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From:	Keith (d207-216-60-167.bchsia.telus.net)
Subject:	This is quite common
Date:	April 8, 2006 at 4:24 pm PST

In Reply to: Abstinence Induced Lactose Intolerance?? posted by rebecky on April 6, 2006 at 4:51 pm:

What you describe is really common. Many people become lactose intolerant when they stop drinking milk. The symptoms you describe are common for lactose intolerance.

Most humans lose the ability to digest lactose once they are weaned. So sometime in childhood, they lose the ability to make the lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose.

However, most people of European ancestry are able to keep producing lactase well into adulthood, though eventually most do lose that ability eventually. It is the continued consumption of milk that keeps the body producing the enzyme. Basically the body wants to shut down lactase production, but you force it to keep going by continuing to drink milk. Once you stop drinking milk, the body is finally able to shut down its enzyme production, and you lose the ability to digest milk.

Bear in mind that lactose intolerance is the normal condition for human adults. So, you finally have an adult digestive system!

Keith

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