Am I lactose intolerant?
February 19, 2012 7:12 AM Subscribe
I think I'm lactose intolerant. Advise me?
Background: during the past couple of years, I've started experiencing stomach upsets after eating, mostly gas, stomach pain and mild diarrhoea -- nothing very serious, but unpleasant and embarrassing. Over time, it's been getting more frequent. I recently had a lightbulb moment when I realised that I never experience these symptoms when I'm on holiday. That seemed weird to me, because on holiday I tend to eat more rich food, but then I realised that on holiday I eat much less dairy than I do as part of my 'normal' diet.
I'm 36, female, not taking any other medication, no other history of stomach or digestive complaints, generally healthy, not pregnant, not suffering unduly from stress. My normal, dairy-heavy diet would typically include skimmed milk with breakfast cereal every day, skimmed milk in tea and coffee, yogurt once or sometimes twice a day, custard quite often, cottage cheese. I know that lactose is also present in things like bread, biscuits, chocolate and processed foods, but none of those figure significantly in my diet.
I do notice that I never have any trouble in the mornings (having eaten cereal and milk at breakfast) but that often the symptoms start immediately after lunch. My normal lunch is a bowl of soup (tomato-based rather than cream based) or a salad, a banana and a yogurt.
I plan to see my doctor about this, and I am also planning to go cold-turkey on dairy for a period to see if my self-diagnosis is right, but I wanted to canvas some opinions first.
Is lactose intolerance the most likely explanation? Is there anything else which could be causing this?
If it is lactose intolerance, do I have to give up yogurt (which I love)? I've read that there's no lactose in yogurt as the bacteria get rid of it -- is this true for supermarket-bought yogurt? Would there be any benefit in making my own yogurt at home using something like EasiYo?
Any recommendations for helpful websites/blogs which give advice on building a healthy diet around lactose intolerance?
Background: during the past couple of years, I've started experiencing stomach upsets after eating, mostly gas, stomach pain and mild diarrhoea -- nothing very serious, but unpleasant and embarrassing. Over time, it's been getting more frequent. I recently had a lightbulb moment when I realised that I never experience these symptoms when I'm on holiday. That seemed weird to me, because on holiday I tend to eat more rich food, but then I realised that on holiday I eat much less dairy than I do as part of my 'normal' diet.
I'm 36, female, not taking any other medication, no other history of stomach or digestive complaints, generally healthy, not pregnant, not suffering unduly from stress. My normal, dairy-heavy diet would typically include skimmed milk with breakfast cereal every day, skimmed milk in tea and coffee, yogurt once or sometimes twice a day, custard quite often, cottage cheese. I know that lactose is also present in things like bread, biscuits, chocolate and processed foods, but none of those figure significantly in my diet.
I do notice that I never have any trouble in the mornings (having eaten cereal and milk at breakfast) but that often the symptoms start immediately after lunch. My normal lunch is a bowl of soup (tomato-based rather than cream based) or a salad, a banana and a yogurt.
I plan to see my doctor about this, and I am also planning to go cold-turkey on dairy for a period to see if my self-diagnosis is right, but I wanted to canvas some opinions first.
Is lactose intolerance the most likely explanation? Is there anything else which could be causing this?
If it is lactose intolerance, do I have to give up yogurt (which I love)? I've read that there's no lactose in yogurt as the bacteria get rid of it -- is this true for supermarket-bought yogurt? Would there be any benefit in making my own yogurt at home using something like EasiYo?
Any recommendations for helpful websites/blogs which give advice on building a healthy diet around lactose intolerance?
That sounds like my lactose intolerance began (mid 20ies). It's not uncommon to develop it at a random point in life. You might want to confirm it with a doctor though, just to be sure.
There are many soy products that can replace your usual milk-based products, from soy milk to yogurt. (At least, here in Europe, we have a big brand called Minus L that has really everything.)
posted by MinusCelsius at 7:21 AM on February 19, 2012
There are many soy products that can replace your usual milk-based products, from soy milk to yogurt. (At least, here in Europe, we have a big brand called Minus L that has really everything.)
posted by MinusCelsius at 7:21 AM on February 19, 2012
Does it happen mostly on days when you have the salad? Some people have trouble with insoluble fiber and the symptoms match what you describe.
