Welcome back to Ask a Nutritionist, our weekly mini episode of Dishing Up Nutrition.

I'm Amy Kum, a registered dietitian with nutritional weight and wellness.

And today we're tackling the question,

am I lactose intolerant or is something else going on? If you've ever wondered if your GI issues

are related to dairy, that glass of milk you've had or the meal with a lot of cheese on it,

then this episode is for you. Lactose intolerance is very common,

and the good news is it's usually manageable,

once you know what's going on.

We'll walk through what lactose intolerance actually is,

how to distinguish between lactose intolerance and dairy sensitivity,

and what you can do about it if you have an intolerance or a sensitivity.

First, let's start with the basics. Lactose intolerance is your digestive tract's inability to properly digest lactose. Lactose is the natural

sugar found in milk and dairy products. To digest lactose, your body means an enzyme called lactase,

which is produced in the small intestine. Lactase breaks

lactose down into two smaller sugars, glucose and galactose, so your body can use them for energy.

If you don't produce enough of the enzyme lactase, lactose doesn't get digested properly.

And that's where the trouble begins. So how do you actually know if you're lactose intolerant?

The biggest clue is how your body responds after eating dairy.

If you consistently notice digestive discomfort after consuming foods like milk, ice cream, soft cheeses, or creamy sauces, that's a strong sign.

Here are a few patterns to look for.

If your symptoms show up 30 minutes to two hours after eating dairy and then the symptoms

improve when you avoid dairy, but then the symptoms return when you reintroduce dairy,

...