10 Ways to Avoid the Dreaded Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

You are probably asking a lot of questions right now if you know or suspect that you are suffering from symptoms of lactose intolerance. I know I did when we first learned that my daughter is lactose intolerant. How do you control the symptoms? Do you need to avoid all dairy products? Can you eat anything dairy?

Let's start with things you can do to avoid the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

1. You can, of course, avoid all milk and dairy products.

2. Consume smaller quantities spread throughout your day instead of one large serving of any dairy product. You may learn that you can drink 2 to 4 ounces of milk at a time, but not 8 ounces without suffering the consequences.

3. Supplement your diet with over-the-counter Lactase Enzyme Dietary Supplements. You are probably familiar with the brand name Lactaid.

4. Add the lactase enzyme to your milk 24 hours before you drink it.

5. Stick with hard or aged cheeses. Choices that include cheddar and swiss are much better than American or mozzarella.

6. Drink soy milk.

7. Hard ice cream is a better choice than a softer ice cream, like soft serve. The school nurse told us that one.

8. Eat other foods when you have milk or dairy products. Your digestive system is slowed down and you are less likely to have any symptoms.

9. Eat yogurt that includes an active culture.

10. Read labels carefully to avoid all milk and milk solids.

By following these steps, you should be able to avoid the dreaded symptoms of lactose intolerance.