If you tend to eat richer foods instead of salads while on vacation that would also fit with your pattern of not having issues when vacationing.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:25 AM on February 19, 2012
If you tend to eat richer foods instead of salads while on vacation that would also fit with your pattern of not having issues when vacationing.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:25 AM on February 19, 2012
I have lactose intolerant friends who eat (dairy) yogurt. So if you go cold turkey and figure out that it is lactose intolerance that's causing your discomfort, you can still try eating yogurt. I can't imagine living without Greek yogurt, gah!
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 7:30 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 7:30 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Welcome to the club, maybe! Yogurt should be fine with lactose intolerance. In fact, yogurt is awesome. Don't give that up due to lactose intolerance! Take a look at your salad dressing ingredients - ranch in particular is horrible for me, and Cesar dressing can be trouble. And it's pretty common for food to have "hidden lactose" like whey. I believe some allergy pills also have lactose in them. (If it says 'Whey protien isolate" you should be fine - that contains very little lactose)
I've also noticed that I have a bit of a 'dairy budget' for the day. Perhaps my morning cereal+milk will be fine, but if I eat something dairy later that day, I'm miserable.
The lactose free milk from the grocery store is fantastically tasty* and the lactase enzyme pills are a lifesaver. You can try taking one of the lactase pills with dairy based food for a few days, see if that helps.
* Some brands are better than others! Walmart's lactose free brand didn't seem to be lactose free for me (ow), but I think that Darigold puts extra enzyme in theirs, because I can drink it with dairy food and have minimal symptoms from the food. Lactaid milk is good too.
Long story short, it's an easy thing to live with once you know where lactose can hide & have a stash of enzyme pills to take when you need it. Once the discomfort starts, it's far too late for the enzyme to work, fyi.
posted by WowLookStars at 7:31 AM on February 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
I've also noticed that I have a bit of a 'dairy budget' for the day. Perhaps my morning cereal+milk will be fine, but if I eat something dairy later that day, I'm miserable.
The lactose free milk from the grocery store is fantastically tasty* and the lactase enzyme pills are a lifesaver. You can try taking one of the lactase pills with dairy based food for a few days, see if that helps.
* Some brands are better than others! Walmart's lactose free brand didn't seem to be lactose free for me (ow), but I think that Darigold puts extra enzyme in theirs, because I can drink it with dairy food and have minimal symptoms from the food. Lactaid milk is good too.
Long story short, it's an easy thing to live with once you know where lactose can hide & have a stash of enzyme pills to take when you need it. Once the discomfort starts, it's far too late for the enzyme to work, fyi.
posted by WowLookStars at 7:31 AM on February 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm moderately lactose intolerant, so I can sometimes handle some foods and sometimes not. Things like bread and processed foods aren't going to set it off in someone with mild lactose intolerance, and yogurt usually doesn't either, nor hard cheeses. It tends to be lower fat dairy - which proportionately has more milk sugar vs fat - which will have a greater effect. That said, ice cream is a guarantee of pain for me.
I've never found that a doctor can do anything to really test for it that you can't do at home (although you can actually get $$$ genetic testing for it, but that's absolutely overkill, IMO.)
So:
Step one: dairy-free week. If it does indeed look like it's the milk products,
step two: lactose enzyme tablets. In the US they're 'Lactaid' brand or generic, and they're gross and you have to chew them BEFORE EATING but they provide the enzymes to digest delicious food again.
On preview: it could be increased roughage at lunch; some people seem to digest cooked greens much better than raw ones. That's not something I have as much experience in, so that's something to consider if a dairy-free week doesn't show any changes.
Just as a side note, allergies and food intolerances aren't the same thing from a biological standpoint - eg, lactose intolerance comes from not having the enzymes (or enough enzymes) to break down the sugar, and the bloating/gas comes from that, whereas milk allergies are an allergic reaction that involves allergic reactions in the body the same way people have allergic reactions to pollen or nuts.
posted by cobaltnine at 7:34 AM on February 19, 2012
I've never found that a doctor can do anything to really test for it that you can't do at home (although you can actually get $$$ genetic testing for it, but that's absolutely overkill, IMO.)
