Lactose intolerance is a condition the vast majority of the world's population suffer from to some degree, particularly adults. What's more is, whilst lactose intolerance is so common, and some people may suffer terribly with it, the majority of sufferers do not know they are lactose intolerant, and are unaware it is lactose which is causing their bodies distress.
So what is lactose, and why are so many people intolerant to it?
Lactose is one of the prime sugar compounds found in milk. It is present in any milk which comes from animals or humans. In our bodies, we have many different kinds of enzymes which deal with our food intake. These enzymes are basically converters. They take the raw materials we consume, and convert them into special fuel and nutrients our bodies can then use. Without these enzymes, our bodies wouldn't be able to run on what we give them as raw materials, almost like a diesel car wouldn't run if you put petrol into it.
So these enzymes are critical to our survival and wellbeing. The enzyme which is responsible for converting lactose into something useful is lactase, which is produced within the small intestine, and the something useful is glucose. Glucose is our bodies' main energy source, and our brains and nervous systems rely only on glucose to function, so it is vitally important.
As babies, our lactose tolerance tends to be at its highest in our lifetimes. This is because of human evolution, where females produce breast milk and babies are weaned on this milk, and sometimes only on this milk, for a short time. Because a baby needs glucose, and milk may be the only thing consumed in the earliest days, these high levels of lactase production ensure the baby gets the most from their feed, wasting very little lactose.
When a baby gets older, between the ages of 2 - 5, we tend to lose much of our tolerance to lactose. The reason for this is, although lactose can sustain a baby during the earliest times, it is absolutely inadequate and inefficient as a main glucose source for people who are older and more active. When we get older and begin eating other foods, our main source of glucose is carbohydrates. Because of this, our small intestines begin to produce less of the lactase enzyme, because high amounts simply aren't needed anymore.
The result is, when we drink milk or consume other products which are high in lactose content, our bodies can have a hard time processing all of the lactose due to such low lactase production. This can lead to symptoms such as stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhoea. Of course, symptoms will depend entirely on an individual's lactase production levels and lactose consumption levels.
Although you may not know it, the simple fact is, humans were never meant to continue consuming the quantities of milk we do - if at all - past the weaning period. We have only recently begun to do so since humans domesticated animals such as cows and begun to consume their milk. On the evolutionary scale, the time we've been practicing this is minute, therefore our bodies haven't for the most part genetically evolved to continue producing good levels of lactase in adulthood. This isn't the case for some people, however. In parts of northern Europe where dairy farming and milk consumption have been going on for generations and generations, some people have genetically developed what is known as 'lactase persistence' into adulthood, where lactase production has remained high allowing high quantities of milk to be consumed without any side effects. Northern Europe and those of Northern European descent are thought to be the most lactose tolerant people in the world.
It is worth noting not all babies are lactose tolerant, and some may suffer side effects. If you think your baby may be lactose intolerant, you should raise your concerns with your doctor immediately to prevent the baby from suffering.
There are different factors that account for the development of bad breath and hence different solutions are needed to combat it. In this article we are going to understand the connection between bad breath and lactose intolerance.
First of all we have to understand what lactose intolerance is? Firstly, lactose is a sugar, which is found in milk and other dairy products. After these foods are eaten, the lactose will be metabolized (broken down) by an enzyme known as lactase.
Unfortunately, sometimes the body does not produce lactase or there is decreased production of lactase in the body. When this happens, it will result in gastric problems and the lactose will not be broken down in the gastrointestinal tract.
When the lactose is not broken down due to the absence of the enzyme lactase, this will result in symptoms which are similar to stomach virus and hence it is difficult to discern whether the person is suffering from lactose intolerance or stomach flu.
Usually, it is only through examining each individual's medical history and different tests that it is determined that the culprit is lactose intolerance. If you suspect that you are suffering from lactose intolerance, do share with your doctor the list of specific foods that cause you to feel uncomfortable. This will help your doctor to make a diagnosis sooner.
The signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance are nausea, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and an exceptionally bad breath.
These symptoms occur because the body is not accepting the lactose. Usually, the symptoms will start to clear up once the lactose is removed from the body. Among the most significant symptom is the occurrence of very foul breath. It can be so bad that your friends around you can smell it even if they are many feet away.
Typically, people would assume that the individual is suffering from poor oral hygiene but in reality the individual is suffering from lactose intolerance.
The lactose when ingested by lactose intolerant individuals results in gastric symptoms mentioned above and the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract acts upon the lactose rich foods and results in fermentation that produces foul smelling gas. This gas unfortunately is exhaled out through the lungs and that is how bad breath and lactose intolerance are connected.
The connection between lactose intolerance and halitosis can be further confirmed through a hydrogen breath test. Normally there is a very little amount of hydrogen present in the breath but in a lactose intolerant individual who has ingested lactose rich foods, the hydrogen content is going to be much higher than the normal. This shows that the lactose is not broken down properly.
After you have understood the connection between bad breath and lactose intolerance, you may be wondering how did you become lactose intolerant in the first place. That answer lies in your genes. Lactose intolerance can also occur with the advancing age. So if you find out that you are having halitosis and unable to find any apparent cause to it, then you must look into lactose intolerance as this might be the culprit causing this problem.
Both Nicky Pilkington & Kelvin Ho are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.