Ah, diarrhoea. A word that makes children smile but adults cringe. 😅
However, when it shows up after a delicious cheese meal or a glass of ice-cold milk, it's time to face the facts. lactose was the ugly duckling of our digestion? Let's delve into the world of grumbling tummies and protesting intestines.
What is acute diarrhoea?
Acute diarrhoea is the sudden emission of too frequent stools for less than 7 days (more than 3 times a day), too abundant and of abnormal consistency (liquid or very soft stools).
It is a frequent reason for consultation at the medical emergency wards, present mainly in infants and childrenIn addition to the above, adults frequently experience this symptom in cases of mass food poisoning and some cases of food intolerance.
Acute diarrhoea can be infectious in origin (gastroenteritis), inflammatory (Crohn's disease) or allergic (peanut allergy, egg protein allergy...).
Lactose intolerance
Episodes of acute diarrhoea are also seen in people with food intolerance, such as intolerance to lactose (milk sugar) which is linked to a lactase enzyme deficiencyThe absence of the latter prevents the breakdown of lactose into simple sugars (glucose and galactose) and causes fermentation in the digestive tract.
Lactose intolerance is abdominal syndrome marked by the appearance of stomach acheIn some cases, it can lead to vomiting, especially in children, 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingesting dairy products, due to their high lactose content.
Acute diarrhoea can become chronic, especially in people who do not have intense symptoms, they often neglect this symptom especially if the episodes of diarrhoea are distant. Diarrhoea in lactose intolerance is fluid diarrhoeaThis is an acidic and often violent meteorism (called meteorism), without the release of blood, triggered after taking dairy products or processed foods containing lactose, the frequency of diarrhoea depends on the amount of lactose ingested and the degree of lactase deficiency.
To combat diarrhoea caused by lactose intolerance, a low-lactose diet should be followed and/or supplement with lactase enzyme as proposed by Lactolerance.
The inability to digest lactose can be the cause of a number of digestive disorders which vary from one individual to another depending on the degree of intolerance. Among these symptoms, some people may experience diarrhoea when they consume foods containing lactose. Diarrhoea is a symptom that should not be overlooked, particularly as it can have consequences for the health of people with lactose intolerance. So let's take a look at this symptom of lactose intolerance.
Why can lactose intolerance cause diarrhoea?
Let's not forget that, Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase in our bodies. It is lactase that enables our bodies to digest lactose properly by breaking it down from a single complex sugar into two simple sugars. In most adults, the lactase enzyme is not present enough in our bodies for us to digest lactose-containing products properly. We are therefore naturally lactose intolerant, but to varying degrees from one individual to another. Everyone may experience different symptoms, ranging from borborygma to abdominal pain, flatulence or diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea is a digestive disorder which is not systematically associated with lactose intolerance. Because episodes of diarrhoea may be far apart, people with lactose intolerance do not always make the link with the consumption of a food containing lactose. Furthermore, the frequency of episodes of diarrhoea can vary according to the amount of lactose ingested and the degree of intolerance.
In the event of frequent diarrhoea, various tests can be carried out to confirm or rule out lactose intolerance. Diarrhoea can be infectious, inflammatory (Crohn's disease) or allergic (after eating peanuts or eggs, for example).
What can be done about digestive problems such as diarrhoea?
If you are lactose intolerant and suffer from regular diarrhoea, start by keeping a close eye on what you eat. Limit foods containing lactose or, if you wish, continue to consume lactose, opt for lactase enzyme supplementation. If you're lactose intolerant, you can take lactase in capsule or tablet form. Thanks to the absorption of lactase, the body is better able to assimilate lactose: you'll enjoy greater digestive comfort and be relieved of all the intestinal discomforts you suffered without supplementation.
Lactase in capsule or tablet form has been known for around thirty years. It is an enzyme that is very well tolerated by the body and causes no undesirable effects. At Lactolérance, we offer several types of supplementation. Lactolerance 1Day has been developed to cater for all levels of intolerance and a single daily intake is sufficient to permanently improve intestinal comfort. Our capsules are also suitable for people with moderate (4500) or severe (9000) intolerance: these formats offer one-hour protection. All you have to do is adapt your intake according to the type of food you wish to consume and your degree of intolerance.
Choose our Discovery Pack to stop ending up in the toilet 😉
Hello, I'm Vincent 😄
Like you, I'm lactose intolerantI know exactly what you're going through and the difficulties you encounter on a daily basis. For over 10 years, I've been helping our customers to use our dietary supplements and giving advice and tips on how to improve their digestive comfort. I'm also a keen cook and gourmet, so you'll find my favourite recipes for a lactose-free diet in this blog.
Lactose intolerance is not inevitable! With Lactolerance you can digest with complete peace of mind 😉