It explains why they cause diarrhea and possible substitutes or solutions that may help ease loose or watery stools.
This condition is called lactose intolerance, and its very common in people over the age of 2.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance can include gas, diarrhea, bloating, cramps, nausea, and bad breath.
Riou / Stockbyte / Getty Images
Avoiding milk products is generally the way to prevent diarrhea triggered by lactose intolerance.
There are some over-the-counter products that can help with the digestion of milk sugar, most specificallylactose supplements.
There are even milk products in which lactose has already been broken down, making them easier to digest.
JBfotoblog / Getty Images
Lactose intolerance is not the same as a truemilk allergy.
In addition to diarrhea, abdominal cramps and rectal burning are common when too many spicy foods are consumed.
Interestingly,casein, a protein found in milk, can lessen the burning effect of capsaicin.
Colin Anderson / Getty Images
Coffee, black teas, and colas are common sources of caffeine.
Other, lesser-known sources include chocolate and energy drinks containing guarana.
If you have a taste for coffee but are struggling with diarrhea, decaffeinated coffee is certainly an option.
Krystian Nawrocki / Getty Images
Or, you could try chicory coffee made from the root of the chicory plant.
They are also known as “solid fats” because they congeal and harden at room temperature.
Even so-called “healthy” foods touted as “sugar-free” may contain these artificial sweeteners.
Bill Boch / Getty Images
It’s about 100 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar and less likely to cause diarrhea.
Di Costanzo M, Berni Canani R.Lactose intolerance: common misunderstandings.Ann Nutr Metab.
