now I think I may be intolerant to milk products! I havent figured out exactly what I am intolerant of... but I just drank a cup of hot chocolate 4 hours ago and now I dont feel so good! bloated... gassy... lol! yuk, sorry.

[madcat8000]

Sounds like my situation. I still crave chocolate milk but i know it will end with an emergency stop or two to the rest room. Mine began around the age of 25 but I didnt quite get the hint for a year or two following.

[alxm]

Is anyone else lactose intolerant? What symptoms do you have? Is it possible to develop lactose intolerance as an adult?

It's the other way around. The vast majority of adult mammals can't digest lactose, including the majority of adult humans.

You should ask why some are lactose tolerant. The reason for that being a mutation that stopped the inactivation of lactase (the lactose-metabolizing enzyme) production in adults. This mutation occurred some time on the order of thousands of years ago, somewhere in northern Europe. (The highest rates of lactose tolerance in the world are in Scandinavia) It's a dominant trait, so it's been spreading since. So today, the majority of Europeans and North Americans are lactose tolerant. But like all mammals, until very recently in our evolutionary history, and only in some parts of the world, becoming lactose intolerant as you grow older is completely normal. (Because you don't breast-feed as an adult)

(Note that it's of course not a binary distinction between tolerant and intolerant either; people have different levels of tolerance. The gassy/bloatedness you describe is the most typical symptom for those who have it.)

[nismaratwork]

It's the other way around. The vast majority of adult mammals can't digest lactose, including the majority of adult humans.

You should ask why some are lactose tolerant. The reason for that being a mutation that stopped the inactivation of lactase (the lactose-metabolizing enzyme) production in adults. This mutation occurred some time on the order of thousands of years ago, somewhere in northern Europe. (The highest rates of lactose tolerance in the world are in Scandinavia) It's a dominant trait, so it's been spreading since. So today, the majority of Europeans and North Americans are lactose tolerant. But like all mammals, until very recently in our evolutionary history, and only in some parts of the world, becoming lactose intolerant as you grow older is completely normal. (Because you don't breast-feed as an adult)

(Note that it's of course not a binary distinction between tolerant and intolerant either; people have different levels of tolerance. The gassy/bloatedness you describe is the most typical symptom for those who have it.)

Very true, and when you consider that in most cultures (no pun) the majority of dairy is eaten in the form of cheese or yogurt-like products, the consumption of raw milk is even more... out there. In addition to the GI symptoms, some people with allergies find that milk and unaged cheeses increase the volume and viscosity of phlegm... so the "far from binary" is completely accurate description.

[nucleargirl]

man, this sucks! I like drinking milk! I didnt quite believe it before, but I guess all the symptoms point to it. but hey, I'm ok now - 8 hours after drinking milk I'm fine again. maybe its all digested now :)

[alxm]

Very true, and when you consider that in most cultures (no pun) the majority of dairy is eaten in the form of cheese or yogurt-like products, the consumption of raw milk is even more... out there.

Yup, it's a fun observation. The biggest milk-drinkers in the world are the Nordic peoples, but once you get down the the Balkans, it's all yogurt and cheese. Continue in the same direction to the Middle East, and cow's milk isn't used for anything anymore, it's all goat or sheep's milk - which has a lower lactose content. Once you get to Southeast Asia, there's virtually no dairy at all, nor lactose tolerance. Evolution and genetics plays a part in our cuisine!

(Edit: It also occurred to me that you likely have culture affecting the evolution of this trait as well: Since there's obviously not much benefit to being lactose tolerant if you don't have animal husbandry. More people would probably get killed trying to milk wild animals than would survive off the milk :smile:)

man, this sucks! I like drinking milk!

Well, you don't necessarily have to give it up. There's low-lactose milk you can buy, which is okay unless you have a very low tolerance. And you can buy pills with the lactase enzyme, which will give you a temporary tolerance.

