According to our expert, the body is scheduled to do without it “it is inscribed in our genetic heritage”.
We tend to forget it but with age, the digestive system undergoes several changes which complicate food digestion. These developments are linked to a decrease in digestive enzymes, a slowdown in transit and a modification of the intestinal microbiota. Result: more bloating, gravity, heartburn … especially after certain meals.
In question, sometimes, a natural sugar found in food. “In children, it is very useful: it provides rapid energy, helps fix calcium and supports the development of the microbiota”, explains Julie Pradines, naturopath. But in adulthood, our body is programmed to do without it “It is inscribed in our genetic heritage “. About 70 % of humans lose the ability to digest this sugar after childhood. Tolerance still decreases if the microbiota is weakened, in case of digestive inflammation or after certain treatments. If you continue to eat it, it ferments in the colon. “Result: it swells, it irritates, and the belly quickly becomes a battlefield”testifies the specialist. “Some also feel irritability, drowsiness and/or skin disorders.”
This famous sugar to avoid when you get older is lactose either “the natural sugar of milk and dairy products “ explains the expert to us. “There is no universal age but many start to tolerate it less well around 35-45 years.” At this age, digestion slows down, microbiota becomes more sensitive and chronic inflammation more frequent because of stress, food and sedentary lifestyle. In this context “I often recommend reducing lactose”. “It is not prohibited, but to adjust according to your sensitivity. The important thing is to have a diet that does not cause discomfort or unnecessary inflammation” she summarizes. Thus adults aged 40 who are used to eating yogurt or dessert cream to finish a meal must avoid it or reserve it for rare occasions if they are sensitive to the digestive level. Another food that must be wary for the same reasons: milk (cow, sheep, goat), fresh cheese (Mozzarella type, feta, ricotta, white cheese) and ice cream. Lactose is also present, sometimes in secret, in industrial products (cold meats, sauces, cooked dishes, etc.). Read the labels well.
To find out if we can no longer support lactose, it is enough to stop dairy products for 3 to 5 days, then to reintroduce a product rich in lactose and observe the reactions. “If the symptoms appear quickly, it is a safe bet that your digestion does not manage it anymore.” Good news: some cheeses such as county, parmesan or pecorino contain very little lactose. Plant drinks and yogurts are also more digestible. “Intolerance is not inevitable, it is often a signal of the body so that we lighten, that we adapt, that we take care of our digestion”concludes Julie Pradines.
Thanks to Julie Pradines, naturopath and author of “Happy Microbiota” (ed. Solar).
