Wind, gas, bloating and diarrhoea bothering you? It could be lactose intolerance. Take our simple breath test and find out.

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine. Without enough lactase, a person can have digestive problems like abdominal pain and diarrhea.

• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Wind
• Abdominal Pain
• Nausea
• Skin Rashes

At Vitalchi we use a hydrogen breath test to determine if you are lactose intolerant. This test measures hydrogen levels in the breath following ingestion of lactose. Lactose is normally broken down by lactase and absorbed so none of it reaches the colon. Therefore, little or no increase in breath hydrogen of a healthy person occurs after eating it. If lactose reaches the colon because it has not been properly digested, the bacteria in the gut ferment it and hydrogen is produced. This is reflected a few minutes later by an increase in breath hydrogen, and indicates that lactose is not been broken down properly due to lactase deficiency.

Your naturopath will make appropriate dietary recommendations personalized for you and your life style. Generally people with lactose intolerance will be encouraged to reduce their dairy intake, so foods like milk, cheese, cream and ice cream should be avoided or reduced.

Call the clinic on 9894 0014 for bookings or make an appointment online.