What Is Cows Milk Intolerance?
Cow’s milk intolerance refers to the inability of some people to properly digest the natural sugars found in food products made from the milk of a cow. This digestive problem is also known as cow’s milk lactose intolerance. In the normal digestive system, the small intestine produces an enzyme called lactase that breaks down the sugar lactose commonly found in cow’s milk. Some people do not produce enough lactase in the small intestine and therefore experience digestive distress after consuming milk products. Cow’s milk intolerance should not be confused with cow’s milk allergy, which is a serious, often life-threatening, immune system reaction.
Cow’s milk intolerance refers to the inability of some people to properly digest the natural sugars found in food products made from the milk of a cow. This digestive problem is also known as cow’s milk lactose intolerance. In the normal digestive system, the small intestine produces an enzyme called lactase that breaks down the sugar lactose commonly found in cow’s milk. Some people do not produce enough lactase in the small intestine and therefore experience digestive distress after consuming milk products. Cow’s milk intolerance should not be confused with cow’s milk allergy, which is a serious, often life-threatening, immune system reaction. Typically occurring in adulthood rather than in childhood, cow’s milk intolerance begin suddenly. It is associated with a lactase-production gene that can be passed down through families. Also, it is more common in people of Native American, Asian, African, and South American descent rather than people of European descent.