[nucleargirl]

Well, you don't necessarily have to give it up. There's low-lactose milk you can buy, which is okay unless you have a very low tolerance. And you can buy pills with the lactase enzyme, which will give you a temporary tolerance.

No! I am going to defy my body and genetics!! I made my body intolerant, I WILL make it tolerant again!!! I'm gonna drink milk! all the time! see who's the boss!

[nucleargirl]

in fact, I am eating cream right now!

[nucleargirl]

on a more serious note - yoghurt and cheese? are the lactose gone in those products? what about cooked milk? and cream?

[Evo]

One of the other reasons our ancestors weren't feasting on fresh milk products was no refrigeration.

[Borek]

on a more serious note - yoghurt and cheese? are the lactose gone in those products?

Lactose was oxidized to lactic acid.

[Evo]

on a more serious note - yoghurt and cheese? are the lactose gone in those products? what about cooked milk? and cream?wikipedia to the rescue.

Dairy products
Lactose is a water-soluble molecule. Therefore fat percentage and the curdling process have an impact on which foods may be tolerated. After the curdling process, lactose is found in the water portion (along with whey and casein) but is not found in the fat portion. Dairy products which are "fat reduced" or "fat free" generally have a slightly higher lactose percentage. Additionally, low fat dairy foods also often have various dairy derivatives such as milk solids added to them to enhance sweetness, increasing the lactose content.

Milk. Human milk has the highest lactose percentage at around 9%. Unprocessed cow milk has 4.7% lactose. Unprocessed milk from other bovids contains similar lactose percentages (goat milk 4.1%,[51] buffalo 4.86%,[52] yak 4.93%,[53] sheep milk 4.6%)

Butter. The butter-making process separates the majority of milk's water components from the fat components. Lactose, being a water soluble molecule, will still be present in small quantities in the butter unless it is also fermented to produce cultured butter.

Yogurt, Frozen Yogurt and kefir. People can be more tolerant of traditionally made yogurt than milk, because it contains lactase enzyme produced by the bacterial cultures used to make the yogurt. Frozen yogurt, if cultured similarly to its unfrozen counterpart, will contain similarly reduced lactose levels. However, many commercial brands contain milk solids, increasing the lactose content.[54]

Cheeses. Traditionally made hard cheese (such as Emmental) and soft ripened cheeses may create less reaction than the equivalent amount of milk because of the processes involved. Fermentation and higher fat content contribute to lesser amounts of lactose. Traditionally made Emmental or Cheddar might contain 10% of the lactose found in whole milk. In addition, the traditional aging methods of cheese (over 2 years) reduces their lactose content to practically nothing. [55] Commercial cheese brands, however, are generally manufactured by modern processes that do not have the same lactose reducing properties, and as no regulations mandate what qualifies as an "aged" cheese, this description does not provide any indication of whether the process used significantly reduced lactose.

Sour cream if made in the traditional way, may be tolerable, but most modern brands add milk solids. Consult labels.[56]

Examples of lactose levels in foods. As scientific consensus has not been reached concerning lactose percentage analysis methods [57] (non-hydrated form or the mono-hydrated form), and considering that dairy content varies greatly according to labeling practices, geography and manufacturing processes, lactose numbers may not be very reliable. The following are examples of lactose levels in foods which commonly set off symptoms. These quantities are to be treated as guidelines only.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance

[nismaratwork]

Lactose was oxidized to lactic acid.

Mmmm... tart... tastey... god I love yogurt and aged cheese. :approve:

[madcat8000]

No! I am going to defy my body and genetics!! I made my body intolerant, I WILL make it tolerant again!!! I'm gonna drink milk! all the time! see who's the boss!

Glad im not around for the aftermath of this little experiment....

[turbo]

Glad im not around for the aftermath of this little experiment....Clear the path to the bathroom!

[nismaratwork]

Defying your own genetics... I think that needs to be added to the list of famous last words. :biggrin:

[nucleargirl]

lol. awww thanks you guys!

