Why does drinking milk cause diarrhea?

Milk is a nutritious product that is suitable for people of all ages, but some people will suffer from diarrhea after drinking milk. This may be caused by lactose intolerance. These people can choose yogurt or cheese, or they can choose to eat milk with other ingredients.

Milk has high nutritional value to the human body, but some people will experience stomach pain and diarrhea after drinking milk. Experts say this is caused by lactose intolerance. The main carbohydrate in dairy products is lactose. After a normal person drinks milk, the lactose is broken down by lactase in the small intestine and absorbed by the human body. However, people with lactose intolerance lack lactase in their bodies, which causes lactose to be unable to be broken down, increasing the osmotic pressure in the intestine. At the same time, intestinal bacteria break down lactose, producing large amounts of carbon dioxide, which stimulates the intestine and causes abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea.

Congenital lactose intolerance is extremely rare. In most infants, the amount and activity of lactase reach a peak a few days after birth. By the age of six or seven, 10% of children will develop lactose intolerance, and after the age of 30, about 40% of people will experience this phenomenon. The main cause of lactose intolerance is not drinking milk for a long time.

About 50% of the world's population suffers from lactose intolerance, especially Asians and African blacks. The probability of this happening to Caucasians is between 5% and 30%. Among people who mainly consume plant protein, the incidence of lactase deficiency is as high as over 90%.

Why do I have diarrhea after drinking milk?

The easiest way to treat diarrhea after drinking milk is to replace it with other protein-rich ingredients, such as yogurt, cheese, etc. Of course, you can also change the way you drink milk and consume it with other ingredients.