What To Do If You Are Lactose Intolerant

Mild symptoms of lactose intolerance do not require medical intervention. All you need to do is to avoid milk (both whole milk and skim milk), cream, cheeses of all kind, and yogurt made from animal milks. Imitation dairy products made from soy, almonds, cashews, or rice are not a problem, and most people who are lactose intolerant have fewer problems with yogurt and almost no problems with butter or ghee.

If you suffer debilitating symptoms after consuming dairy products, it is a good idea to consult your doctor.

Some diseases that share common symptoms with lactose intolerance can be much more serious.

Irritable bowel syndrome can cause crippling pain after eating. It will cause symptoms whether or not you have consumed dairy products. Inflammatory bowel syndrome can cause burning and bleeding or even release of pus any time night or day, and gas, stools that float in the toilet water after bowel movement, acid reflux, and vomiting may be symptomatic of a kind of tumor known as a gastrinoma. "Purple burps," which are fairly described as flatulence of the mouth, can be caused by a water-borne infection known as giardiasis. This infection most commonly occurs in hikers who drink untreated water.

As long as symptoms are mild, it is safe to attempt to treat them yourself. Treatment is very straightforward. If you don't want to eliminate dairy products, here are three more ways to approach the problem.

Lactaid and Similar Products

Lactaid is an internationally available commercial preparation of lactase. This is the enzyme the lower digestive tract needs to convert lactose into galactose and glucose, which do not cause unpleasant symptoms of indigestion. Simply add a few drops of Lactaid to dairy products just before you eat them. . In some countries, this enzyme supplement is sold under the trade name Lactrase or Dairy Ease. When Lactaid and similar products do not work, the reason is usually that the dose is too small.

Pre-Hydrolyzed Dairy Products

Pre-hydrolyzed dairy products are products to which lactase has been added before the product is put into the container, circumventing any need to remember to take lactase before consuming dairy. The products are typically about twice as expensive as untreated dairy products, but there is no worry that you won't get a large enough dose of the enzyme.

Careful Selection Among Dairy Choices

Many people can tolerate a small amount of cheese or yogurt although they cannot drink milk or eat pastries, bread, puddings, ice cream, and other foods that are made with milk. The more you eat at a meal, the more sensitive you will be to lactose. A slice of cheese that may not bother you when eaten as a snack may cause flatulence and diarrhea if eaten after a four-course meal. 

Long-Term Considerations for People Who Are Lactose Intolerant

In the United States, doctors often check people who have lactose intolerance for signs of osteopenia, failure to create new bone due to calcium shortages that eventually leads to osteoporosis, or weakened bones. The typical recommendation is to take a calcium supplement, but calcium is not enough. Healthy bones need not just calcium but also magnesium and zinc, plus vitamin K2 (a form of vitamin most abundant in, ironically, whole-fat dairy products, also egg yolks and a fermented soy product called natto but not in green leafy vegetables) to make the hormones that help the bones absorb calcium from the diet. If you are lactose intolerant and over 50, whether you are male or female, make sure you get plenty of calcium and its co-factors to maintain healthy bones.