Here’s what you need to know if you think you may be lactose intolerant

It often goes unnoticed.

Bloating can be caused by so many different things: indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Premenstrual Syndrome, constipation and so on. As it's linked to so many different health conditions, it's often easy to mistake it for the wrong one which is why lactose intolerance can sometimes go undetected or mistaken for something else. If you are suffering from lactose intolerance when your body can't digest the natural sugars found in milk and dairy products FYI, then this can present itself in a variety of ways. Speaking to Women's Health, Gina Sam, M.D., director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Center at Mount Sinai Hospital explained what to look out for if you think you're suffering from this specific food intolerance.

"Common signs of lactose intolerance include bloating, gas, diarrhea, pain, rumbling or gurgling in the lower abdomen, and foul-smelling flatulence".

While bloating is one of the most obvious symptoms of lactose intolerance, it's important to watch out for other indications too. Health professional Sam also described some of the lesser known symptoms of lactose intolerance including nausea and/or a 'foamy' or frothy stool. A simple way to figure out if the aforementioned health complaints you're experiencing are caused by lactose intolerance is to monitor how you feel after you've consumed milk and/or dairy products. Experts say that the symptoms of lactose intolerance occur very soon after consuming lactose so this can help you to figure out what's going on. Another thing to remember is that people suffer varying degrees of lactose intolerance: some people will be bent double with cramps and bloating while others feel mildly unwell. If any of the above symptoms sound familiar, visit your GP who can conduct a test to see if you are lactose intolerant or if something else is causing your symptoms.