[nucleargirl]

Lactose was oxidized to lactic acid.

yes! this totally makes sense! - yoghurt is sour and some cheese has a sharp taste!

[nucleargirl]

ok, I will do the experiment (in the privacy of my room) and let you guys know of any progress!

[nismaratwork]

ok, I will do the experiment (in the privacy of my room) and let you guys know of any progress!

Heh... good luck, and um... wear diapers. :wink:

[lisab]

ok, I will do the experiment (in the privacy of my room) and let you guys know of any progress!

There's just too much intolerance today, and I think we should all work to become more tolerant. Best of luck, nucleargirl, I'm glad you're going above and beyond, trying to make the world a better place.

:tongue2:

[nucleargirl]

There's just too much intolerance today, and I think we should all work to become more tolerant. Best of luck, nucleargirl, I'm glad you're going above and beyond, trying to make the world a better place.

:tongue2:

I agree Lisa! I think we should ALL do this! lol... wouldn't that be a funny... smelling world...

[nucleargirl]

by the way I'm currently unemployed, so its ok for me to do this... I wouldn't recommend to start experimenting at work... lets just say, day 1 - no improvement yet...

[nismaratwork]

by the way I'm currently unemployed, so its ok for me to do this... I wouldn't recommend to start experimenting at work... lets just say, day 1 - no improvement yet...

You know... this may not be the best idea... *wince*

[stevenstritt]

Look at this website for great nutritional information.
They explain the many health benefits of raw milk. One interesting thing is that many lactose intolerant people can apparently handle raw milk products.

[nismaratwork]

Look at this website for great nutritional information.They explain the many health benefits of raw milk. One interesting thing is that many lactose intolerant people can apparently handle raw milk products.

You mean the foundation based on the theories of a 19th century "holistic dentist?"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weston_Price

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/holisticdent.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weston_A._Price_Foundation

John Robbins has written a critique in which he reviews the history of the Weston Price Foundation and provides evidence that Weston Price had recommended a vegetarian and dairy diet to his own family members as the healthiest diet (contrary to the position of the Price Foundation which recommends animal products).[20] The anti-vegetarian and anti-soy views of the foundation have also been criticized and countered in several publications.[21][22][23] Joel Fuhrman MD wrote a series of articles entitled "The truth about the Weston Price Foundation" in which he argues the Foundation is a purveyor of "nutritional myths".[24][25][26][27]

Give me a break, this is pure ****, and not fit for PF.

[madcat8000]

Too bad your colon isnt unemployed right now lol. Heh be careful or it might go on a work stoppage. Ah what fertile soil for jokes. Heh I said soil.......

Neways besure that you keep us updated nucleargirl!

[nismaratwork]

Never has the name "NUCLEARgirl" been so ironic... make sure to avoid the fallout.

[nucleargirl]

hahaha... Dont worry, I have opened all the windows so I dont suffocate from the... explosions.

[turbo]

hahaha... Dont worry, I have opened all the windows so I dont suffocate from the... explosions.And how are you handling the bloating? My sister-in-law gets really cramped up along with the bloating, and has had to switch to soy substitutes, etc. During holiday family pot-lucks she sometimes only eats dishes that either she or my wife brings, just to be on the safe side.

[Evo]

There is no need to completely avoid milk products if you are lactose intolerant. You may not even need to avoid them at all if you follow the advice below, it's not an allergy.

How is lactose intolerance managed?
Although the body’s ability to produce lactase cannot be changed, the symptoms of lactose intolerance can be managed with dietary changes. Most people with lactose intolerance can tolerate some amount of lactose in their diet. Gradually introducing small amounts of milk or milk products may help some people adapt to them with fewer symptoms. Often, people can better tolerate milk or milk products by taking them with meals.

