{"id":7133,"date":"2012-07-30T13:20:50","date_gmt":"2012-07-30T11:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/backtothebasics.me\/lactose-intolerance-causes-symptoms-and-holistic-approaches-to-treatment\/"},"modified":"2025-03-27T13:25:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T12:25:06","slug":"lactose-intolerance-causes-symptoms-and-holistic-approaches-to-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backtothebasics.me\/en\/lactose-intolerance-causes-symptoms-and-holistic-approaches-to-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Lactose intolerance – causes, symptoms and holistic approaches to treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Lactose intolerance – causes, symptoms and holistic approaches to treatment<\/p><\/h1><\/span>

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Lactose intolerance<\/strong> – along with fructose and sorbitol intolerance – is one of the so-called carbohydrate intolerances. In Germany, around 15 % of the population is affected, worldwide even significantly more. This intolerance can have a significant impact on quality of life, as it restricts the enjoyment of many foods and manifests itself in numerous, often unspecific symptoms. In this article, you will find out what exactly is behind lactose intolerance<\/strong>, how it develops, how it is diagnosed and what treatment options are available – both from a conventional medical and holistic perspective. <\/h3>\n

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What is lactose?<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Lactose is a so-called disaccharide, which occurs naturally in the milk of mammals. It is made up of two simple sugars: Glucose (dextrose) and galactose. In order for the body to be able to utilize this lactose, it must be broken down into its two components in the small intestine with the help of the enzyme lactase. Only in this form can they be absorbed via the intestinal mucosa. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

How does lactose intolerance develop?<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Lactose intolerance<\/strong> occurs when the body does not produce enough lactase or the enzyme is completely absent. The unsplit lactose then reaches deeper parts of the intestine, where it is broken down by bacteria – forming gases and acids. This leads to typical symptoms such as flatulence, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. <\/p>\n

There are two main forms:<\/p>\n

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1. primary lactose intolerance<\/h3>\n

This form is genetically determined. In many people, lactase production naturally decreases in the course of life – an evolutionarily normal process, as humans originally only consumed breast milk during infancy. In Europe, however, the primary form is rarer than in other parts of the world. <\/p>\n

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2. secondary lactose intolerance<\/h3>\n

Secondary lactose intolerance<\/strong> is caused by damage to the mucous membrane of the small intestine, for example by:<\/p>\n