Some common symptoms include belching, abdominal bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea after consuming dairy products. Less common symptoms include weight loss and constipation.
For the most part, lactose intolerance is pretty harmless and manageable to the point where most people don’t have to completely cut out dairy from their diets. However, those with lactose intolerance should steer clear of large amounts of dairy and stick with lactose-free dairy products.
“Yogurt is fine to consume because it’s cultured,” Dr. Oyeyipo advises. “Probiotics and lactobacillus supplementation may also be helpful to better tolerate dairy products.”
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Worried about not getting enough calcium? Don’t be! Calcium can also be found in the following foods: oranges, broccoli, collard greens, kale, sardines, white beans, black-eyed peas, almonds, tofu, and the list goes on.
If you think you might be lactose intolerant, schedule an appointment with your doctor. He or she will run a series of tests (lactose intolerant test, hydrogen breath test, stool acidity test) to find out whether you have lactose intolerance and determine a treatment plan that works best for you.
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Got Milk? African Americans & Lactose Intolerance was originally published on blackdoctor.org
