Are you REALLY Lactose Intolerant?Bring Dairy Back into Your lIfe
Do you really have a lactose intolerance?
-
First, what is lactose intolerance?
-
Lactose intolerance is the inability to breakdown the milk sugar lactose, which can lead to bloating, gas and diarrhea. Lactose intolerance is usually the result of not being able to produce the enzyme lactase, which is produced in the small intestine.
-
Most individuals are able to digest milk at birth. As the weaning period ends, lactase production will decline, particularly in communities who do not traditionally consume dairy. Essentially, if your body has no need to produce lactase, it stops.
-
Other people create a lactose intolerance later in life. In my research, there are two main reasons for developing lactose intolerance, both are connected to stress.
-
👉GI distress. Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine can come from an under fueled GI system, hard to digest foods and a slow transit time. These bacteria can damage the lining of the small intestine, inhibiting the production of lactase.
-
👉A decrease in progesterone production. Under stress progesterone is reduced, while cortisol and estrogen production increase. High cortisol and low progesterone can inhibit lactase production.
-
If you think you are lactose intolerant...
-Here are 8 things you can do to start tolerating dairy/milk again.
-
1. Work on fixing your gut. Remove hard to digest food, daily raw carrot salad, bone broth, honey, reduce stress, and fuel the body with adequate carbs and protein.
-
2. Start with dairy that contains a VERY small amount of lactose-ie. Parmesan Reggiano.
-
3. Try A2, goat, sheep, buffalo milk. All are easier to digest than cow's milk
-
4. Try raw milk as it contains the lactase enzyme
-
5. Try adding milk back in VERY slowly. Start with 1 T./day, add another T. every few days.
-
6. Try lactose-FREE milk or take a lactase enzyme with your milk. FYI-lactose free milk is regular milk with added lactase.
*Try Dairy Absorb by @mitolife. Use CODE: DEERING15 for 15%
-
7. Add gelatin/collagen to your milk. Gelatin has been shown to improve the digestion of milk.
-
8. Support progesterone production and estrogen detox. SEE my post on estrogen and progesterone.