The amount of change needed in the diet depends on how much lactose a person can consume without symptoms. For example, one person may have severe symptoms after drinking a small glass of milk, while another can drink a large glass without symptoms. Others can easily consume yogurt and hard cheeses such as cheddar and Swiss but not milk or other milk products.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommend that people with lactose intolerance choose milk products with lower levels of lactose than regular milk, such as yogurt and hard cheese.

Lactose-free and lactose-reduced milk and milk products, available at most supermarkets, are identical to regular milk except that the lactase enzyme has been added. Lactose-free milk remains fresh for about the same length of time or longer than regular milk if it is ultra-pasteurized. Lactose-free milk may have a slightly sweeter taste than regular milk. Soy milk and other products may be recommended by a health professional.

People who still experience symptoms after dietary changes can take over-the-counter lactase enzyme drops or tablets. Taking the tablets or a few drops of the liquid enzyme when consuming milk or milk products may make these foods more tolerable for people with lactose intolerance.

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lactoseintolerance/

[nucleargirl]

And how are you handling the bloating? My sister-in-law gets really cramped up along with the bloating, and has had to switch to soy substitutes, etc. During holiday family pot-lucks she sometimes only eats dishes that either she or my wife brings, just to be on the safe side.

yeah, I think I dont have it as bad as other people - I dont get cramps... it kind of just moves along... so it starts about 3-4 hours after drinking milk, and its all gone by around 8 hours after comsumption.

Day 2 update: Man, today was a double whammy! Had beans on toast AND a glass of milk for lunch! lol! but somehow I think they cancelled each other out in my stomach so the after effects were not too bad at all :)

[nucleargirl]

thanks Evo! thats a good link.

[lisab]

yeah, I think I dont have it as bad as other people - I dont get cramps... it kind of just moves along... so it starts about 3-4 hours after drinking milk, and its all gone by around 8 hours after comsumption.

Day 2 update: Man, today was a double whammy! Had beans on toast AND a glass of milk for lunch! lol! but somehow I think they cancelled each other out in my stomach so the after effects were not too bad at all :)

Beans on toast? Are you British?

:tongue2: :wink:

[turbo]

Beans on toast? Are you British?

:tongue2: :wink:That's my father's dream breakfast. My home-made baked beans on toast. His gout keeps him from indulging too much, though.

[nucleargirl]

yeah! baked beans on my homemade bread with cheese on top! yum!
and tomorow I'm gonna have (almost) full English breakfast! lol! we just happen to have bacon, beans, black pudding, tomatoes and eggs at home!

[missmariss]

No! I am going to defy my body and genetics!! I made my body intolerant, I WILL make it tolerant again!!! I'm gonna drink milk! all the time! see who's the boss!

Actually, this does have some merit to it.

While I wouldn't suggest starting off by drinking more dairy than you ever have before, it is true that the more lactose you consume, the more tolerant you become. Also, if you cut down on consumption of glucose, your body will more readily absorb lactose as an energy source.

To put it simply : there's something in your DNA called an operon, it has two functions.
One : if there is lactose present, it will trigger the production of the lactase enzyme
Two : if there is a lack of glucose, it will trigger the production of the lactase enzyme

So if you slowly introduce lactose back into your diet, as well as cut down on your intake of glucose, it's likely that you will redevelop a higher tolerance for lactose. That being said, people will milk allergies have been known to confuse this for lactose intolerance. ALLERGIES ARE NOT INTOLERANCE! Intolerance is the inability to digest something, we all have fiber intolerance, our stomachs are not designed to digest it so it moves on through us at a rapid rate. If you are allergic to milk it is usually the protein which makes you sick, and if you were to introduce more and more dairy into your diet you could become seriously ill.