So:
Step one: dairy-free week. If it does indeed look like it's the milk products,
step two: lactose enzyme tablets. In the US they're 'Lactaid' brand or generic, and they're gross and you have to chew them BEFORE EATING but they provide the enzymes to digest delicious food again.
On preview: it could be increased roughage at lunch; some people seem to digest cooked greens much better than raw ones. That's not something I have as much experience in, so that's something to consider if a dairy-free week doesn't show any changes.
Just as a side note, allergies and food intolerances aren't the same thing from a biological standpoint - eg, lactose intolerance comes from not having the enzymes (or enough enzymes) to break down the sugar, and the bloating/gas comes from that, whereas milk allergies are an allergic reaction that involves allergic reactions in the body the same way people have allergic reactions to pollen or nuts.
posted by cobaltnine at 7:34 AM on February 19, 2012
Just FYI, if the doctor doesn't find anything more serious than vanilla lactose intolerance, get yourself some Lactaid. That stuff works like magic.
posted by cuban link flooded jesus at 7:37 AM on February 19, 2012
posted by cuban link flooded jesus at 7:37 AM on February 19, 2012
If you are lactose intolerant, try LACTAID caplets or chewables. One or two with the first mouthful of diary products prevent the negative side effects of intolerance not appear.
Keep a box in your box, your car, at home and at work, so you're always covered.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:39 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Keep a box in your box, your car, at home and at work, so you're always covered.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:39 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
that doesn't sound like Lactose Intolerance. - The lactose intolerance should be appearing due to the Milk in your Cereal. (not the Yoghurt) The bacteria in yoghurt actually help those with lactose intolerance deal with lactose.
but maybe its taking a while for the milk from breakfast to have an impact? - I would try going a week or so without the milk in the morning. use fruit juice or eat toast instead and see if this has an impact.
posted by mary8nne at 7:47 AM on February 19, 2012
but maybe its taking a while for the milk from breakfast to have an impact? - I would try going a week or so without the milk in the morning. use fruit juice or eat toast instead and see if this has an impact.
posted by mary8nne at 7:47 AM on February 19, 2012
Intolerance is definitely different from an allergy. The happy thing is that you don't need to avoid things you're intolerant to, you simply need to avoid too much of them, and if you make a mistake it will be unpleasant but not a medical emergency.
It does sound like you have some kind of food intolerance, but the tomato or banana could be the problem, instead of the dairy (if it's the tomato--go carefully with other acidic things, like orange juice, too). Elimination is the easiest way to find out.
If it is the dairy after all, you can do a guess-and-correct approach to find out just how much of the stuff you can eat without discomfort. If you've been eating this much with only mild problems then you can probably still eat a considerable amount with no problems at all.
posted by anaelith at 8:06 AM on February 19, 2012
It does sound like you have some kind of food intolerance, but the tomato or banana could be the problem, instead of the dairy (if it's the tomato--go carefully with other acidic things, like orange juice, too). Elimination is the easiest way to find out.
If it is the dairy after all, you can do a guess-and-correct approach to find out just how much of the stuff you can eat without discomfort. If you've been eating this much with only mild problems then you can probably still eat a considerable amount with no problems at all.
posted by anaelith at 8:06 AM on February 19, 2012
You might think about gluten-intolerance too. For a long time I thought I might be lactose-intolerant, because I'd end up feeling sick after eating macaroni and cheese but a strict lactose elimination diet didn't help. I cut out gluten and started feeling better after three days. Turns out it was the macaroni and not the cheese that was bugging my systerm. Also, untreated gluten intolerance can give you sporadic lactose intolerance. Something to think about.
posted by colfax at 8:08 AM on February 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by colfax at 8:08 AM on February 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
If Lactaid works for you, buy it in bulk on Amazon, as that's the cheapest way you'll get it. Also, if Lactaid doesn't work, don't automatically assume it's something worse than lactose intolerance. I have it pretty bad and Lactaid doesn't do dick for me.
However, I regularly enjoy yogurt and yogurt-based foods with no problem at all. Oreos are completely lactose-free. The "creme" is soy-based.
