Turning Lactose Intolerant?

The ability to digest lactose as an adult is a mutation (more accurately, the body's ability to continue to generate lactase, the enzyme that allows you to digest lactose, into adulthood is the result of a number of mutations). Adult lactose intolerance is pretty common. Time to go dairy-free!

It is definitely possible. I see a little bit of that in myself.

I'm 21, I'm vegetarian (since September). I ate two string cheese things the other day and felt sooo sick. But then I ate ice cream recently and didn't feel sick. I don't drink milk or eat cheese or anything regularly, just on occasion (I'm not completely vegan but I do avoid dairy products). I don't want to give up ice cream though lol

I became sort of lactose intolerant after I had gastric bypass surgery in 2003, I can handle cheese and yogurt but if I drink milk and eat some ice creams (I can have the low sugar kinds but in small amounts) I have horrible stomach pains and end up in the bathroom for a while.

What a relief to know I'm not alone! I've got no problem giving up most dairy but ooooh what about ice cream :0(

My family has always given me a hard time for having a strict vegetarian/vegan-ish diet... at least now I can say I am lactose intolerant!!!

Most people tolerate yogurt and cheese ok. I've read the fermentation process removes much of the lactose. It's what those beneficial bacteria eat or something. Switch to frozen yogurt!

I can offer an alternative view. I would do some more research or get tested. Is it more likely the fat in the product that is the problem. While milk allergies do exist, they are a rare phenomenon especially among adults. A cow's milk allergy (to the proteins in milk) affects up to seven per cent of babies under one year, but 90 per cent will grow out of it. Researchers say most people who think they have such an allergy or are lactose intolerant are mistaken.

A recent study tested more than 100 people who had stomach pain, bloating and diarrhoea and believed they were lactose intolerant, to see if they really did have problems breaking down the sugar and absorbing it into their blood. They also asked them about their mental and physical health, including whether they were depressed or anxious or suffered from general aches and pains. This revealed their stomach troubles to have little to do digestion of lactose, but their mental state did seem to be to blame.

As I said, just another point of view that may or may not be relevant to your case.

Hi - it seems to be quite a topic on the forums today!!! As I mentioned in another thread, I'm lactose intolerant - I was actually genuinely allergic to cow's milk up until around the age of 8 which would see me come out in hives and have a severe gastric reaction. However (fortunately) I am now only intolerant which means just general gut discomfort and some other rather unattractive side effects if I eat too much dairy. I can handle a bit of discomfort for the odd morsel of cheese (but that's down to my love of cheese and I know I probably have to go into solitary confinement for a while after! ; )

Anyway - being lactose intolerant does not mean you have to wipe dairy out of your food plan, there are products that have greatly minimised the lactose in milk, butter, cheese (both hard and soft varieties) and also do yoghurts and now icecream. If you hunt around there are plenty of options. Companies such as Lactofree (the clue is in the name! ; ) Moo Free is a company that does a range of dairy free chocolates and treats. And a bit of dairy intolerance wont kill you if you want the odd bit of brie from time to time! xx

You can develop lactose intolerance as you age and are more likely to as an adult then a child. I remember a friend who studied anthropology telling them this years ago. as alreayd mentioned, there are many places in the world (i.e. Asia) where lactose intolerance is very common!!