Why do I get bloated after dairy?

The pattern is the diagnosis in miniature: symptoms that start a few minutes to a few hours after dairy point at lactose intolerance. The NHS explains the mechanism - your body does not make enough lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose (the sugar in milk), so the undigested sugar reaches your large bowel, where gut bacteria ferment it into gas. The NHS symptom list will sound familiar: tummy pain or discomfort, bloating, farting, tummy rumbling, diarrhoea or constipation, and feeling sick. It can start at any age, which is why dairy that was fine for years can turn on you. Test it cleanly: the NHS suggests removing lactose for a couple of weeks and watching, then reintroducing it - but do not cut whole food groups from your diet, or your child's, without advice from a GP or dietitian, because dairy carries calcium. If the pattern fits, options are better than expected: lactose-free milk and hard cheeses are naturally low in lactose, yoghurt is often easier, and lactase supplements taken before dairy reduce or prevent symptoms for some people, per the NHS. One caution: new dairy symptoms plus weight loss, blood in your stool, or constant pain need a GP, because conditions like coeliac or inflammatory bowel disease can cause lactose intolerance as a knock-on effect. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you map your symptoms.