Also, start reading labels. Everything has milk in it, as you're about to find out. And I mean, like, bread crumbs and stuff you'd never think had actual milk. Fortunately, this has been made easier in recent years as allergens and food intolerance products (milk, nuts, wheat) are bolded in ingredient lists or listed with a warning under the ingredients.
posted by griphus at 8:09 AM on February 19, 2012
However, I regularly enjoy yogurt and yogurt-based foods with no problem at all. Oreos are completely lactose-free. The "creme" is soy-based.
Also, start reading labels. Everything has milk in it, as you're about to find out. And I mean, like, bread crumbs and stuff you'd never think had actual milk. Fortunately, this has been made easier in recent years as allergens and food intolerance products (milk, nuts, wheat) are bolded in ingredient lists or listed with a warning under the ingredients.
posted by griphus at 8:09 AM on February 19, 2012
but maybe its taking a while for the milk from breakfast to have an impact?
I'd guess it was this. Even after I found out I was lactose intolerant, I'd still have a bit of milk with my morning coffee and then be completely surprised that I had a stomachache around lunchtime.
posted by griphus at 8:10 AM on February 19, 2012
I'd guess it was this. Even after I found out I was lactose intolerant, I'd still have a bit of milk with my morning coffee and then be completely surprised that I had a stomachache around lunchtime.
posted by griphus at 8:10 AM on February 19, 2012
There are many many degrees of lactose intolerance. Some people can handle hard cheese and yogurt in moderation, and some people (me) get symptoms from lactose powder used as an inert filler in medications. It will take some time and self-testing to figure out where you fall on the spectrum. I have to take about 4 lactaid ultras to put regular milk in my tea, and anywhere from 12-16 to have any kind of dairy dessert. I learned this through terrible horrible trial and and horrible terrible error.
TBH this doesn't really sound like lactose intolerance to me either, though. You tend to feel the symptoms immediately, so I'd expect you to have problems first thing in the morning.
posted by elizardbits at 8:12 AM on February 19, 2012
TBH this doesn't really sound like lactose intolerance to me either, though. You tend to feel the symptoms immediately, so I'd expect you to have problems first thing in the morning.
posted by elizardbits at 8:12 AM on February 19, 2012
Also, as mentioned above, everything on fucking earth has milk or milk products in it. Terms you should look for in ingredients include: milk, milk powder, milk solids, skim milk solids, butter, whey, and, of course, horrible cruel lactose.
Whey is the fucking worst. It's in everything from deli meats to crackers, for no goddamn reason.
posted by elizardbits at 8:15 AM on February 19, 2012
Whey is the fucking worst. It's in everything from deli meats to crackers, for no goddamn reason.
posted by elizardbits at 8:15 AM on February 19, 2012
When I told my doctor I thought I might be lactose intolerant, she said "Oh, ok." Don't know what yours will be like, but you may need to test yourself for this.
For me it's a cumulative effect. I can even get away with one serving of full on dairy like ice cream or buttermilk, but I need to have been dairy free for the days prior and to be good afterwards. If I'm taking lactose-containing pills, like most antihistamines and birth control pills, the trigger point is lower. If I'm bad for a few days in a row, I might feel sick for weeks. Your first week dairy-free should tell you straight away if it's this or not, and after that, the real trial and error begins...
posted by snorkmaiden at 8:25 AM on February 19, 2012
For me it's a cumulative effect. I can even get away with one serving of full on dairy like ice cream or buttermilk, but I need to have been dairy free for the days prior and to be good afterwards. If I'm taking lactose-containing pills, like most antihistamines and birth control pills, the trigger point is lower. If I'm bad for a few days in a row, I might feel sick for weeks. Your first week dairy-free should tell you straight away if it's this or not, and after that, the real trial and error begins...
posted by snorkmaiden at 8:25 AM on February 19, 2012
When I told my doctor I thought I might be lactose intolerant, she said "Oh, ok." Don't know what yours will be like, but you may need to test yourself for this.
Yeah, my doctor was rather nonchalant about it when I told her, too. "Oh, well, good for you for figuring that out."
Your self-diagnosis sounds an awful lot like mine, and for me the "A-ha!" moment came after having a bowl of corn chowder for dinner and then having a glass of milk with some cookies for dessert and having my whole digestive system say "OH HELL NO YOU DI'INT!". Going cold-turkey on dairy for a week or two cleared up the symptoms, then I stocked up on Lactaid pills. Luckily for me, I don't seem to have a problem with "hidden" milk products in things, or even with a slice of cheese on a sandwich, but it's strictly lactose-free milk for cereal and anything else that calls for milk, and...ugh...non-dairy coffee creamer.
