Millions of individuals all over the globe have minor to severe lactose intolerance. It is a condition that causes digestive symptoms after 30 minutes up to 2 hours of consuming dairy products.
Even though some infants experience symptoms of lactose intolerance, anyone can develop the condition with age, injury or surgery on the intestines. Regardless of the exact cause, the symptoms of lactose intolerance only manifest after the individual ingests a particular food that contains lactose.
What you need to know about lactose
Lactose is the main sugar in milk that naturally occurs in dairy products such as milk, cream, sour cream, sweet cream and cheese. The fat content does not affect the amount of lactose.
Since dairy products are utilized in various processed foods, individuals with lactose intolerance should read the food labels carefully to check if dairy products are present. Ingredients to watch out for include evaporated milk, buttermilk, whey, sweetened condensed milk, dry milk products, casein, milk chocolate, whipped topping and caramel. Even baked goods including waffles, bread, cookies, biscuits, pancakes, cakes and muffins contain lactose as well as candies, desserts, spaghetti sauce, baking mixes, macaroni and cheese mixes and processed meats.
What is lactose intolerance?
The body requires an enzyme called lactase to digest lactose properly. An individual who does not produce enough lactase could not digest lactose properly, thus the bacteria in the large intestines breaks the food down, resulting to diarrhea, gas, abdominal cramping and bloating. The individual can suffer from minor symptoms with lactose intolerance while others can suffer from severe problems. When it comes to mild cases, the symptoms can be managed by eating small amounts of dairy products.
Soy milk
It is important to note that soy milk does not include any form of dairy product, thus has no lactose. Soy milk is produced from soybeans which is a plant source free from lactose. After the plant is harvested, the manufacturer presses the soybeans in filtered water, eliminates the insoluble fiber and can even add vitamins, minerals and flavoring in some cases.
Considerations to bear in mind
Since soy milk does not have lactose, it cannot trigger the symptoms of lactose intolerance such as bloating, gas, diarrhea or abdominal cramping. Nevertheless, the individual should be well aware that infants and even some adults can develop an allergy to soy milk. The symptoms of soy allergy include hives, tingling sensation in the mouth, itchiness or eczema, wheezing, swelling of the tongue or face, runny nose, dizziness, difficulty breathing and fainting. In rare cases, an individual can suffer from an anaphylactic reaction that leads to the constriction of the airways which compromises the breathing and the condition of the individual progresses into the state of shock which would surely require immediate medical care. If you want to learn the steps to take during a severe allergic reaction, click here.