7 Foods That May Help Ease Your Lactose Intolerance

Do you double over with cramps every time you have a milkshake? Or maybe cheese pizza doesn’t go down too well?

Well my friend, you could well be lactose intolerant.

I know, it sounds awful – no more cheese, frozen yogurt, lattes, or post-workout chocolate milk.

Fear not, there’s still plenty of options out there – and it turns out you may not have to go completely dairy-free after all!

Find out all about lactose intolerance and the many great dairy foods and alternatives you can still enjoy.

What is Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest the lactose sugar found in milk and other dairy products.

Our bodies aren’t able to absorb this sugar, so we need our small intestines to produce an enzyme called lactase, which breaks lactose down for us. When our bodies don’t produce enough lactase, we are said to be lactose intolerant.

This decrease in the production of lactase most commonly happens naturally as you age, but can also happen as a result of illness, injury or intestinal surgery. In rare cases, babies can be born without any lactase activity.

Up to 50 million Americans suffer symptoms of lactose intolerance, with approximately 65% of people worldwide being affected by this condition.

Interestingly, ethnicity plays a part – 90% of Asian Americans and 75% of African Americans are lactose intolerant, with just 20% of Caucasians being affected.

I guess that explains why Asian food is usually free from dairy!

Signs & Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

Symptoms of lactose intolerance usually kick in around 30 minutes to a few hours after eating dairy or a product containing dairy and include:

• Bloating
• Pain or cramps in lower belly
• Gurgling or rumbling sounds in your stomach
• Gas
• Loose stools or diarrhea
• Vomiting

It’s important to note that lactose intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy, which is rarer but a lot more serious.

Now that we’ve got the basics of lactose intolerance covered, let’s look at what you can (and can’t) eat.

What You May Be Able To Eat

Lots of people with lactose intolerance can still enjoy dairy, but you’ll need to be selective about what you eat, and enjoy it in moderation.

On average, lactose-intolerant people can handle around one cup of milk a day.

Try experimenting with the following foods in small amounts and see how they work for you.

Lactose-Free Dairy

Lactose free milks, cheeses and even ice-creams are available. Despite what many people believe, they’re totally different to ‘dairy-free’ products and are unsuitable for those with a milk allergy or vegans.

Lactose free products, such as Lactaid, are still made from dairy, but they have the lactase enzyme added, to counteract the lactose contained in the milk.

They’ll still contain all the nutrients in regular dairy, but do tend to be a little sweeter. As they are available in most supermarkets, they’re a great choice for those who can’t forgo milk in their coffee.

Mature Cheeses

Most aged cheeses are lactose-free, or contain only trace amounts of lactose and can easily be tolerated by those with lactose intolerance.

Try an aged cheddar, Parmesan or Swiss cheese and see how it goes down.

A good way to find out if a cheese contains lactose is to check the label. Since lactose is a sugar (and sugar is a carb) look for cheeses that contain little to no sugar, or carbohydrates.

Greek Yogurt

You might not be able to tolerate regular yogurt so why not go Greek?

Greek yogurt has had much of the whey strained out. This is what makes the Greek variety both thicker, and lower in lactose.

However, it still contains quite a bit of lactose – 6.8 g per 6 oz, compared to 8.5 g in whole yogurt or 14 g in fat-free yogurt.

Despite this, research has shown that the lactose in yogurt is actually better digested by lactose intolerant people, than the equivalent amount in milk.

This may be because the helpful probiotic bacteria in yogurt actually produce lactase, helping in the absorption and digestion of lactose.

Kefir

Similar to yogurt, kefir is a fermented dairy product and is chock full of beneficial bacteria.

A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that yogurt and kefir can improve lactose digestion and intolerance.

After a 12 hour fast, subjects were fed meals consisting of 20 g lactose milk, plain and raspberry flavored kefir, and plain and raspberry flavored yogurt. Participants reported that the yogurts and kefirs all similarly reduced the severity of flatulence by between 54% and 71%, when compared with the milk.

Kefir is also great for the digestive system and can help relieve symptoms of candida.

Goat Milk and Cheese

While goat milk doesn’t work for everyone, it’s worth trying. Even though goat milk does contain lactose, it’s still well-tolerated by some sufferers.

Why?

