Why are most people not lactose intolerant?

Why are most people not lactose intolerant?

Thousands of years ago, a mutation in the human genome allowed many adults to digest lactose and drink milk. Up until several thousand years ago, that enzyme turned off once a person grew into adulthood — meaning most adults were lactose intolerant (or “lactase nonpersistent,” as scientists call it).

Why does lactose intolerance get worse as you age?

Can lactose intolerance symptoms get worse? Lactose intolerance often gets worse as you age and your body loses the ability to produce lactase. Still, the severity of symptoms is usually relative to the amount of lactose you consume.

Is lactose intolerance more common in adults or children?

Lactose intolerance is very common in adults. It is rarely dangerous. About 30 million American adults have some degree of lactose intolerance by age 20. In white people, lactose intolerance often develops in children older than age 5.

Can you outgrow lactose intolerance?

Children typically develop a milk allergy in the first six months of life, and the majority outgrow it by age three, while lactose intolerance develops after age three and gets worse with age.

What percentage of the world is lactose-intolerant?

Up to 65 percent of people in the world are unable to digest lactose, with that number rising to 90 percent within certain ethnic groups. Data show that approximately 79 percent of Native Americans are lactose intolerant.

What foods contain lactose?

Foods that contain lactose in small quantities include: Bread and baked goods. Milk chocolate and some candies. Salad dressings and sauces. Breakfast cereals and cereal bars. Instant potatoes, soups, rice and noodle mixes. Lunch meats (other than kosher). Cheese flavored crackers and other snacks.

Is lactose free milk bad for kids?

Lactase is produced less frequently as a child gets older, and some children may experience a lactose intolerance as a toddler instead of as an infant. Lactose free milk has been treated with lactase so that the milk sugar is completely broken down. Nutritionally , lactose free milk is comparable to regular cow’s milk.

What are the side effects of lactose intolerance?

bloating,