[nucleargirl]

ah no no, I am sure I am not allergic to milk cos I've been drinking my whole life with no problems until recently. I think my intolerance developed cos I cut out milk for 6 months, so now I'm trying to make my body used to having it around again.

um... I'm not so sure about the operon thing... I know its in bacteria, but I've not heard of it in humans...

thanks for the support tho! I know my body will see sense soon :)

[missmariss]

Wow apparently I didn't understand that bio class as well as i should have haha!

You're absolutely right, it is in bacterial dna, not human. Is it possible though that one of these types of bacteria is one of the kinds found in our stomachs?

[nucleargirl]

Wow apparently I didn't understand that bio class as well as i should have haha!

You're absolutely right, it is in bacterial dna, not human. Is it possible though that one of these types of bacteria is one of the kinds found in our stomachs?

yeah! that is possible actually! its e.coli! maybe there's a kind thats already in our guts and not givng us food poisoning... wow! this is well cool! if we could somehow modify this bacteria to produce more lactase... either modify existing bacteria or make a new harmless type and make it into a pill... I think there's money in this!

[mugaliens]

Here's an interesting graphic showing lactose intolerance by geographic and ethnic groups. It ranges between 0.3% for Basques and 100% for Native Americans. I find that last one interesting, as the five runners-up are all Asiatic.

[nucleargirl]

Alright! Update: so its been a month since I started the experiment :) during which I have pretty much eaten some milk product every day, and now.... I feel much better!!
Yesterday I had 2 cups of chocolate milk and had cereal for breakfast, and I didnt have very much bloating and gas at all! I'd say a lot less than before. And today I had a huge bowl of rice pudding for lunch and I feel good right now! had a little gas in the afternoon but nothing out of the ordinary! lol
who knows! maybe its working, or maybe I am just getting really tolerant of myself....
we'll see! more updates later!

[Borek]

Thank you for the information. While I am not really interested in the information about your gases I appreciate fact that you remembered to post an update, it doesn't happen too often - most people just disappear without traces.

Could be others just explode, leaving traces all over, but not on the forum.

[nucleargirl]

You're welcome Borek! I enjoy these updates too much to forget!

[lisab]

Wow, I must admit, I'm surprised at the outcome of your experiment. I thought for sure you'd be in too much discomfort, and have to give up.

I'm happy for you :smile:!

[nucleargirl]

:) thanks Lisa!

[Evo]

Good going nucleargirl!!

[bobze]

Lactase (the enzyme responsible for digesting lactose, a galactose/glucose disaccharide) is pretty unique because it is the only brush-border enzyme (that's the intestinal-cell/lumen border) kept in amounts near equivalent to "need".

The expression of lactase declines for most adults throughout life. However, your body can respond to the presence of lactose in the lumen by upregulating production of lactase (its a pretty convoluted regulatory pathway).

So for a significant portion of adults, ingesting lactose (milk sugar), even later in life can lead to more expression of lactase and thus better lactose digestive capabilities. In those adults that have difficulty digesting lactose, they lack the regulatory capabilities of those who can digest lactose.

Even if you continually eat lactose products throughout life, your digestive efficiency declines with age.

Sorry I didn't see this earlier, I could have saved you a month and some discomfort nucleargirl!


Edit: I'd like to correct my first sentence. Trehalase (for digesting trehalose, a sugar found exclusively in mushrooms) is also kept in low concentrations in the brush border as well. Other enzymes though, like sucrase-isomaltase are kept in excessive amounts ensuring complete digestion of those sugars to their monosaccharides.

[Borek]

Sorry I didn't see this earlier, I could have saved you a month and some discomfort nucleargirl!

I think you have missed the point. She was aware of the potential problems and she decided to check if she can force "upregulation of production of lactase". Obviously it worked.

[bobze]

I think you have missed the point. She was aware of the potential problems and she decided to check if she can force "upregulation of production of lactase". Obviously it worked.

Yes, like I pointed out. That's not new news (I believe most of this was worked out in the late 90's) :smile: Hence the save you a month and experiment :smile:

[nucleargirl]

Yes, its going to be a long-term (if not life-long) experiment for me! I want to be able to eat milk without problems. I'm still young so not worried about digestive efficiency declining. Maybe experiment is the wrong word - its more like lifestyle change!