It’s not clear but some suggest that goat milk is more easily absorbed by the body than cow milk, and leaves less undigested parts in the colon, which then cause the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Goat milk contains more calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and vitamin A than cow milk. It also has a gram more protein per cup and a little less sugar.

However, it has less vitamin B2, vitamin B12, selenium, and folate. Cow milk also contains fewer calories and slightly less fat.

Goat milk is not for everyone though as it has a particularly distinctive taste. Consider yourself warned!

Dairy-Free Alternative Milks

There are plenty of dairy alternatives to be found, with milks made from nuts and seeds getting increasingly popular.

A favorite of mine is almond milk, and it appears I’m not the only one who likes it. In 2014, sales of this nut-based milk jumped 40% from 2013, with sales hitting more than $700 million a year.

I’m not that surprised – it’s tasty and almonds are super-healthy with a ton of nutrients.

23 almonds (a one ounce serving) contain around 6 g of protein, 3 g of fiber, vitamin E (37% RDV), manganese (32%), magnesium (19%), riboflavin (17%), copper (14%), phosphorus (14%), calcium (7%), potassium (6%) and zinc (6%).

Make your own almond milk to ensure you’re getting a high level of almonds in your milk. Some store-bought brands contain just 2% almonds per carton!

Other dairy free milk options include:

• Flaxseed milk
• Hemp milk
• Oat milk
• Soy milk
• Rice milk
• Macadamia nut milk
• Coconut milk
• Cashew milk
• Hazelnut milk

Each has its own unique flavor and nutritional properties so see if one of these works for you.

There are also nut and dairy free cheeses, coconut yogurts, and other vegan dairy free products to choose from, so you won’t feel like you’re missing out if you really can’t tolerate dairy.

Become ‘Lactose Tolerant’

If you can’t live without cow milk, cheese and ice-cream, don’t despair…there is some hope for you!

“There is some evidence to suggest that if you take milk products on a regular basis, you can build up your tolerance for dairy”, says Dr. Marshall A. Wolf, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

You could try:

• Spreading out your dairy consumption – while you may not be able to drink a whole carton of milk without finding yourself bent over in pain later on, you might be able to enjoy small servings of 4 oz at a time, spread out over the day.
• Having dairy with a meal – when lactose is eaten along with a meal, it slows the digestion of lactose, preventing the bloating, gas and illness that may accompany the intolerance. Try a small glass of milk with dinner for example.
• Lactase enzymes – try this over the counter medication that works with your body to help digest lactase.
• Adding cocoa to your milk – yes really! Early research suggests that cocoa powder may reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance, perhaps because the cocoa helps slow stomach emptying, which reduces the rate at which lactose reaches the colon.

Foods to Ease Lactose Intolerance

As you try to get your body used to lactose, you may overdo it on the Ben & Jerry’s and start to feel the familiar bloating and pain.

Luckily, there are a couple of foods that are said to ease the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Apple Cider Vinegar

We already know that apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an amazing product to have on hand, with a ton of science-backed health benefits.

It can also play a role in aiding digestion. In fact, doctors have been using ACV for stomach aches since the late 18th century.

Dr Oz recommends diluting a tablespoon of enzyme-rich ACV with a cup of water and drinking before a meal, in order to prevent gas.

It’s also worth trying this if you feel the symptoms of lactose intolerance coming on. Plus the pectin in ACV may help to soothe intestinal spasms.

Ginger

Since the symptoms of lactose intolerance (bloating, gas, nausea and diarrhea) are linked to stomach inflammation, it makes sense that anti-inflammatory ginger might help the situation.

The amazing ginger root is also known to be great for easing nausea. In studies, it has been found to be as effective as taking an over-the-counter anti-nausea medicine.

For a soothing ginger tea, grate fresh ginger root into hot water. You can add a little lemon juice too, another nausea busting food.

Don’t Miss Out On Important Nutrients

If you’re cutting down or eliminating dairy from your diet, you’ll be missing out on calcium, protein and certain vitamins

It’s important you meet your body’s needs for these vital nutrients through other foods. Here’s what you need to know.

Calcium

Calcium is vital for the nervous system, muscles, heart and bones. Without adequate levels of calcium, we’re at risk of developing osteoporosis and calcium deficiency disease.

It’s recommended that adults and children over 4 years of age get between 1,000 mg and 1,300 mg of calcium every day.

