Foods to Avoid with Lactose Intolerance

Lactose and Intolerance

Lactose is simply a natural occurring sugar found in all kinds of milk, and milk products. An intolerance is when a person’s digestive system cannot properly breakdown these sugars. This is a very common condition. It is reported that an estimated 50 million people have some form of lactose intolerance. There are, of course, different levels of intolerance to lactose, and therefore certain foods must be avoided while some individuals will be able to allow a bit of leniency towards foods with small amounts of lactose in their diet.

Some symptoms of lactose intolerance are gas and bloating, belly cramps or abdominal pain, loose stools or diarrhea, and in some cases, throwing up. If you are someone who suffers from this condition, knowing what foods to avoid with lactose intolerance is important to better digestive health.

Basic Ingredients to Avoid

Here is a very basic list of ingredients to avoid if you are lactose intolerant:

• Milk

• Curds

• Whey

• Milk By-products

• Dry Milk Solids

• Non-fat Dry Milk Powder

• Cheese

Foods Containing Lactose

In this list of foods you will see that most of the foods are manmade, and have lactose:

• Bread and other Baked Goods

• Waffles, Pancakes, Biscuits, Cookies, and Pre-packaged Mixes

• Processed Breakfast Foods such as Doughnuts, Frozen Waffles and Pancakes, Toaster Pastries, and Sweet Rolls

• Processed Breakfast Cereals such as Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs

• Instant Potatoes, Soups, and Breakfast Drinks

• Potato Chips, Corn Chips, and other Processed Snacks

• Processed Meats such as Bacon, Sausage, Hot dogs, and Lunch Meats

• Margarine or Butter

• Breaded or Fried Foods

• Salad Dressings containing Mayonnaise

• Pizza

• Ice Cream

• Liquid and Powdered Milk-based Meal Replacements

• Protein Powders and Bars

• Candies with Chocolate

• Non-dairy Liquid and Powdered Coffee Creamers

• Non-dairy Whipped Toppings such as Cool Whip and Ready Whip

Hidden Lactose

There are also a few other things consumed, that may contain lactose, and many may not be aware. Some prescription medications such as birth control, thyroid medication, and gastrointestinal prescriptions contain lactose. Even some vitamins and other protein enhanced supplements may contain lactose, so always check the labels before consuming.

Alternatives

For those who find it hard to give up their favorite dairy foods, there are many foods now being made that are lactose-free. Foods such as ice cream, soy milk, kosher made products, and even cheese without lactose are available. If you do find an occasion where you can’t stick to this list of foods to avoid with lactose intolerance, make sure you take a supplement like Lactaid to aid digestion.

References

What Is Lactose Intolerance?-https://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lactoseintolerance/

Lactose Intolerance Information-https://www.centerforfoodallergies.com/lactose_intolerance.htm

Treating Lactose Intolerance-www.lactoseintolerant.org