Lactose Intolerance

What Is It?

  • Lactose Intolerance- can cause uncomfortable digestive problems after eating dairy foods like milk, ice cream, yogurt and cheese; inability to digest lactose, lactase is the enzyme that breaks down lactose
  • Lactose Intolerance- inability to digest lactose, lactase is the enzyme that breaks down lactose
  • Lactose- a simple sugar found in milk and milk products that passes through the intestine to the large bowel (colon), carrying extra fluid with it; does not cause damage to the intestine; is converted into lactic acid and gases; lactic acid is an irritant and laxative; a filler in some pills and capsules
  • Tolerance Level- < 10 grams per day
  • Infants- milk is a main part of the diet and lactase production gradually decreases as the diet becomes more varied
  • Lactose Intolerance- usually occurs in childhood and adolescence in Native American Indians, African Americans, Arabs, Jews, Asians, and Hispanics
    • Reduced- in patients with Celiac Disease (gluten enteropathy) and Crohn’s Disease, taking certain drugs, alcoholics, surgical removal of part of the stomach, surgical removal of a large portion of the small intestine
  • Northern Europe White Races- keep lactase production the longest
  • Suggestion- Silk Milk, as much calcium as milk, 6 grams of soy protein, omega 3’s, low in saturated fats, 100% cholesterol free; Lactaid Milk is 70% reduced & Lactaid 100 is lactose free; Calcium-fortified Soy Milk is low in fat, good source of Vitamin D and has no lactose
  • Lactaid Milk or Dairy Ease Enzyme Products
  • Dairy Ease Milk- available in nonfat, 1%, and 2% low fat Milk, all 70% lactose reduced
  • Drops (5-15)- can be added to 1 quart of milk, will reduce lactose content by 70 to 99% over 24 hours
  • Capsules (1-6)- chew when starting to eat foods containing lactose
  • Eating Foods with Lactose- causes abdominal cramping, pain, flatulence, gas, bloating, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
  • Purpose of the Diet- to eliminate lactose or reduce to a level that can be tolerated; dairy products are high in calcium, riboflavin (Vitamin B2), and Vitamin D.

Information:

  • Milk- loaded with calcium and helps with osteoporosis (brittle bones)
    • Calcium- juices fortified with calcium, broccoli, dried peas/beans, fish/salmon with soft bones, seafood, blackstrap molasses
    • Milk Allergies- breathing problems rashes, hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, itchy/red/watery eyes
  • AVOID- Milk, Butter, Margarine, Yogurt, Luncheon Meats, Hotdogs, Sausage, Milk Chocolate, Processed meats, Cream Soups, Cream, Cheeses, Baked Goods, Salad Dressings, Caramel/Some Candies, Sour Cream, Sauces, Gravies, Mixes as Pancake, Biscuits, Cookies, ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, check all medications, casein/caseinate, lactate/lacto/lacta, hydrolysates, calcium with oyster shells
    • Tolerance per day- 10 grams of lactose- 1/2c. ice cream= 4.5, 1/2c. whole milk= 5.5, 1/2c. lowfat yogurt= 6, 2 pats butter= .1/margarine= .9, 1/2c. sherbet= 2
  • Easier to Digest- yogurt, acidophilus milk, try cheddar or Swiss cheese (hard cheeses), lactose-reduced milk
  • Secondary to the disease- ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, gluten-induced enteropathy, digestive diseases

What Can I Do?

  • See your Health Care Provider- about a lactase tablet, Calcium needs
  • Talk with a RD- read labels, trial and error, never eat alone
  • See FFF RD on line for help as needed with Lactose Intolerance
  • Vitamin D- 15 minutes of sunlight daily, eggs, liver