- Make It Yourself Lavender Heart-Shaped Bath Bombs!
- 20 Things You Never Knew About “Down There”
- 12 Best Foods For Those Suffering From Arthritis Pain
- 12 Personal Hygiene Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes (Mom Never Told You About #4!)
- 15 Medicinal Plants And Herbs From The Cherokee People
- 12 Mind-Blowing Benefits Of Drinking Coconut Water During Pregnancy
- 12 Outstanding Winter Foods That Won’t Fatten You Up Like A Christmas Turkey
Natural Treatments For Lactose Intolerance
Photo credit: bigstock.com
If you are not suffering from lactose intolerance yourself, you may know someone who is. It seems that this illness has become more popular in the past 10 years. If you are unsure of exactly what it is, here is a synopsis of this uncomfortable condition.
What is Lactose Intolerance and What Causes it?
In simple terms, lactose intolerance is where people cannot digest lactose, or milk, as well as the sugar that is in milk. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that the cause is because the person’s body doesn’t have enough lactase which is the enzyme that metabolizes the lactose in the small intestines.
The NIH states that by the time people reach the age of 20 more than 30 million people will be lactose intolerant. You can develop intolerance to lactose at any time in your life. Even though you may be intolerant of lactose it is not a milk allergy. You could find that you are predisposed to being lactose intolerant because of genetics or it could come about because of an injury or illness in the small intestine.
What are the Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance?
Symptoms can appear after consuming a large quantity of milk products or a small amount of dairy, either one will show signs of the disease. The symptoms that you get because of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and a bloated stomach
For most people, the first thing they do to treat their lactose intolerance is to stay away from milk and dairy products. Besides milk, they need to stay away from cereals, cream soups, and non-dairy creamers. Here are some additional ways you can treat your lactose intolerance naturally to keep yourself feeing well on a consistent basis.
1. Lemon juice
Lemon juice is an effective treatment for an upset stomach you may have from your lactose intolerance. Take the juice of one fresh lemon and add it to a glass of warm water. Add a little organic honey and mix together; drink it before your meals.
Continue to Page 2
Photo credit: bigstock.com
2. Saffron
Saffron is effective in treating lactose intolerance because it is able to coat the membranes in your stomach, colon, and small intestine which leaves you with a digestive system that is at a healthy level. Saffron is also able to alleviate pain you may have in your stomach and it also relieves the formation of gas in your intestine. It is suggested that you drink a cup of saffron tea every day in order to help put an end to lactose intolerance.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
This product will help you especially if you have just begun to experience lactose intolerance. Apple cider vinegar helps to neutralize any stomach acid that accumulates because of your lactose intolerance and it also eases digestive problems. Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix it in a cup of water. Drink it every day for a week.
4. Cheese and Yogurt
If you are lactose intolerant you may be surprised that you can eat things like cheese and yogurt because they are able to bring the levels of lactose down. You can eat foods that are higher in fat because they usually have lower levels of lactose whereas low fat foods have higher levels. You can eat yogurt that has live cultures, hard cheeses, and high-fat cottage cheese.
5. Lactase supplement
Taking a lactase supplement will help treat your lactose intolerance by helping you digest lactose and reducing the chances of getting gastrointestinal problems. Take three pills before eating anything that contains lactose.
Continue to Page 3
Photo credit: bigstockphoto.com
6. Ginger
In order to avoid indigestion, you can take a teaspoon of grated ginger to boiled water. Let it steep for a couple of minutes and add some honey or a couple of drops of lemon juice if you like. You can take in up to three cups of ginger tea each day.
7. Rice tea
Rice tea is effective in treating lactose intolerance. Once you boil some water, you can add up to a half cup of rice and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Once the rice softens, strain it to get the rice out. You can add ice to the rice tea and some honey to taste. Take the tea a couple of times a day to get relief.
8. Cocoa powder
If you like to bake cakes you probably already have cocoa powder already in your cabinet. Cocoa is very effective in helping the stomach properly digest lactose. A mixture of cocoa powder and sugar is encouraged to be consumed before each meal to avoid any digestive problems.
9. Peppermint
If you are suffering from lactose intolerance and are experiencing pain, you may end up with even more serious side effects such as diarrhea. Taking peppermint can help you to relieve your pain and calm your digestive system down. Included in the peppermint is menthol and that is effective in treating your gastrointestinal tract and your gallbladder. Make yourself some peppermint tea and sip a cup 2 or 3 times every day. You can add a little honey to taste.
READ ALSO: Exciting Natural Treatments For Asthma That Really Work!
10. Chamomile Tea
Another tea that is effective in treating lactose intolerance is chamomile. It helps to treat bloating and digestive issues. It has been effective in neutralizing acid in your stomach and the tannins it contains helps to alleviate spasms and pain in the stomach. It is suggested that you drink cups of chamomile tea a couple of time each day to get immediate relief from your lactose intolerance.
References:
