Lactose-free

The inability to digest and absorb lactose, a sugar found in dairy products due to a lack of the enzyme lactase. Diary products are milk, cheese, butter and yoghurt.

The lactose remains in the intestine and attracts large amounts of water leading to diarrhoea, bloating and abdominal pain. Infants are born with high amounts of lactase but this quickly decreases until only a small percentage of the worlds adult population retains adequate levels.

Genetic descent determines the degree of lactose intolerance, for example people of Asian decent are commonly lactose intolerant. A deficiency of the enzyme lactase can also occur when the intestinal wall is damaged due to certain medications, persistent diarrhoea, malnutrition or after a gut infection.

NATUROPATHIC ADVICE

The degree of lactose intolerance varies widely, with some individuals being able to tolerate more lactose than others.

• All products containing lactose need to be eliminated from the diet until the diarrhoea subsides, then gradually small amounts of certain dairy products can be tried to see if they can be tolerated.
• Ingredient labels must be read carefully as lactose comes under many disguises in the form of dairy derivatives in such produce as breads, cakes, biscuits, breakfast cereals, drinks, condiments and many processed foods.
• Lactose containing ingredients include: milk, milk solids, milk powder, whey, casein, caseinate, butter, cheese and yoghurt. Goats’ and sheeps’ milk also contain lactose. Additionally some medications contain lactose, especially tablets. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about medication.
• When symptoms have subsided fermented dairy products such as yoghurt may be tried in small amounts. Yoghurt can often be tolerated as the bacteria used to ferment the milk digests lactose.
• Butter is very low in lactose and is likely to be tolerated.
• Take acidophilus and bifidus. Increasing the levels of good bacteria in the bowel can aid lactose tolerance as the bacteria digests lactose in the bowel.

The main concern people have about a lactose-free diet is that they will not be getting enough calcium from dairy foods. However, it is a highly controversial subject as to whether dairy is a good source of calcium for our bones. Many cultures do not have dairy in their diet but obtain adequate calcium elsewhere and have a low rate of osteoporosis.

There are also many other important factors besides calcium that determine bone density. Factors that may contribute to an increased risk of osteoporosis include sedentary life-styles, a lack of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and K, magnesium and boron and regular consumption of soft drinks and coffee.

DIETARY SOURCES OF CALCIUM

Alternative dietary sources of calcium are fish with small edible bones such as tinned salmon, tinned sardines and whitebait, almonds, linseeds (flaxseeds), sunflower and sesame seeds.

Foods to try are:

• Ground linseeds
• Tahini (ground sesame seeds)
• Houmus (chickpeas and tahini)
• Carob
• Parsley
• Figs
• Soybean products – tofu, soy milk

LACTOSE-FREE SHOPPING

Read labels carefully as lactose may also be found in ingredients such as whey, casein, caseinate, milk powder, milk solids.

Lactose-free substitutes are:

TYPE	DAIRY SUBSTITUTES
MILK	Soy Rice Oat
YOGHURT	Soy yoghurt Some dairy yoghurts may be tolerated
MAYONNAISE	Soy mayonnaise

SEARCH BY BRAND » View products by brand name

ADVANCED SEARCH

ALLERGY-FREE PRODUCT SEARCH Select allergyCaffeine Free Dairy-free Egg Free Gluten-free GM Free Lactose-free Organic Pesticide Free Preservative Free Sugar-free Vegan/Vegetarian Wheat-free Yeast-free

PRODUCT FEATURE Emergengy Essence 30ml » more

« back to previous page

back to top