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Gullible-Flounder-79 t1_ja21ysn wrote

There are bacteria in your gut, if you don't digest the lactose the bacteria will metabolize it instead, the by-products of the bacterial metabolism is whats causing distress.

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doge57 t1_ja3p28t wrote

Even without the bacteria, lactose is osmotically active so it limits water absorption by your intestines which causes diarrhea just like sorbitol

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Thick_Pipe187 t1_ja2ql64 wrote

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It's interesting to see how lactose intolerance is caused by more than just the inability to break down lactose. Our gut bacteria can play a key role in the digestion of lactose, and the by-products of their metabolism can cause distress. This is why lactose-free products are so popular, as they have been predigested for us. It's fascinating to see how our bodies work together to help us digest food!

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