Experts share three key differences to narrow it down.
But…nobody came to a firm conclusion.
What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning, or foodborne illness, triggers when you ingest a harmful pathogen, says Dr. Boxer.
The pathogen producestoxins(substances that are toxic to humans) or multiples itself, making you unwell.
With food poisoning, youll typically experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain or cramps.
integrative gastroenterologist, author, and founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness
Food poisoning symptoms usually lastseveral hours or days.
But they can take more than a week to resolve forcertain pathogens.
What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is defined as the inability to digest lactose, a natural sugar found in dairy.
According to Dr. Boxer, each persons threshold amount is different and very individualized.
But why does this intolerance happen?
As babies, most of us can digest lactose without issues, says Dr. Chutkan.
This means we may not digest lactose as well as we did in childhood.
Another common cause of lactose intolerance is damage to thesmall intestine.
integrative gastroenterologist, author, and founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness
Here are some tips gastroenterologists provide to their patients to tell them apart.
This gives you another clue that your recent illness may have been due to lactose intolerance.
They can help you develop a new diet plan to ensure you’re still meeting your calcium requirements.
Heres Exactly How It Can Affect Your Poop
The best way to go about this process?
Dr. Chutkan suggests eliminating all dairy foods and drinks for two weeks to see if you feel better.
You might discover you’re not feeling nauseous or bloated as you did before.
After two weeks, “you could reintroduce small amounts,” she adds.
Does it mean you could eat a portion of lasagna without feeling crummy?
It can’t really tell you," Dr. Chutkan adds.
Focus instead on managing your symptoms and flushing out the lactose or the pathogen from your digestive system.
No matter the perpetrator, the treatment process is similar.
Watch out for the following signs that might indicate you oughta see your provider, per Drs.
They may also treat any severe symptoms with medications andintravenous infusion(IV) to rehydrate you.
(Just keep in mind, some antibiotics can cause diarrhea as a side effect, too.)
This is a generally safe and helpful option for most adults for up to 24 hours, she adds.
Just try not to rely on these pills regularly, says Dr. Chutkan.
But there are some signs that can help offer clues.
From there, introducing bland, easy-to-digest food can help your gut get back on track.
They can offer some guidance and gut health management advice.
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