Lactose Intolerance Tolerance Needs to Go

My roommate carries a bottle of pills around when he goes out to eat. At home he takes those pills before meals. After meals he is often seen making a beeline for the bathroom. He is lactose intolerant.

Lactose intolerance is not at all uncommon. Between 30 million and 50 million Americans suffer from this ailment. It may not be fatal, but its effects are far from pleasant. They include nausea, cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea. Despite its widespread nature and temporarily disabling symptoms, very little is done to find a cure.

Millions of dollars are pumped into medical research each year to cure unknown, isolated illnesses. Lactose intolerance is America�s overlooked disease. Science has turned its back on those who suffer. It hides behind the thought that it either isn�t curable, or isn�t serious enough to worry about.

Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest the complex sugar lactose. This sugar is found in all dairy products. The cells of the small intestine, for whatever reason, don�t produce the digestive enzymes necessary to break down lactose. The symptoms begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose.

This means 30 million people in this country eat little or no dairy. Some can�t eat cheese. Others can�t handle yogurt. Imagine your morning without breakfast cereal, butter, cream cheese, or that tall glass of creamy milk.

One option for lactose intolerant people is supplemental enzymes in the form of pills and food additives. These cost money, of course, and usually aren�t completely effective. They allow for indulgence, with minimal aftershocks. The other alternative is abstinence. No dairy. With this option comes the nutrition balancing act. Calcium is hard to get without drinking milk.

Imagine if you were lactose intolerant. Take that vat of Ben and Jerry�s out of the freezer and throw it away. You can forget about calling Pizza Hut. All they deliver for you now is a trip to the bathroom.

It�s not just dairy products. Beyond milk, lactose is used as the base for more than 20 percent of prescription drugs and about 6 percent of over-the-counter medicines. These products usually only affect extreme cases, but the risk is there.

There is no known cure. The causes are relatively unknown. Injury to the small intestine is one known cause. For the most part, it is thought of as something that just happens. The world has grown to accept and tolerate it as a necessary evil. With all of the medical advances of recent history, what has been done for the 20 percent of Americans who can�t tolerate milk products?

It may not be the greatest health concern. Cancer and Aids are definitely more threatening due to their fatal nature. But for my roommate and the other 50 million people who suffer from it, lactose intolerance is a hindrance to a lifestyle. It lowers their standard of living. Maybe it�s time to do some research and really help them enjoy eating.