Parasite Cleanse FAQ:
What I meant about the parasite thing, is could there be a parasite out there that could cause same symptoms as L.I. That it could be confused with it. I dont have medical ins. right now either, so I cant go to a doc.
What I meant about the parasite thing, is could there be a parasite out there that could cause same symptoms as L.I. That it could be confused with it. I dont have medical ins. right now either, so I cant go to a doc.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I developed Lactose Intolerance during pregnancy. It was probably caused by antibiotics, because I had to take 6 different types of them for a resistant UTI.
Needless to say my gut flora is pretty screwed… I started getting really bad gas every time I drank milk. It progressively got much worse to the point where drinking milk would give me diarrhea within thirty minutes. I switched to Lactaid, and it helped a LOT. Drinking soy milk is also a good alternative.
I am not so sure about the parasite issue. If you have taken any broad spectrum antibiotics lately, that might have been what caused the lactose intolerance.
The culprit ?? (at least the one that gave me the problems)
Keflex
Parasites do not caused lactose intolerance. Lactose is the sugar that is in dairy products. You lack an enzyme that breaks down this compound.
Karen, RN
Over 90% of the adult population worldwide does not have the genetic predisposition to digest dairy. The fact is we eat many things we are not meant to eat and our bodies figure out how to cope. Try cutting back, you may decide you feel so much better that you wouldn’t want to find a coping mechanism to eat it.
Here’s an easy test for lactose intolerance:
For at least one week, don’t eat or drink any milk-containing products … read the labels to make sure there is no dairy or whey.
Then drink a pint or so of skim milk. Do this on a day when you don’t have to go to school or work.
If you are lactose intolerant, you will get gas, cramps and even diarrhea. If this happens, the cure is simple. Just stop eating and drinking food with lactose in it.
If what you have is a parasite, the week of no dairy will not change your symptoms.
Well, I’ve done a little reading on it, and I suppose it’s possible that you’ve contracted Giardiasis (parasite) and that is causing your current lactose intolerance. More likely, I believe, is that something had damaged the ability of your intestine to produce the lactase enzyme, thus causing your intolerance.
As for what could have done this, it could be a number of things. Certainly, a parasite like Giardiasis is one of them. A symptom of it is lactose intolerance (this can last past the time the parasite is removed). It may be that you currently have Giardiasis, or perhaps that you contracted it earlier and it caused damage. Do you have any other symptoms? If you do, it may be this (nausia, cramps, decreased appetite, generally feeling ill… it’s fairly hard to diagnose). What about the water you’ve drinken? Eaten any undercooked or raw food like sushi lately? Perhaps it isn’t Giardiasis in specific, but another parasite that has similar symptoms.
For some info on Giardiasis, see:
Case and point:
I love sushi. So do a few of my other family members. A number of years back, my sister and I ate at a particular sushi restaurant, and thought things were fine and good. Well, they weren’t. We both contracted some sort of parasite (or so it seems) and were ill for a while after (between a week and two weeks the effects lasted, nausia and stomach upset were two of the major ones). My sister is fine and healthy now, but ever since then, I’ve been lactose intolerant. My belief is that I contracted a parasite (Giardiasis, or one with similar effects) and that there has been lasting damage to my intestine’s ability to produce lactase. Interestingly, I also gained what may be a gluten intolerance at the same time, but this might be unrelated.
Aside from the Giardiasis theory, it could also be caused by things like antibiotics (as noted earlier by “Sunsolei & Mintu”) that caused damage. Some people, as “missmaethomas” pointed out, simply don’t have the genetic predisposition to digest these dairy products (example: many Japanese are noted to have a higher risk of lactose intolerance due to the fact that lactose isn’t commonly included in their diet… but those who are intolerant are rarely less healthy for it). I’ve also read in a number of places that the production of lactase decreases in most people as they age, and results in an intolerance.
To sum things up, there may not be much you can do about being lactose intolerant, because it is likely caused by damage to your body’s ability to produce lactase, the enzyme that helps you to digest lactose, whether that damage was caused by antibiotics or a past/current parasitic infection (which, although some disagree, seems well-within the realm of possibility!).
If you believe that it is being caused by a parasite that you currently have, then you can try to detox in order to clear them out, perhaps best done by natural means instead of anti-biotics and whatnot.. (but don’t forget to re-introduce the proper bacteria to your intestines, or you could do more harm than good!). There isn’t anything I know of that can be done to correct your body’s lack of lactase production, but measures can be taken to deal with the symptoms of intolerance. Depending on the severity of your intolerance, you could avoid all products containing lactose all together, although simply cutting back would help a lot. Consider spreading the consumption of any dairy products throughout the day (side note: lactose is sometimes added in products like sliced bread and sausages, it’s not only present in dairy. Who’d have thought?). Drinking lactose free milk and plant-based milks like soy milk would also help you avoid drinking regular milk. In addition to these measures, I suggest buying some “lactaid dietary supplements”. Lactaid is a company that produces a dietary supplement containing lactase enzyme that is made in varying strengths and in both chewables and capsules. This (taken right before consuming lactose) aids in digestion and alleviates symptoms. I used their products a while back, so I can attest to this. They also sell lactose-free milk (which is a bit expensive, but tastes pretty good and is very much worth the price!). When or if you get insurance (if you really want to be sure that you still have this intolerance and aren’t satisfied with at-home testing) you can contact a medical professional and ask for a Hydrogen Breath Test.
It means that you’ll have to make a few more changes to your lifestyle; getting rid of the possible parasite may not solve your problems. But that’s alright, because it doesn’t have to negatively affect your health. =) I hope this answer helped to clear a few things up for you!
If you get any new or different information that you think might be of use or conflicts with what I’ve told you, please email me at… , I’d like to know (seeing as I’m also lactose intolerant and probably by a similar means!)