INTOLERANCE to LACTOSE: how to OVERCOME the PROBLEM.

We hear more and more of lactose intolerance: if we do not suffer from it firsthand, we almost certainly know someone who is affected by it. And many people confuse this problem with allergic reactions, while these are two very different situations.

To deal with intolerance in a healthy and correct way, and to learn how to manage it, we must truly understand what problem lies behind the words lactose intolerance. Let's try to understand in a simple and step-by-step way, what happens when a person finds himself having to manage this situation.

The story of the lactose we ingest

Lactose is the main sugar in milk. It consists of two linked units: glucose and galactose.

When we eat foods that contain lactose, it reaches the intestines. Here, normally, there is a specific agent (an enzyme) called lactase, which digests lactose, or breaks it down into its two components: like a scissor that cuts the string that binds glucose and galactose. This splitting action is critical because glucose and galactose can only be absorbed by the intestine one at a time, not bound together as in lactose.

Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerant people produce little lactase, a problem that can be congenital or acquired with age (sometimes it can even be transient, resulting from some diseases).

What happens when an intolerant person takes lactose?

When the lactose arrives, the little lactase found in the intestine begins to perform its task, breaking down as much lactose as possible. But if the amount of lactase is not sufficient, it cannot take care of everything, and some of this sugar proceeds further, passing to another area of the intestine, decidedly different: the colon. This intestinal tract is populated by microscopic creatures: the intestinal flora, which is so often talked about, and which is so important for the well-being of the organism.

Some of the microorganisms of the flora are very greedy for lactose, and in a certain sense they "eat" it using it for energy, through fermentation. The waste from this process are many different gases, including hydrogen.

As if that were not enough, the presence of lactose in the colon draws water. The intestine then fills with liquids and gases, causing the typical symptoms of intolerance: abdominal distension, painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea, flatulence, bloating.

Is it possible to "cure" lactose intolerance?

Almost always, when lactose intolerance appears, it becomes a condition that persists throughout life. On the other hand, there are no therapies capable of increasing the capacity of the intestine to digest lactose. Only in some cases this intolerance can be temporary, or when the reduction in the amount of lactase is the consequence of damage to the intestine caused by particular drugs or diseases. In these cases, when the bowel damage is resolved, the intolerance disappears.

However, the symptoms of intolerance can be remedied through adequate eating habits that allow you to avoid both the appearance of disorders and the risk of deficiencies in nutrients that are important for the well-being of the organism.

It is good to know that there are lactose intolerances with different effects; some people only have a slight lactase deficiency and this allows them to take a certain amount of lactose without any problems.

Each person can frame their level of intolerance, learning to self-regulate in food intake.

Can someone who is lactose intolerant take risks to their health?

Basically, no, but its diet must be varied and balanced, in order to obtain the adequate amount of calcium, an essential substance first of all for the health of bones and teeth.

Is milk really to be avoided?

The amount of milk that lactose intolerant can consume varies depending on how much lactose is taken from other foods during the day. On average, a good part of intolerant people manage to consume about 12 grams of lactose per day without any problems (equivalent to about 250 ml of cow's milk). For people who do not want to replace milk with foods of equal nutritional value, it is advisable to consume milk with solid foods which can decrease the rate at which food passes from the stomach to the small intestine. If the lactose travels slower in the intestine, it can be digested more easily. There are also milks with a reduced content of lactose or even without.

What about yogurt?

Usually yogurt (except those with milk cream) is more tolerated than milk because it contains less lactose and also because the lactic ferments present can help digest it.

What about cheeses?

In cheeses the presence of lactose is varied and in any case decreases in combination with the lengthening of the aging period. This is why it is better to choose aged cheeses over fresh ones. Cheeses such as Grana or Parmesan have a lactose content close to zero.

But…

There are people whose intolerance is so high that they are forced to eliminate any source of lactose from their diet.

Unfortunately, sometimes lactose is present in foods that seem to be beyond suspicion (such as mashed potatoes, cured meats ...) or in some medications. Furthermore, we may not always know what lies on our plate, for example when we eat meals prepared by others, such as in the canteen or restaurant.

For all these situations it could be useful to take food supplements to promote the digestion of lactose. Lactosì by Naturando is one of these supplements.

How does Lactosì work?

Lactosì provides a high quantity of lactase which, once it reaches the intestine, can break down lactose where the body's work cannot keep up with the quantity of sugar ingested.

The high quantity of lactase, provided with Lactosì, guarantees the digestion of lactose in a timely manner, avoiding the danger of triggering the symptoms of intolerance.

Lactosì has a high lactase content

A capsule of Lactosì, thanks to the high content of Lactase (14,000 FCC units), is able to efficiently digest about 5 grams of lactose, the equivalent of 100 ml of milk. A simple table contained in the package shows the quantities of lactose in the most common foods, allowing you to adjust the doses to be taken.

The specific gastro-resistant capsules guarantee the safe arrival of lactase in the intestine.

Lactosì also contains:

• Fennel - Thanks to its action on the rebalancing of intestinal gases, it collaborates with lactase for the maintenance of a healthy intestine;

• White clay - Complete the composition of the product.