Lactose intolerance
Millions of people around the world have lactose intolerance. In fact, in some areas of the world, the lactose intolerant outnumber those who can digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products.
This type of food intolerance causes mild to severe abdominal pain depending where you place on the tolerance scale, says Patricia L. Raymond, an assistant professor of clinical internal medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School. “I advise everyone who thinks they have an intolerance to take a lactose tolerance test,” she says. “It’s not a yes or no answer because severity comes into play.” Symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, burping, gas, and indigestion and vary based on your level of sensitivity.
The solution? Skip the dairy products, like milk and cheese, and be wary of packaged foods. Raymond says packaged foods often contain hidden milk products or whey, a milk-based byproduct found in many protein powder mixes and other nutritional foods. If you’re lactose intolrant you can also drink Lactaid milk or take Lactaid pills to prevent stomach aches and pains.
