What is lactose intolerance?
The inability to digest the sugar that is present in the milk and its derivatives is the main cause of lactose intolerance. A person feels uncomfortable during digestion as lactose ferments in the intestine due to a lack of lactase enzyme.
The sugar in milk called lactose, which is digested by lactase. The latter breaks down sugar from food into glucose and galactose to facilitate absorption by the intestine. Lactose is not digested but it is fermented in the colon if there is a small amount of lactase. In this case, it causes pain, diarrhea, and gas.
It is important to note that babies cannot suffer from lactose intolerance. The effectiveness of lactase decreases after stopping breastfeeding, but this varies from person to another. Lactase levels may decrease with age, but lactase activity in many adults may be equal to lactase activity in infants.