[gascap]

That is great for you. It did not work so well for me. My realization came when I was in my early 30s but nothing has helped to mitigate it. And just for the record there are certain things I have discovered are absolute no-nos Cream is one and CoolWhip is the other.
I will venture into a piece of pizza once in a while but I stay with lactiad capsules and lactose free milk or soy milk for comfort. The surprise was when I had some throat problems when eating a Salmon filet and later discovered that they are often coated with Casein, which is milk protein as I understand it.

[Borek]

The surprise was when I had some throat problems when eating a Salmon filet and later discovered that they are often coated with Casein, which is milk protein as I understand it.

How is milk protein related to lactose intolerance? I can be missing something but I don't see a connection.

[bobze]

How is milk protein related to lactose intolerance? I can be missing something but I don't see a connection.

Its not. Lactose intolerance is the result of not having enough lactase along the digestive epithelium (particularly in the jejunum). Lactase, is normally only kept in low amounts, so its easy for there to not be enough lactase to digest the lactose sugars.

If one were to consume too much lactose, the increase in a non-diffusable substrate changes the osmolar concentration of the lumen of the GI. This is what leads to diarrhea (osmotic diarrhea) and the other symptoms associated with lactose intolerance.

If you had a reaction to milk proteins (namely casein) you'd be having an allergic reaction to milk, not an intolerance to lactose (which is possible, though much more rare).

[Proton Soup]

If you had a reaction to milk proteins (namely casein) you'd be having an allergic reaction to milk, not an intolerance to lactose (which is possible, though much more rare).

my microbiology professor just yesterday stated in lecture that most lactose "intolerance" was actually an allergic reaction, but didn't elaborate. if so, that would make sense that casein causes problems for some, but i'm not quite sure what to make of it.

[ebits21]

Here's an interesting graphic showing lactose intolerance by geographic and ethnic groups. It ranges between 0.3% for Basques and 100% for Native Americans. I find that last one interesting, as the five runners-up are all Asiatic.

It's perfectly logical, Native Americans are a migration of Asians and therefore share many traits with them.

[bobze]

my microbiology professor just yesterday stated in lecture that most lactose "intolerance" was actually an allergic reaction, but didn't elaborate. if so, that would make sense that casein causes problems for some, but i'm not quite sure what to make of it.

Hmm, I don't know. I'm skeptical of that claim, which would imply allergic reaction being more prevalent than lack of an enzyme (which is in low capacity anyway). I've always learned its the other way around, but I'm not saying that is necessarily right. I've never looked into it before.

Anecdotally there is some things that lead me to believe your professor is wrong. Namely, that if the allergic reaction was predominant than this manifestation would be more common while the patients were children. Since lactose intolerance is generally a problem of aging, and as we age we have less lactase in the digestive epithelium, it would be counter-intuitive to think most cases of lactose intolerance (we see most in adults) are from allergies.

More anecdotal; can't say that I have ever known anyone with an allergy to milk (this would be a huge deal and drastically alter their life from the time they were a baby). Nor have I yet to a scratch test come up positive for a milk allergy, but I haven't seen that many scratch tests yet.

Anyway, could you ask your Prof for more information or look into it? I don't have time right now, block exams in T-minus 96 hours!

[nismaratwork]

Hmm, I don't know. I'm skeptical of that claim, which would imply allergic reaction being more prevalent than lack of an enzyme (which is in low capacity anyway). I've always learned its the other way around, but I'm not saying that is necessarily right. I've never looked into it before.

Anecdotally there is some things that lead me to believe your professor is wrong. Namely, that if the allergic reaction was predominant than this manifestation would be more common while the patients were children. Since lactose intolerance is generally a problem of aging, and as we age we have less lactase in the digestive epithelium, it would be counter-intuitive to think most cases of lactose intolerance (we see most in adults) are from allergies.

