Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is when your tummy doesn't feel good after you drink milk or eat things made with milk, like ice cream or cheese.

Milk has a special sugar called lactose in it. In order for your body to use it, your stomach needs to make something called lactase. Lactase is like a special key that helps your body break down lactose into smaller pieces that your body can use for energy. But some people's bodies don't make enough lactase so when they drink milk or eat food with milk in it, they can get a tummy ache, gas or bloating.

It's kind of like trying to open a door with the wrong key. If the key doesn't work, you can't get inside. If your tummy doesn't have enough lactase, it can't break down the lactose in milk, which can make you feel bad.

But don't worry, if you have lactose intolerance, you can still enjoy dairy foods. There are special products that have less lactose, like lactose-free milk or lactase pills that can help your tummy break down lactose. Some people might also do better with yogurt or cheese because they usually have less lactose than milk.