To put that in perspective, one cup of whole milk contains 276 mg of calcium and one container (170 g) of non-fat Greek yogurt contains 187 mg, according to the USDA database.

Dairy free sources of calcium include:

• Tofu, 4 oz firm, calcium set – 250 mg to 750 mg
• Soy milk, 1 cup, calcium fortified – 200 mg to 400 mg
• Sardines, 3 oz canned – 370 mg
• Orange juice, 8 oz, calcium fortified – 300 mg
• Spinach, 1 cup cooked – 240 mg
• Broccoli, 1 cup cooked – 180 mg
• Sesame tahini, 2 tbsp – 130 mg

Protein

We need protein in our diet to build and repair tissue; to make enzymes and hormones; and for our bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood.

Adults are encouraged to get 10% to 35% of their day’s calories from protein, which equates to 46 g for women, and 56 g for men, per day.

One cup of shredded cheddar cheese contains approximately 27 g of protein, a cup of 1% fat milk contains just over 8 g, while 2/3 cup of Greek yogurt has 11 g.

Luckily there are plenty of dairy free sources of protein such as:

• Salmon, half fillet – 39 g
• Chicken, 4 oz fillet – 26 g
• Lentils, 1 cup cooked – 18 g
• Black beans, 1 cup cooked – 15.2 g
• Quinoa, 1 cup cooked – 8 g
• Peanuts, 35 nuts – 6.7 g
• Broccoli, 1 cup – 5.7 g
• One egg – 5.5 g

Vitamin D

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut, is needed for bone health and plays a role in cell growth, immune function and in the reduction of inflammation.

Despite the fact that we can get enough vitamin D from simply being out and about in the sun, many of us don’t get our minimum daily dose. One of the reasons for this is because sunscreen with an SPF of 8 or above lessens our ability to produce the vitamin by 95%!

Many dairy products are fortified with vitamin D, so if you’re not getting enough sun exposure and are lactose intolerant, you need to make sure you get your vitamin D in other ways.

Adults and children aged 9 and over need at least 600 IU per day; while those over 70 years of age need 800 IU.

In terms of dairy produce, a tablespoon of butter has 9 IU, a cup of fortified whole milk has 124 IU and an ounce of Parmesan cheese has 6 IU.

Non-dairy sources of vitamin D include:

• Cod liver oil, 1 tablespoon – 1,400 IU
• Tofu, 3 oz firm – 1,321 IU
• Trout, 3 oz cooked (and other oily fish) – 645 IU
• Portobello mushrooms, 1 cup diced – 384 IU
• Soy yogurt, 1 cup – 130 IU
• One egg, hardboiled – 44 IU

Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 is essential for strong bones, preventing heart disease and for other bodily functions.

According to Dr. Mercola, if you don’t regularly eat high amounts of grass-fed and organic animal products, certain fermented foods or cheeses like Brie and Gouda, then your likelihood of being vitamin K2 deficient is very high.

Chris Kresser claims that grass-fed dairy (not grain fed) is one of the best sources of vitamin K2. Although he points out that specific values for some foods likely to be high in K2 are hard to come by. The levels shown on nutrition sites are simply given as vitamin K, with no specifics available for K1 and K2.

However, if you’re not eating dairy it’s recommended you eat plenty of:

• Natto
• Egg yolk
• Chicken liver
• Salami
• Chicken breast
• Ground beef

Natto, in particular, is one of the highest sources of vitamin K2 you can find. A half ounce per day will give you all the K2 you need.

You can also try a high-quality vitamin K2 supplement.

Dairy in Other Forms

Make sure to look out for hidden sources of lactose such as:

• Pancake mixes
• Cookies
• Crackers
• Breads
• Potato chips
• Cereals
• Processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, sausages
• ‘Instant’ products like coffee, potatoes and soups
• Artificial sweetener packets
• Medications like birth control pills and vitamins

When you’re reading labels, remember that lactose has many aliases likes whey, curds, whey protein concentrate and caseinates.

Overall…

It turns out that lactose intolerance doesn’t have to mean a dairy free life. Just make sensible choices and try dairy in moderation.

Even if you find you can’t handle it at all, I hope I have shown you that there are plenty of other options out there for you.

Over to you guys – what are your favorite lactose-free alternatives?

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