Gastrointestinal upsets following the ingestion of dairy products is the first sign that you may be developing lactose intolerance. Lactose Intolerance is diagnosed when one has significant difficulty digesting cow's milk. Lactose is the primary sugar in milk and other dairy products made from milk. Gas and bloating. Painful cramps following a meal rich in dairy products.
Lactase is necessary to digest all milk products, with the exception of mother's milk.
When a body lacks this basic enzyme, the sugars in dairy products absorb large amounts of fluid and cause diarrhea and other symptoms listed above. Short-lived episodes of lactose intolerance are common in small children after suffering gastroenteritis or other viruses, which may damage the lining of the intestine. However, lactose intolerance almost always develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. Lactose intolerance is sometimes an inherited disorder, though there are no exact causes known which produce this disease or its symptoms. Because the human body requires calcium, it is never advisable to just stop consuming milk or other dairy products.