Treatment

Because there is no cure, and management of symptoms relies mostly on the use of a tablet form of the lactase enzyme, lactose intolerance has become a big industry. Symptoms can also be controlled through diet modification.

Young children and infants with lactose intolerance should not eat any foods containing lactose. For adults and adolescents, a combination of diet modification and Lactaid may be the desired method of controlling symptoms. Since everyone’s level of intolerance is different, you will need to find out which products give you what symptoms – through trial and error. For example, some people can tolerate a glass of milk or two while some may not be able to tolerate milk at all. In my case, I can eat everything except ice cream and foods containing heavy cream - I have rather violent episodes if I eat foods like these. Other people I know have trouble with any kind of dairy, including cake mixes, baked goods with milk products in them, etc.

If you think this method will be too painful (like mine was!), then you may just want to opt for safety and take a Lactaid tablet before consuming foods containing dairy products. (Warning!: For the Lactaid tablet to work, you must take it immediately before consuming dairy. If you take it afterward, it will not work!)

So, if you still want to eat your favorite foods, then try the Lactaid tablet. The tablets come in different dosages of enzyme. Again, the dosage you need will depend on the severity of your symptoms. Lactose-reduced milk and other products are available. Just be sure that if milk gives you the worst symptoms, the lactose-free product you choose is really lactose free. Some are just reduced, and some are reduced at only 70%.

Hidden Lactose

Milk and foods made from milk are the only natural sources of lactose. However, lactose is often added to prepared foods. If you have a very low tolerance for lactose, you should avoid these products:

-bread and other baked goods
- processed breakfast cereals
- instant potatoes, soups, and breakfast drinks
- margarine
- lunch meats (other than kosher)
- salad dressings
- candies and other snacks
- mixes for pancakes, biscuits, and cookies
- powdered meal-replacement supplements
- Nondairy products like imitation coffee creamer and nondairy whipped cream may also include lactose.

If you are lactose intolerant, you must be vigilant and learn to read food labels with care. Don’t just look for milk and lactose ingredients, but also for words like whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids, and nonfat dry milk powder. If you see these words listed on labels, the product does contain lactose. Also, if eating prepared foods, look at it carefully. If it looks like it may contain milk or milk products, be on the safe side and assume that it does - take the Lactaid!

The Short Summary

Lactose Intolerance is a widespread problem, affecting a significant portion of the population. If you have trouble digesting lactose, you are not alone! You just need to learn which dairy products and other foods you can eat without discomfort and which ones you should avoid. You can still enjoy milk, ice cream, and other great tasting foods by using a lactase supplement such as Lactaid.

Dairy Products/Lactose content:

Yogurt, plain, low-fat, 1 cup -
5 g Milk, reduced fat, 1 cup -
11 g Swiss cheese, 1 oz -
1 g Ice cream, 1/2 cup -
6 g Cottage cheese, 1/2 cup - 2–3 g

Foods containing Lactose

- baked goods (cake, bread, cookies, crackers, donuts, waffles, pancakes, etc...)
- butter
- buttermilk
- cheese
- chocolate (unless unsweetened)
- cream
- cream soup
- custard
- egg substitutes
- frozen yogurt
- gravy (made with cream)
- Half & Half
- ice cream
- margarine
- milk (whole, 2%, 1%, skim, condensed, evaporated, powdered, lactose reduced)
- pizza
- pudding
- salad dressing* (some)
- sour cream

About the Author:

Marie Borges is a motivational writer, author and healthcare consultant. She specializes in educating and motivating clients on good nutrition, healthy eating and exercise to improve overall health and happiness. To optimize your health, receive free tips, recipes, articles and more, visit: http://www.burn-your-fat.com