More anecdotal; can't say that I have ever known anyone with an allergy to milk (this would be a huge deal and drastically alter their life from the time they were a baby). Nor have I yet to a scratch test come up positive for a milk allergy, but I haven't seen that many scratch tests yet.

Anyway, could you ask your Prof for more information or look into it? I don't have time right now, block exams in T-minus 96 hours!

Yeah, you're probably going to want to read this then! Oh children, they really are more than just little adults... they're a genuine pain in the posterior!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/milk-allergy/DS01008

Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff

Milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children. Although cow's milk is the usual cause of milk allergy, milk from sheep, goats and buffalo also can cause a reaction. And, some children who are allergic to cow's milk are allergic to soy milk too.

A milk allergy usually occurs a few minutes to a few hours after you consume milk. Signs and symptoms of milk allergy range from mild to severe and can include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. Rarely, milk allergy can cause anaphylaxis — a severe, life-threatening reaction.

Avoidance is the primary treatment for milk allergy. Fortunately, most children outgrow a milk allergy by age 3.

MOST common?! I really would have guessed peanuts or nightshade relatives, and I'd have been wrong.

This is quite good, for one line I think you'll find supports the notion that lactose intolerance is distinct from milk allergy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_allergy

Difference between milk allergy and lactose intolerance Milk allergy is a food allergy, an adverse immune reaction to a food protein that is normally harmless to the non-allergic individual. Lactose intolerance is a non-allergic food sensitivity, and comes from a lack of production of the enzyme lactase, required to digest the predominant sugar in milk. Adverse effects of lactose intolerance generally occur after much higher levels of milk consumption than do adverse effects of milk allergy.


Bolding mine: I don't know about you, but I face-palmed there... of COURSE... you even mentioned scratch tests! Immune vs. Enzyme presents differently, and of course there's no risk of anaphylaxis from the latter.

[nucleargirl]

Hello all!
So, I was trying to eat milk everyday since like 6 months ago. I didnt stick to it very strictly cos I would forget or would have to work or something. Anyway, so in the past month or so... I have noticed no problems with milk anymore! I dont know if this is related to my diet, or to the radioactive iodine therapy I had in mid-March. But, awesome!!! no more bloating or otherwise!! milk galore!!! ahhhh so, there is the possibility of your body changing! but I dont know the cause of my change so... this revelation might not be very helpful for anyone else...
also my skin has cleared up in the last week! I have no idea why!

So to elaborate: I think I was still intolerant in January cos I remember buying lactose free milk on holiday. But during Easter I was staying with someone and we had a cup of normal milk for breakfast every day, and I had no problems. so thats when I noticed I wasn't intolerant anymore. not sure exactly when it happened cos I wasnt really looking out for changes the whole time.

[Ouabache]

hahaha... Dont worry, I have opened all the windows so I dont suffocate from the... explosions.
If you didn't you would be hoisted by your own petard
I know I am replying to a dated post.

So, I was trying to eat milk everyday since like 6 months ago. I didnt stick to it very strictly cos I would forget or would have to work or something. Anyway, so in the past month or so... I have noticed no problems with milk anymore!
It seems to me, my h.s. biology instructor explained when we induce lactose intolerance by stopping consumption of dairy for a period, we could re-induce tolerance by reintroduction of dairy incrementally back to our diet. Your experience confirms her explanation. :wink:



It's perfectly logical, Native Americans are a migration of Asians and therefore share many traits with them.


My instructor of anthropology also pointed this out (that Native Americans populating both N and SA continents have the same common ancestry as the mongols of northern China). And based on his discussion of current knowledge, it seemed quite logical this occurred.

Just be sure you are tactful when explaining to a Native American that they didn't originate on the American continent. Several that I have mentioned this to, were not very receptive.