Once I stopped having the symptoms all the time, it was easy to gently self-test to figure out what was bothering me the most (ice cream, sour cream, half-and-half...pretty much anything "cream") and what didn't (butter, yogurt, processed cheese) without causing myself too much distress.
Keep Lactaid pills EVERYWHERE so you don't find yourself forgetting and consuming something with bothersome dairy and then saying "Oh, NOES!" I keep some at work, in the car, in my computer bag, etc.
posted by briank at 8:44 AM on February 19, 2012
Yeah, my doctor was rather nonchalant about it when I told her, too. "Oh, well, good for you for figuring that out."
Your self-diagnosis sounds an awful lot like mine, and for me the "A-ha!" moment came after having a bowl of corn chowder for dinner and then having a glass of milk with some cookies for dessert and having my whole digestive system say "OH HELL NO YOU DI'INT!". Going cold-turkey on dairy for a week or two cleared up the symptoms, then I stocked up on Lactaid pills. Luckily for me, I don't seem to have a problem with "hidden" milk products in things, or even with a slice of cheese on a sandwich, but it's strictly lactose-free milk for cereal and anything else that calls for milk, and...ugh...non-dairy coffee creamer.
Once I stopped having the symptoms all the time, it was easy to gently self-test to figure out what was bothering me the most (ice cream, sour cream, half-and-half...pretty much anything "cream") and what didn't (butter, yogurt, processed cheese) without causing myself too much distress.
Keep Lactaid pills EVERYWHERE so you don't find yourself forgetting and consuming something with bothersome dairy and then saying "Oh, NOES!" I keep some at work, in the car, in my computer bag, etc.
posted by briank at 8:44 AM on February 19, 2012
In my late 20s I started having similar symptoms and actually a friend made the connection for me when I had a stomachache after drinking a grande latte the 2nd day in a row that we went out for coffee together. When I asked my doctor about it, she said the best way to diagnose it was to not eat anything else, then drink a full glass of milk and if I felt a stomach ache/gas/whatever afterwards then that is how I would know.
I think I have fairly mild lactose intolerance - I definitely can't drink milk, eat ice cream (sad) or have certain cheeses (I think mostly softer cheeses) in large amounts but I put milk in my tea and eat small bits of cheese with no problem. I can definitely have yogurt without any problem, goats cheeses, butter, and since I never drank much milk anyway, I will have soy or almond milk occasionally. Lactaid also helps with things like ice cream and larger amounts of cheeses.
All this to say that you'll pretty much figure it out with trial and error, and I have the feeling that is what your doctor will say to you, as well. It's really not a big deal to me at all - I carry around the lactaid pills just in case, but actually haven't had to take one in quite a while because I just buy/eat/order out less food with dairy in it. It's not going to be a huge lifestyle change, don't worry.
posted by echo0720 at 9:01 AM on February 19, 2012
I think I have fairly mild lactose intolerance - I definitely can't drink milk, eat ice cream (sad) or have certain cheeses (I think mostly softer cheeses) in large amounts but I put milk in my tea and eat small bits of cheese with no problem. I can definitely have yogurt without any problem, goats cheeses, butter, and since I never drank much milk anyway, I will have soy or almond milk occasionally. Lactaid also helps with things like ice cream and larger amounts of cheeses.
All this to say that you'll pretty much figure it out with trial and error, and I have the feeling that is what your doctor will say to you, as well. It's really not a big deal to me at all - I carry around the lactaid pills just in case, but actually haven't had to take one in quite a while because I just buy/eat/order out less food with dairy in it. It's not going to be a huge lifestyle change, don't worry.
posted by echo0720 at 9:01 AM on February 19, 2012
Sounds very similar to how I discovered that I was lactose intolernt. My experience is similar to WowLookStars, in that I, too, I have a "dairy budget" for the day. If I have some soft cheese AND milk in my latte (rather than soy) then there is going to be trouble, but just the latte I'm fine. I also am not so sensitive that "hidden dairy" in processed foods bothers me (although I don't eat a lot of processed food ), neither does yogurt. Biggest culprit for me is soft cow's cheese, but I'm OK with goat's cheese (soft or otherwise). It's been a minor adjustment in my life, as frankly I've never liked milk, even as a child ,and have grown to prefer soy milk in my coffee. The major thing is that I used to just grab some cheese and french bread for a snacky supper sometimes and now I don't.
