How Do I Know if I Can't Digest Milk?

If you notice slight to extreme discomfort after consuming products with lactose, you may fall somewhere along the spectrum of being lactose intolerant. Symptoms range from moderate stomachaches to diarrhea and vomiting. The tricky thing with lactose intolerance is that some people have it from birth; others develop it in their teenage or adult years. You might not know you're lactose intolerant until you experience the symptoms.

Instructions

• 1

  Understand what lactose is, what foods contain lactose and how often you're eating lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products; it's contained in milk, ice cream, cream, butter, cheese and yogurt.

• 2

  Assess your statistical risk. Certain ethnic groups are more susceptible to lactose intolerance because they've been eating dairy products for less time than northern Europeans (who are generally not lactose intolerant). Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and southern Europeans are more likely to be genetically disposed to lactose intolerance.

• 3

  Remove all lactose from your diet for two weeks. Assess whether your symptoms have cleared up.

• 4

  Reintroduce lactose into your diet. Start with 4 oz. or fewer, per day, of foods containing lactose. Assess whether your symptoms have returned. Slowly increase the amount of dairy in your diet to assess your level of lactose sensitivity. If you have no symptoms as you increase your intake, your stomach issues are probably caused by a different aspect of your diet or lifestyle.

• 5

  Ask your doctor for a breath or stool test if symptoms persist at the reintroduction of lactose into your diet.