First, YEA!! Congratulate me because my 1 year old has outgrown his allergy to dairy. HOORAY! And now that he is no longer allergic, that means I also can return to all my favorite foods. I was addicted to milk (and all the other good stuff, like ice cream and chocolate), but had to give it up for the past year while I nursed. So last week I eased back into dairy with a few slices of pizza. The next night I had a bowl of cereal (with milk), and the following night I had a half a glass of milk. Each time, about half an hour later, I felt like I was going to throw up (it felt a lot like motion sickness). I took a Lactaid today before downing a Wendy's frosty and did just fine. SO, my question is... could I have become lactose intolerant at age 36, and could a year of no dairy cause this? I know several of you also gave up dairy while nursing. Did any of you experience this problem with returning to dairy?
you have the right idea of slowing eating dairy again, but try less harsh dairy stuff. Start with small stuff like crackers that have milk in them. Straight milk is hard for the body to break down, especially since you haven't done it for a year. It will take a while for your body to build up the enzymes again. Enjoy eating dairy; we are still waiting for our little one to outgrow the allergy :)
I was told once... by a nutritionist... that your body still knows how to break down the lactose.. it just needs to learn to do it again.. so go slowly... a bit of milk or milk products each day until your body is making the enzyme (lactase) again.
I have experienced that, too, after a break from dairy. Your body isn't used to it, but it also doesn't need cows milk and that's why. Cheese shouldn't be as bad as straight milk. If you want those things, keep eating them and you'll probably get used to it again, but I know a lot of women that have had new symptoms regardless. I switched to soy and don't eat ice cream for weight control anyway. Dark chocolate is milk free and better for you. If you have any reaction to other fats (meat, bacon, etc.) your gall bladder may be "sick" Also a common women's problem after our prime, but since lactaid worked, probably the cows milk.
One theory is that the older we get, the less lactase we produce. Could your body start generating it again? I don't know, but if you find a way to do that let me know. I was lactose intolerant as a baby, fine as a child, and then in my 20's started up again, and it has been downhill from there. It got a little better during my first pregnancy, but then went back tousual afater that. I always carry lactaid with me, I never know if dairy is hiding in there somewhere. But to answer your question, yes, you can develop it later, many do, and a considerable percentage of the population ( around 25-30%) are lactose intolerant. One study said that it is an evolutionary thing, so maybe we are evolved mroe than others...?LOL
A.,
After my 5th baby (age 38) I noticed problems reintroducing milk after a year of abstaining from it because it bothered my baby. My son is now 2 and finally I can have the occasional glass of milk without any discomfort (gas, & bloating). I found that a good probiotic helped immensely also.