I haven't been great about taking lactaid. It works great for most people, but I posted on a friend's facebook status (she too was wondering if she'd become lactose intolerant) about how sometimes I feel like it gives me a stomach ache and other people responded that it didn't work for them either. Maybe it was coincidental or maybe we self-diagnosed incorrectly (although the corresponding stomach trouble when I have a cheese enchilada or any other soft cow's cheese suggests otherwise).
But the main point, as other's have already stated, is that unless dairy is a major component in your diet, it's not going to be a big deal, particularly if you respond well to Lactaid.
posted by kaybdc at 9:34 AM on February 19, 2012
I haven't been great about taking lactaid. It works great for most people, but I posted on a friend's facebook status (she too was wondering if she'd become lactose intolerant) about how sometimes I feel like it gives me a stomach ache and other people responded that it didn't work for them either. Maybe it was coincidental or maybe we self-diagnosed incorrectly (although the corresponding stomach trouble when I have a cheese enchilada or any other soft cow's cheese suggests otherwise).
But the main point, as other's have already stated, is that unless dairy is a major component in your diet, it's not going to be a big deal, particularly if you respond well to Lactaid.
posted by kaybdc at 9:34 AM on February 19, 2012
Dropping wheat and soy cured my wife's "lactose intolerance." Ditto my sister (who had "lactose intolerant" reactions to cheeses....).
posted by rr at 10:43 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rr at 10:43 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
A different OTC product with a different ingredient mix is Digestive Advantage Lactose Defense . Thanks to a tip in another place, I tried this and it works much better for me. Even though its label says to take one each day, I found one every two days is good for me, and I even skip several days sometimes. But, I definitely take one if I'm going out for a big evening. It frees me to eat anything.
posted by caclwmr4 at 11:20 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by caclwmr4 at 11:20 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm intolerant of milk in large doses, along the lines of what you describe, but Lactaid doesn't help, and yogurt is still out. Someone told me that some people are allergic to some other substance in milk, and that seems more likely in my case as well. So, I'd suggest you go cold turkey off of milk first, and then try adding back in yogurt, lactose-free milk products, and so forth. It would take me about 3 days to be basically free of milk-related symptoms. YMMV.
posted by slidell at 11:45 AM on February 19, 2012
posted by slidell at 11:45 AM on February 19, 2012
I have been lactose intolerant for 20 years. It's really not bad at all once you get the hang of it.
You have to take the Lactaid people with a grain of salt because they're trying to sell you their products, but they do have a lot of good information, including a "dairy test." That page also shows the lactose content in different dairy items.
Lactaid makes a ton of lactose-free dairy products - milk, yogurt, etc. I used to drink the milk as a kid. I have heard that it's slightly sweeter than regular milk, but I switched at such a young age that I don't really remember.
The real gem of the Lactaid line is the pills. My fiance and I are both LI and we buy them in bulk on Amazon or Drugstore.com. We like the Fast Act Caplets (small and easy to swallow) and there is also a chewable variety. Although I buy generic in almost everything, I find that the brand name works better. What's great is they come in individual foil pouches so you can stash them anywhere - purse, pocket, work, etc. I generally only take one when eating a milk product, but my fiance takes two because he is more sensitive.
I don't remember when I switched to soy milk, but that's all I drink now. Also there are a freakin ton of soy- and rice-based milk substitute products. You can find all the Silk products at regular grocery stores. Places like Whole Foods have even more stuff.
posted by radioamy at 12:24 PM on February 19, 2012
You have to take the Lactaid people with a grain of salt because they're trying to sell you their products, but they do have a lot of good information, including a "dairy test." That page also shows the lactose content in different dairy items.
Lactaid makes a ton of lactose-free dairy products - milk, yogurt, etc. I used to drink the milk as a kid. I have heard that it's slightly sweeter than regular milk, but I switched at such a young age that I don't really remember.
