Why does drinking milk sometimes cause diarrhea

Answer: Some people will have intestinal sounds, abdominal pain and even diarrhea after drinking milk, mainly due to the lactose contained in milk, and lactose catabolism in the body needs to have lactase participation, some people due to the lack of lactase in the body, so that lactose can not be digested in the intestines, resulting in discomfort, which is called "lactose intolerance" in medicine, which is a normal reaction of lack of lactase, rather than the quality of milk.

Lactase deficiency is a worldwide problem, lactase levels in the body generally decrease or even lose with age, and the incidence of lactose intolerance also varies by race and geography, with about 20% of Asians suffering from this condition. However, this symptom can be reduced or eliminated. As long as you insist on drinking, drink less each time, from less to more, do not drink on an empty stomach, over time can promote the body's lactase production and improve the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

In addition, it is also possible to consume dairy products such as cheese, yogurt or low-lactose milk to obtain nutrients such as protein.

It has something to do with one's physique. Human milk or cow's milk or goat's milk contains a component sugar called lactose. Digestion of lactose is necessary with a special enzyme called lactase.

As we age, this enzyme gradually decreases, and by adulthood there is little or no lactase, and there is not enough lactase to digest lactose when drinking milk. When lactose reaches the intestines, it is decomposed and fermented by intestinal bacteria, producing a large amount of carbon dioxide gas, which expands the intestines and stimulates intestinal peristalsis, making the contractions stronger, causing intestinal sounds and diarrhea.

Statistics have found that the rate of milk intolerance in the East is as high as more than 90%, and the symptoms vary from person to person. Doctors point out that this phenomenon is genetically determined and will not be changed by the acquired environment; To alleviate the symptoms of milk intolerance, drinking dairy products should be accompanied by other foods, which may reduce the chance of diarrhea.

According to medical reports, milk intolerance is a common nutrient absorption disorder, and many people are unable to break down milk into glucose and galactose after drinking milk, resulting in the accumulation of a large amount of short-bond fatty acids and hydrogen in the intestines, resulting in symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating or abdominal cramps. This phenomenon is influenced by a recessive gene that affects the activity of lactase, which will not be changed by the external environment, so patients with lactosate intolerance can only avoid diarrhea by not drinking milk.

Interestingly, human lactase only gradually decreases after the weaning period; Therefore, infants and young children who drink milk will not have diarrhea, but will only develop milk intolerance after adulthood. Surveys show that the majority of people with such problems are Orientals. The way to avoid milk intolerance is to drink milk slowly, or add two slices of bread to prolong the time it takes for the stomach to empty, or it may reduce the chance of diarrhea.

It is best to eat less honey after diarrhea, because honey has a laxative effect, and eating more will aggravate diarrhea!