If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you feel sick every time you eat. It might not be your favorite feeling, but hopefully, it leads to some positive changes in your life. Eating less or avoiding certain foods can help relieve digestive discomfort and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. If this is something that’s been bothering you or a loved one for a while now, you may think your body has betrayed you. But in reality, these are all-natural responses from your body that are meant to keep you safe from the potential danger of some foods. These symptoms are called “food intolerance” or “food sensitivity.” They occur because the enzyme responsible for breaking down certain proteins in food doesn’t function properly. You might know it as lactase, which is why most people refer to this condition as “lactose intolerance” instead. With an understanding of what causes this reaction and how to manage it better moving forward, any bad feelings around food will soon be a thing of the past.
Why Do I Feel Sick After Eating?
1. Gluten-Free Diet
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley and their derivatives. A gluten-free diet is recommended for those who have been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. An estimated 1 in 5 people are also gluten intolerant, which means they can’t digest gluten properly and it leads to digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea. If you have any of the symptoms listed above and you eat a lot of wheat in your diet, you may want to consider a gluten-free diet. If the symptoms don’t subside after a few weeks, then you may want to get tested for celiac disease or gluten intolerance. A gluten-free diet isn’t just for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. It’s also recommended for anyone who is trying to lose weight, improve their health or increase their energy levels. A gluten-free diet is high in fiber, protein, and vitamins and can promote digestive health and weight loss.
2. Food Allergies
Food allergies are an immune response to a specific food that causes one or more symptoms, such as a rash, itching, swelling, difficulty breathing, or changes in heart rate. The most common food allergies in children are eggs, peanuts, fish, soy, dairy, and nuts. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, you should get tested for allergies. When you ingest a food that you’re allergic to, the immune system responds by releasing histamine and other chemicals in the body. The chemicals cause irritation and a chain reaction that leads to symptoms such as itchy skin, a rash, runny nose, sneezing, hives, shortness of breath, and digestive issues such as cramps, bloating, and diarrhea.
3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a digestive disorder that causes abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. It’s a chronic condition that affects the large intestine, but there’s no known cause and no cure. The symptoms of IBS are often triggered by certain foods, stress, and lack of sleep. If you’ve been diagnosed with IBS and you feel symptoms after eating certain foods, they may be the root of your discomfort. Some foods to avoid if you have IBS include foods high in fat and sugar, caffeine, pretzels, corn, and dairy products.
4. Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose, which is the sugar found in dairy products. If you have lactose intolerance, eating dairy products leads to one or more of the following symptoms: – Bloating or cramps – Cramping and bloating are common digestive issues that can be caused by several different things, including lactose intolerance. – Diarrhea or loose stools – Diarrhea or loose stools are often caused by a bacterial infection. But in some cases, it can be caused by an intolerance of dairy products. – Gas or nausea – Bloating and gas are common symptoms of gas. Nausea can often be caused by an imbalance in the bacteria in your gut. – Headaches or joint pain – Headaches and joint pain are often caused by a deficiency in certain vitamins, minerals, or health conditions. An intolerance to dairy products can also cause these symptoms. – Changes in the skin – Skin issues can be caused by a variety of factors, including a nutritional deficiency. An intolerance to dairy products can also cause skin changes.
5. Constipation
If you feel sick and bloated after eating dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant. If the symptoms lead to constipation, it could be a sign that the dairy products you’ve been eating have been causing digestive issues for a while now. Constipation is caused by reduced movement in the bowels. It can be treated by eating high-fiber foods, drinking plenty of water, exercising regularly, and increasing the amount of fiber in your diet.
6. Diarrhea And Indigestion
If you feel sick and bloated after eating dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant. If the symptoms lead to diarrhea, it could be a sign that the dairy products you’ve been eating have been causing digestive issues for a while now. Diarrhea is caused by an inflamed or irritated digestive tract, which can be triggered by several different things, including lactose intolerance. To reduce diarrhea, avoid dairy products, increase fiber in your diet, and consider taking a probiotic.
What Causes Lactose Intolerance?
- Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the sugar in milk into simpler forms that are more easily absorbed.
- Lactase is produced in the small intestine, but it can also be produced by other cells in the digestive tract.
- When lactose reaches the colon, bacteria break it down, and they do so very slowly and inefficiently.
- The result of this slow breakdown is small amounts of glucose and galactose that are absorbed into the bloodstream while lactase remains in the intestine where it can’t do its job properly (as a result, you experience bloating).
- The symptoms of lactose intolerance are similar to those of other gastrointestinal issues, including diarrhea and constipation: gas, bloating, cramping, nausea, headaches, and joint pain.
- When you eat dairy products—including milk or yogurt—you start to absorb some of their lactose because your body doesn’t have enough lactase to break down all that sugar into simple sugars that can be absorbed through your intestinal walls (this process is called fermentation). This means some or all of the glucose from dairy products ends up reaching your bloodstream instead of being broken down by bacteria in your intestines (which means you experience symptoms such as bloating).
How To Manage The Symptoms Of Lactose Intolerance
- Lactose intolerance can be controlled by avoiding dairy products, which will allow your body to produce enough lactase to break down the lactose in dairy.
- You can also try taking a probiotic supplement, which will provide the bacteria that ferment lactose and help your body produce more lactase.
- If you’re not sure if you’re lactose intolerant, consult a doctor or naturopath who can perform a test where the test for the amount of lactase in your digestive tract and diagnose you on the basis of this information.
The Benefits Of Dairy Products
- Dairy products contain calcium and vitamin D, two nutrients that are essential for strong bones and teeth—and for maintaining a healthy weight.
- Dairy products are an excellent source of protein: milk contains 9 grams per cup (or 1 percent of your daily intake), cheese has 7 grams per ounce (2 percent), yogurt contains 5 grams per cup (1 percent), and whole milk has 4 grams per cup (1 percent).
- Dairy products are also an excellent source of many other nutrients: milk contains 10 times more vitamin A than carrots; 4 times more vitamin B12 than beef; 3 times more protein than chicken; 3 times more iron than spinach; 1½ times more phosphorus than kale, and 1½ times more calcium than broccoli; two-thirds of the saturated fat in whole milk is unsaturated fat, which helps reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Dairy products are also an excellent source of many minerals: milk contains 1,300 milligrams of phosphorus and 300 milligrams of calcium per cup (and about 400 milligrams of potassium).
- Dairy products also contain many other nutrients that are essential for health: vitamins A, B12, D, and E; beta-carotene; zinc; riboflavin; niacin; thiamine or vitamin B1 (also known as vitamin H); pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 (also known as vitamin P); calcium; phosphorus; magnesium; phosphorous; iron; copper and selenium.
FAQs:
Do I have to drink milk?
No, you don’t have to drink milk. You can choose not to drink it or choose to drink another type of dairy product, such as yogurt or cheese. Many people choose not to drink cow’s milk and instead choose another type of dairy product.
How much protein do I need?
Most people require about 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day, but this can vary depending on your gender and age, physical activity level, and other factors in other words, a person’s recommended daily protein intake may be different from another person’s recommended daily protein intake (and also may be different from the recommended daily protein intake for adults in the United States).
