Milk bloats me even though everyone says it is healthy

Most Indian adults stop making the enzyme that digests milk sugar after childhood, only about one in eight carries the variant for lifelong tolerance.

Why it happens

The LCT gene decides whether you keep producing lactase into adulthood. Across South Asia, most people do not. The bloating after the second chai is not in your head, it is the default state of the subcontinent's digestion. It is not a reason to fear dairy, just to choose the right form.

One thing to try

Swap one glass of milk for a bowl of dahi or a glass of chaas. Fermentation has already broken down much of the lactose.

Each decode is a research-backed tendency, not a diagnosis. A tap tells you how your body is likely wired and what to try, it does not label you, and nothing here is a substitute for a doctor where a medical question is involved.