Researchers say most people who think they have lactose intolerance are mistaken. A lot of people who claim to have reaction to the protein in milk or sugar lactose are merely stressed or could be consuming too much of fatty foods. Though milk allergies do exist, but they are a rare phenomenon particularly among adults.
In order to analyze the theory, a team led by Professor Guido Basilisco tested more than one hundred people suffering from stomach pain, bloating and diarrohea and those who believed that they were intolerant to lactose. They want to observe if those people really had problems in breaking down and absorbing the sugar into their blood.
The study participants were also asked about their physical and mental health, including whether they were depressed or anxious or suffered from general aches and pains. This divulged their stomach problems to have little to do digestion of lactose. However their mental state seemed to be to fund responsible for the same.
There was no qualm that genes of some people genes made it difficult for them to digest lactose and this caused stomach troubles when they drink large quantity of milk. But a lot of people who claimed to experience problems from a cup of coffee or a hot chocolate were absolutely capable of digesting lactose, stated Dr Basilisco.
A cow’s milk allergy affects up to seven percent of babies under one year, but most outgrow it by the age of six. People should not to be too rapid to cut dairy products out of their diets and doctors should think twice about subjecting patients who claim to be lactose intolerant to lots of physical tests, added Dr Basilisco.
Prof Peter Whorewell a gastroenterologist from the Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester stated that the bewilderment about allergies and intolerances left people susceptible to bad advice. They also see many people who have changed to soya milk based on the belief that they are milk intolerant and such people are often encouraged to go back on milk again to check up on this.
However, it is sometimes quite difficult to persuade people to change their ways once they are convinced a food is upsetting them. The whole area of food intolerance is full of hot air and not much science, which makes it a very good area for charlatan, who comes up with some crazy new diets and techniques for testing, added Prof Whorewell.
source ; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health