Am I Lactose Intolerant?

Take this quiz to find out.

Lactose intolerance is when your body can’t properly break down lactose, a sugar found in milk. As a result, lactose-intolerant people tend to have unpleasant digestive symptoms after eating dairy products.

Wondering if you’re lactose intolerant? You’re in the right place! Just answer these questions, and we’ll tell you if it seems like you’re experiencing symptoms of lactose intolerance, so you can figure out your next steps.

Disclaimer: This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool and shouldn’t be used as one. Always see a licensed healthcare professional to address your concerns.

An illustration of milk, an ice cream cone, butter, and coffee creamer next to each other on a table with a red exclamation point above them.

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Questions Overview

1. Do you get a stomachache after eating dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc)?
  1. Yes, every time.
  2. Only once in a while.
  3. No, this doesn’t happen to me.
2. Do you get extra gassy after eating dairy products?
  1. Ugh, yes. This always happens.
  2. Sometimes, but not every time.
  3. No, not really.
3. Do you feel bloated after eating dairy products?
  1. Yes, I feel super bloated.
  2. Yes, but only a little bloated.
  3. No, not really.
4. Do you ever get diarrhea after eating dairy products?
  1. Yes, this happens very often.
  2. Yes, but not every time.
  3. No, this hasn’t happened to me.
5. Have you ever gotten nauseous and/or thrown up after eating dairy products?
  1. Yes, several times.
  2. Yes, only a few times.
  3. No, this has never happened.
6. Are you of Asian, Native American, Hispanic, or African descent? (People of these ethnicities are more likely to have lactose intolerance.)
  1. Yes
  2. No
7. Do you have Inflammatory bowel disease or Celiac disease? (These conditions are sometimes linked to lactose intolerance.)
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. I’m not sure

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What Is Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose Intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Because they can’t properly break down lactose, people who are lactose intolerant tend to have unpleasant digestive symptoms after consuming foods that contain dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, etc).

Symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person, but in general, they include:[1]

  • Stomach cramps
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and sometimes vomiting[2]

Treatments & Living with Lactose Intolerance

  • Only eating dairy with other foods. Some people find that they have fewer symptoms if they have other foods at the same time as dairy products (cheese with crackers, milk with cereal, etc), rather than eating dairy products on their own.
  • Picking dairy products with lower lactose levels. Some dairy products have less lactose than others, which means they tend to cause fewer uncomfortable symptoms. Dairy products with lower lactose levels include hard cheeses (parmesan, Swiss, cheddar) and probiotic yogurt.
  • Purchase lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk products. Lactaid is a popular example, but many other dairy brands offer lactose-free variations of their products, as well.[3]
  • Take a lactase supplement. Lactase is an enzyme that helps your body break down lactose, so it can provide some relief from lactose intolerance symptoms.[4]
  • Avoid eating dairy products. If none of the above methods work for you, it may help to substitute non-dairy alternatives (almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, non-dairy cheeses, etc.) for dairy products.

Are some people more likely to be lactose intolerant? Yes, lactose intolerance runs in families, so you’re more likely to have it if people in your family do. Lactose intolerance is also most common in people of Asian, Hispanic, African, and Native American descent.[5] On the flip side, you’re less likely to be lactose intolerant if you’re of Northern European descent (only about 5% of Northern Europeans experience this condition).[6]

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Any medically related content, whether User Content or otherwise found on the Service, is not intended to be medical advice or instructions for medical diagnosis or treatment, and no physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship is, or is intended to be, created.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lactose-intolerance
  2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lactose-intolerance/symptoms-causes/syc-20374232#symptoms
  3. ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lactose-intolerance
  4. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19664-lactase-capsules-or-tablets
  5. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lactose-intolerance/symptoms-causes/syc-20374232
  6. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/lactose-intolerance/#inheritance