Milk and dairy products are rich sources of various nutrients that are essential for us. Not to mention they are absolutely delicious! No wonder they have been a staple for humans for a millennia. But many people have difficulty processing dairy. So, how long does dairy stay in your system?
Dairy may be digested in as little as 1-2 hours. Some people may take up to 72 hours to digest and eliminate dairy. But traces of dairy may remain in the system for 21 days. Understanding how long dairy stays in your system can help you plan your meals and avoid discomfort or digestive issues.
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As you can see, the digestion and complete elimination of milk from the body has no one-size-fits-all time frame. It depends on your body. Keep reading to have a better understanding of how long dairy stays in your system – and what affects the process.
Key Takeaways
- The time taken for your body to digest, absorb, and get rid of dairy can vary between a few hours and a few days.
- Some people cannot digest lactose (, a sugar in dairy), leading to diarrhea, nausea, bloating, etc.
- The symptoms of lactose intolerance can last up to three days, depending on how quickly your body digests and flushes out dairy.
Digestion and Absorption of Dairy and the Role of the Digestive System
What happens when you consume dairy – and how does dairy digestion work? The gastrointestinal system digests the dairy, i.e., processes it by breaking it down into molecules. These can be absorbed and distributed by the circulatory system.
The digestion process begins in your stomach’s acidic environment. A digestive enzyme called pepsin breaks down the proteins in milk to initiate digestion. Meanwhile, another enzyme called lingual lipase breaks down milk fats.
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These milk fats then reach the small intestine where they are further broken down by enzymes like proteases and lipases. The production of bile by the small intestine further enhances the fat digestion process.
Another enzyme called lactase, produced by the brush border cells, breaks down lactose (the sugar content in milk). The entire process produces:
- Amino acids and peptides from proteins;
- Fatty acids, monoglycerides, and diglycerides from fats, and
- Glucose, galactose, and monosaccharides from lactose.
The small intestine then absorbs amino acids, peptides, and monosaccharides, along with micronutrients from dairy. Then, the liver helps distribute these nutrients to the rest of the body.
What Is Lactose Intolerance?
Many people are unable to digest lactose, which is the sugar present in milk. It happens when your small intestine fails to produce sufficient lactase to break down lactose. Undigested lactose cannot be absorbed by the small intestine.
So it reaches the large intestine. This results in digestive issues like bloating, diarrhea, and other symptoms. This condition is called lactose intolerance, also known as lactose malabsorption.
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You must note that lactose intolerance is different from a dairy allergy. The latter is a condition where your body’s immune system considers dairy proteins as a harmful foreign body. This causes allergic reactions.
Digestive issues may also occur from dairy consumption due to the A1 beta-casein. When undigested, it can cause indigestion and discomfort.
Also, the gut muscles slowly move the mix of food particles, bile, and digested through the digestive tract. This can result in constipation or diarrhea.
Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance
The symptoms of lactose intolerance usually show up within 30-120 minutes of consuming dairy. According to Mayo Clinic, common symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Gas and flatulence
- Stomach pain and cramps
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Indigestion
- Rumbling in the stomach
- Heartburn
- Diagnosis and Treatment
If your doctor suspects lactose intolerance based on your symptoms, they’ll first ask you to refrain from consuming dairy. Based on your response, your doctor will be able to confirm the diagnosis with the help of three tests, according to Healthline:
- Hydrogen breath test to check the hydrogen level in your breath
- Lactose tolerance test to check the glucose level in your blood
- Stool acidity test for children to test their stool sample for lactic acid
All tests are performed after you consume lactose-based liquids to see how your body responds to the lactose. If confirmed, you must reduce or remove dairy from your diet.
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