Is it possible to develop lactose intolerance?

I have never had any food allergies or intolerances in my life, but recently, I have really cut down on my dairy simply because I like the taste of soy products better. A few days ago, my friends and I went out for ice cream and my stomach began to rumble and cramp, and it didn't go away until hours and hours later. could i have developed some kind of lactose intolerance over the months that I haven't been eating much dairy?

Humans are not meant to continue consuming milk products.

We're supposed to have milk when we're young. For thousands of years humans have been weened from their mothers milk and no longer consume milk. This means that the human body often develops an intolerance to milk because of thousands of years of evolution. Humans have recently added milk to there diets in adulthood. Some do fine with this, some do not. So as you get older your body can develop an intolerance, yes.

You've been craving soy probably because your body doesn't need or want dairy.

My body has been telling me for awhile that it doesn't like dairy. But my taste buds can't let go of cheese and the soy cheese isn't cutting it. If only my taste buds could get along with the rest of my body ;-)

Anyways, get your calcium from a multi-mineral supplement and start using dairy substitutes. If things are better continue down that road. Try dairy once or twice and see what happens. If the results are bad you most likely are lactose intolerance. Check with a good naturopathic doctor or dietitian in your area.

Yes, you can develop lactose intolerance. My wife used to drink whole milk, eat ice cream, cheese, etc. Everything was OK.

All of the sudden, with no apparent cause, she had to switch soy milk and cut down on cheese and ice cream. So, its possible.

My aunt and my mom have gone the same way.

no unlikely...indigestion is more likely......... If u never had food allergies before then it is very less likely to be lactose intolerance

Yes, allergies can develop over time to substances once "friendly" to a given individual. Examples include pet dander, molds and dairy.

Yes, it is very possible. In fact, it happens a lot in adults.

It may be even possible that you have had lactose intolerance all along, but your symptoms were too mild for you to notice. So if you now find yourself having a lactose intolerance, it is best to avoid dairy and stick to those that would not cause you tummy problems :-)