By Ji Hyun Lim
AsianWeek Staff Writer
A recent McNeil Nutritionals survey showed that three out of every 10 Americans — which includes 50 percent of all Hispanics, 80 percent of all African Americans and over 90 percent of all Asian Pacific Americans — suffer from dairy digestive problems. Out of the 1,008 adults surveyed, 57 percent believed that someone who suffers from lactose intolerance should avoid dairy products altogether.
However, this notion may not be entirely true. According to many dieticians and physicians, lactose intolerance can be avoided. Most people — including APAs — can consume dairy without the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance, but only when taking the necessary precautions.
Dr. Jeffrey Aron, a gastroenterologist at University of California, San Francisco and author of Gut-Check: Your Prime Source for Bowel Health and Colon Cancer, explains that lactose intolerance is a complicated biological condition in the body. Lactose intolerance is a condition where the small intestine does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase. Lactose, or milk sugar, therefore is not recognized by the body, thus causing swelling, bloating, diarrhea, cramping and discomfort throughout the body.
According to Aron, lactose is delivered out of the stomach rapidly into the small intestine. The lactose, which consists of glucose and galactose, is supposed to be absorbed for energy. When the body can’t break this down, the unabsorbed lactose goes farther down the intestine and comes into contact with the intestinal bacteria. The bacteria then ferments the lactose cells, producing acids and gases, which produce the uncomfortable side effects.
Aron points out that symptoms of lactose intolerance are often mistaken for other kinds of diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers or cancer. Allergies to proteins in dairy products also produce similar symptoms such as abdominal pain, swelling, cramps, sore muscles, swollen skin, itching, watering eyes and congested sinuses. These allergic reactions, though, happen very shortly after ingesting milk unlike those of lactose intolerance, which usually occur one-and-a-half to four hours later.
“Allergy to cow’s milk protein produces significant problems like the inability to absorb food,” Aron said, “but this is rare.”
Lactose intolerant people can avoid discomfort by taking necessary measures such as consuming small amounts of lactose with food or taking lactaid pills, Aron said. Over-the-counter pills, such as Lac-taid, allow the body to break down lactose enzymes when taken before a meal. When dairy products are mixed with other foods, such as in cream sauces, the lactose takes longer to digest and is then released in smaller increments into the small intestines. Most often, those with small levels of lactase are often able to handle this, Aron said.
“Lactose intolerance [itself] is not a serious problem. It’s more of a condition than a disease,” Aron added.
He warns that people should not forego calcium or other essential nutrients in their diets because of lactose intolerance. He points out that APA women are seeing a higher incidence of osteoporosis due to changes in dietary habits. APA women are not consuming dairy products because of uncomfortable reactions, and Western foods without calcium often replace soy products prevalent in Asia.
Supplements, lactaid milk and foods fortified with calcium, such as orange juice, all provide for nutritional needs. Aron also points out that the best place to get vitamin D, another essential element found in dairy, and calcium is through food rather than supplements. However, calcium pills at bedtime and adequate sunlight also allow vitamin D to absorb calcium from the skin.
“You can get calcium from leafy green vegetables, fish — especially salmon — tofu and calcium supplementation. You don’t need milk,” Aron said. “Most of the world doesn’t eat dairy. If those who are lactose intolerant enjoy eating dairy products, they really should take more lactose enzymes such as Lac-taid before they can enjoy the food. But if calcium is present in other foods, it’s not crucial they have dairy in their diet.”
Reach Ji Hyun Lim at jlim@asianweek.com.
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