Being lactose intolerant doesn't necessarily mean one must give up on drinking milk for good. Lactose intolerant individuals can still consume some dairy products. Contrary to common misconceptions, one can still consume certain dairy products if it they are lactose intolerant.
As per the National Dairy Council, roughly 1 out of 10 adults are lactose intolerant, most of which are self-diagnosed which can sometimes be inaccurate. The website also added that lactose intolerant individuals do not have to give up on dairy product consumption at once. Numerous health professionals would still recommend dairy consumption because provides essential nutrients that complete a healthy diet.
While some would strictly prohibit dairy products, looking for a certain product that your body would get used to can be of great help. It is important to start small, and mix fat free, or low fat dairy with other food. Trying out yogurt and cheese can sometimes work well.
As per Best Health Mag, being lactose intolerance is totally different from milk allergy. Dayna Weiten, a registered dietician in Winnipeg stated that "Lactose intolerance is an enzyme deficiency, a milk allergy means that the body is having an immune reaction to the protein in milk."
Another common misconception also implies that lactose intolerance is in born. Weiten on the other hand stated that it is not entirely true. "Having it your whole life is extremely rare; the chances of having it tend to increase as we age." With this being said, a person has the capacity to have additional risk factors as they age which includes additional intestinal infections and diseases.
Another misconception is that most people would normally state that lactose intolerance can be easy to detect; this being said however often leads to misdiagnosis. A simple diarrhea, gas, stomach cramps, and nausea can often be misdiagnosed lactose intolerance. It needs a trip to the doctor to properly diagnose an individual with lactose intolerance.
