What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance is the
inability to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk. The
majority of people who are not of Northern European ancestry or
who do not customarily include dairy products in their diets are
affected. In the United States, up to 75 percent of all adult
African Americans and Native Americans, and 90 percent of Asian
Americans, are prone to develop lactose intolerance. What are
the symptoms? Consuming lactose causes bloating, abdominal pain
and, often, diarrhea. Symptoms usually develop between 30
minutes to two hours after ingesting milk products and can be
mild or severe depending in part on how much lactose is consumed
and the severity of the intolerance. However, many people who
are lactose intolerant can comfortably consume cultured dairy
products, including yogurt, buttermilk and cheese, in which the
lactose has been broken down by bacterial action. What are the
causes? The cause stems from a deficiency of lactase, an enzyme
produced in the lining of the