We've already started to address some small and important problems that our little ones may have. The growth and development of each baby is very specific.
Food is an area that we have a lot to explore and various experts have mentioned the different approaches we can take. One topic that caught our attention was lactose intolerance.
So we went to find out more about this subject. What we discovered is that approximately 70% of the world's population is lactose intolerant. After the period of maternal breastfeeding, there can be a progressive decrease in lactose. The interesting thing is that what determines an individual's tolerance to lactose will be the amount of lactase that remains after the process.
But how can we tell if our little one is lactose intolerant? Firstly, we think it's important to understand what food intolerance is - it's the inability of the digestive system to properly digest a certain food.
We realise that intolerance can be confused with food allergy. The latter involves the immune system, which reacts without control and can result in an allergic reaction. Their confusion is understandable, as they have similar symptoms, but the aspects that differ from each other are very important. In the case of intolerance, the ingestion of a food is the cause of the discomfort. In the case of food allergies, your reaction can reach a concerning level.
Lactose is the sugar found in cow's milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk and breast milk. It is also present in dairy products made from milk. Lactase, on the other hand, is an enzyme found in our bodies that is responsible for digesting lactose.
So when we talk about lactose intolerance, we're talking about a body that produces an insufficient amount of lactase. This leads to discomfort and symptoms such as flatulence, skin rashes and colic. For babies, it can be really uncomfortable and they'll be particularly keen to let you know about it.
Knowing in general terms what lactose, lactase and food allergies are, we can try to understand how we can find out whether or not our little one is lactose intolerant. The best thing to do is to book an appointment so that tests can be carried out to make a proper diagnosis. Subsequently, we'll have to take care to create a lactose-free diet for the baby.
However, the intolerance that the baby may suffer may be a side effect - for example, a one-off problem like diarrhoea. One solution is to reduce or eliminate lactose from the baby's diet, at least for a few days. In the case of primary intolerance, there is a reduced production of lactase, which is why lactose should be completely eliminated from our little one's diet and they should only be fed lactose-free milk, for example.
Consequently, we will have to define a lactose-free diet if we have this indication. Dairy products are extremely important in the diet, particularly for children, as it is essential to maintain an adequate intake. In the case of babies (between 6 months and a year), they should be fed lactose-free formula in combination with the gradual introduction of new foods into their diet (e.g. fruit, vegetables, cereals, among others). Nowadays, it's more common to find lactose-free porridge or various types of milk available, we just need to pay attention and check the labels and their derivatives, which may be common but not mentioned.
Well, there's a lot of information on this subject. The research we've carried out for this publication is just an introduction and some general information related to the intolerance that babies and, in the future, adults can have.
In this case, we can say that it is a small and important problem that can be present throughout the baby's growth and development, but which can be controlled by taking the necessary precautions.
What about you? Is your little one lactose intolerant or intolerant of other types of food? If so, how do you deal with this situation? Any tips you'd like to share here? We want to know your experience. We want to know your opinion.
