Lactose intolerant

ZiezieO
ZiezieO Posts: 228 Member
edited November 14 in Food and Nutrition
Can people become lactose intolerant later in life?

Growing up I had a lot of dairy in my diet. I cut a lot back once I started watching what I was eating. Now I feel like I have an angry tummy after I have certain kinds of dairy.

Replies

  • techgal128
    techgal128 Posts: 719 Member
    You know, it's interesting. I was dairy intolerant (couldn't even eat lactose free stuff) from age 12-15 until I grew out of it. I would imagine that if you can grow out of allergies you can grow into them as well. I don't think the amount of dairy you eat is causing you to be sensitive to it though. Are you eating really rich stuff?
  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,284 MFP Moderator
    Yes, lactose intolerance can occur at any age. My son has it, but didn't develop it until he was 10. He still eats dairy products (poor guy loves pizza and ice cream), but has to take a Lactase enzyme prior to eating it.

    If you're having issues, it's a good idea to get checked out by a doctor.

  • burnsjulia
    burnsjulia Posts: 50 Member
    Yes, my husband developed it in his 40s. Any milk products get him sick (diarrhea, etc.) so he's totally cut dairy out of his diet. Once you get used to it, it's pretty easy to accommodate. Some people use the lactose pills that help when they eat dairy and they find those helpful.
  • techgal128
    techgal128 Posts: 719 Member
    Oh! Something very important to add. If you are allergic to dairy and have to cut it out of your diet, TAKE CALCIUM PILLS. I say this because I ended up fracturing a rib when I was 15 because I didn't get the calcium I needed. That and my school forced me to carry a 22 pound backpack...
  • shiftynj
    shiftynj Posts: 103 Member
    I started noticing that I was feeling weird, bloated and gassy and simultaneously gaining weight despite not really changing my exercise or diet patterns. Started cutting back on dairy as an experiment to see if I notice a difference (I do already... losing weight pretty quickly, but that may also have to do with my MFP tracking and being more disciplined). Will follow up with the Doc regardless, but I want to finish the yogurt and cottage cheese I have and then go totally dairy-free for a week or two just to see what happens. I think I'll end up like @davis_em 's son taking lactase because I don't know how else to get enough protein while keeping fat and other concerns in check.
  • jessicatombari
    jessicatombari Posts: 159 Member
    Your doctor won't do much all they will do is tell you to cut dairy out for a few weeks and see if theres a difference. One day when youre home and have NO plans just sit down and drink a glass of milk or eat some ice cream and monitor how you feel. You can find out your severity of intolerance by timing how long and strong your reactions are. Im lactose intolerant trust me Ive been through this. If you do feel sick after chugging down a glass of milk(yes drink it all at once) then take dairy out of your diet for a few weeks and slowly introduce it back in. If it still bugs you when you bring it back then just find dairy alternatives.
  • jessicatombari
    jessicatombari Posts: 159 Member
    shiftynj wrote: »
    I started noticing that I was feeling weird, bloated and gassy and simultaneously gaining weight despite not really changing my exercise or diet patterns. Started cutting back on dairy as an experiment to see if I notice a difference (I do already... losing weight pretty quickly, but that may also have to do with my MFP tracking and being more disciplined). Will follow up with the Doc regardless, but I want to finish the yogurt and cottage cheese I have and then go totally dairy-free for a week or two just to see what happens. I think I'll end up like @davis_em 's son taking lactase because I don't know how else to get enough protein while keeping fat and other concerns in check.

    Try lactose enzymes. You can finish your cheese without any side effects.
  • shiftynj
    shiftynj Posts: 103 Member
    Thanks @jessicatombari ... trying not to get graphic, but did you notice changes with either your weight or your, um, regularity when you realized you were having a problem?
  • Katiebear_81
    Katiebear_81 Posts: 719 Member
    I'm lactose intolerant-ish. I cannot drink milk, it makes me sick (in the way that you're talking about, I think). However, I can eat SOME cheese (cottage cheese is fine), greek yoghurt is fine, whey powder is fine. Sour cream is NOT OK!!! :lol: Sometimes it's better with lactaid, sometimes it isn't.
  • woahlottainfo
    woahlottainfo Posts: 7 Member
    I'm vegan and I sent you a friend request so if you need any recipes or recommendations let me know. My friend says soy milk reminds her of regular milk. It is delicious, but I personally can't have a lot of soy :(
    Vanilla almond milk tastes like cake :D
    Oat milk tastes like the milk at the bottom of the bowl that was left over from when you ate oatmeal it's yummy.
    Hemp milk is yummy
    there are so many replacements :D
    I get a lot of my calcium from non-dairy milks,collard greens, tofu, tempah
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    yes. you can also develop/lose allergies at any point in life.

    my husband and I both are living examples of both. LOL
  • Tikibar72
    Tikibar72 Posts: 93 Member
    Yes - I'm living proof. I was in my mid-thirties and found that my beloved dairy products weren't agreeing with me anymore. Thankfully, there's Lactaid. We're best buds.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Fellow LI people, I'm going to jump in and recommend Now brand lactase pills. I prefer them to Lactaid because they are capsules so there's no chalkiness and they are easy to swallow even without water. Plus they don't come in those little paper sheets like Lactaid. Just a bottle with 90 pills. I have them set up on my Amazon subscribe and save.

    Dairy_no-203x300.png
  • jessicatombari
    jessicatombari Posts: 159 Member
    shiftynj wrote: »
    Thanks @jessicatombari ... trying not to get graphic, but did you notice changes with either your weight or your, um, regularity when you realized you were having a problem?

    I was ALWAYS sick after eating dairy (throwing up more so than running to the bathroom) it happens quick to me. When I began to stay away from dairy everything (everything youre wondering about) went back to normal. Yes I did feel like I was gaining weight when eating dairy because I was always so bloated but that decreased when I would stay away from it. Lactose enzymes (ULTRA strength ones lol) help me. try them out theres tons out there. I use Lactaid.
  • StephyA86
    StephyA86 Posts: 68 Member
    Katiebear_81 wrote: »
    I'm lactose intolerant-ish. I cannot drink milk, it makes me sick (in the way that you're talking about, I think). However, I can eat SOME cheese (cottage cheese is fine), greek yoghurt is fine, whey powder is fine. Sour cream is NOT OK!!! :lol: Sometimes it's better with lactaid, sometimes it isn't.

    This. I can't handle regular yogurt, but greek yogurt is fine. I like to say I'm "lactose sensitive."
  • Beautiful_Warrior94
    Beautiful_Warrior94 Posts: 197 Member
    I can relate here. When I was younger I basically loved cheese and could not get enough of it. Now whenever having anything with cheese I get sick to my stomach, rushing to the bathroom, feel like I'm about to be sick. It sucks right??
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