WHAT IS LACTOSE INTOLERANCE???

Lactose is a sugar found only in dairy products; it is the principal sugar in cow's milk. The enzyme lactase is required for humans to digest lactose. When the walls of a person's small intestine do not produce normal amounts of lactase, that person is said to have a lactose intolerance.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance, which occur after a person drinks a certain amount of milk, include abdominal cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and excessive gas. Most people develop some degree of lactose intolerance as they grow older.

People with lactose intolerance need not eliminate milk totally from their diets. They may simply decrease their consumption of milk. At the same time, they can increase their consumption of other dairy products—such as cheese and yogurt—that contain less lactose than milk. Another option is to add a commercial lactose preparation to milk. These preparations convert...