The real gem of the Lactaid line is the pills. My fiance and I are both LI and we buy them in bulk on Amazon or Drugstore.com. We like the Fast Act Caplets (small and easy to swallow) and there is also a chewable variety. Although I buy generic in almost everything, I find that the brand name works better. What's great is they come in individual foil pouches so you can stash them anywhere - purse, pocket, work, etc. I generally only take one when eating a milk product, but my fiance takes two because he is more sensitive.
I don't remember when I switched to soy milk, but that's all I drink now. Also there are a freakin ton of soy- and rice-based milk substitute products. You can find all the Silk products at regular grocery stores. Places like Whole Foods have even more stuff.
posted by radioamy at 12:24 PM on February 19, 2012
Yes, the good news is it's relatively easy to check and see if it's actually lactose intolerance: wake up and drink some milk. Got a stomach-ache? Odds are good you're lactose intolerance. It's much, much harder to isolate other intolerances, like wheat and soy, in the same way; you might also be prepared to look for those intolerances as well if you cut out dairy and still are having problems.
You should also know there's a certain percentage of the population intolerant not (or not only) of lactose but of casein or whey. These other components of milk are super-common in a wide variety of food and lactose-free milk, for example, won't do a thing for this portion of the population. I wouldn't guess you have such a thing, but be aware it exists so if you do think you are lactose-intolerant and your plan to re-introduce dairy through lactose-free products fails, another type of dairy intolerance might be why.
You will find that people are indeed on an entire spectrum of intolerance and if you are lactose-intolerance you will need to figure out where you fit on the spectrum, outlined above in the other answers. For me, it's no milk, no sour cream, no ice cream, no pizza, no yogurt, no melted cheese, no cottage cheese, no cream in soups, etc (so I guess I'm on the stricter end). I can drink Lactaid milk, which is awesome and which I, like many others above, recommend if you are lactose intolerant and can tolerate it.
I also use Lactaid pills but they don't always work; I will note the chewables never worked for me but the pills do sometimes. I definitely echo what others are saying above that if the pills do work, carry them everywhere. I learned the hard way they only work for one meal and if you have a dairy-heavy breakfast and a dairy-heavy lunch, you have to be prepared to pop pills twice.
Also, I've noticed that I can handle dairy in cycles--what people are talking about above, with a dairy budget, but longer term over a period of a week or a month. So if that's the case for you, you might find that what bothers you one week might not bother you the next.
All of this is to say, it's a process. I diagnosed myself when I was in my early 20s and it's been a decade of wrestling with all the details here and admitting that yeah it's really a problem. It's difficult to give up dairy! But often you can work your way around the major problems and still eat most of what you want.
posted by librarylis at 12:51 PM on February 19, 2012
You should also know there's a certain percentage of the population intolerant not (or not only) of lactose but of casein or whey. These other components of milk are super-common in a wide variety of food and lactose-free milk, for example, won't do a thing for this portion of the population. I wouldn't guess you have such a thing, but be aware it exists so if you do think you are lactose-intolerant and your plan to re-introduce dairy through lactose-free products fails, another type of dairy intolerance might be why.
You will find that people are indeed on an entire spectrum of intolerance and if you are lactose-intolerance you will need to figure out where you fit on the spectrum, outlined above in the other answers. For me, it's no milk, no sour cream, no ice cream, no pizza, no yogurt, no melted cheese, no cottage cheese, no cream in soups, etc (so I guess I'm on the stricter end). I can drink Lactaid milk, which is awesome and which I, like many others above, recommend if you are lactose intolerant and can tolerate it.
I also use Lactaid pills but they don't always work; I will note the chewables never worked for me but the pills do sometimes. I definitely echo what others are saying above that if the pills do work, carry them everywhere. I learned the hard way they only work for one meal and if you have a dairy-heavy breakfast and a dairy-heavy lunch, you have to be prepared to pop pills twice.
Also, I've noticed that I can handle dairy in cycles--what people are talking about above, with a dairy budget, but longer term over a period of a week or a month. So if that's the case for you, you might find that what bothers you one week might not bother you the next.
All of this is to say, it's a process. I diagnosed myself when I was in my early 20s and it's been a decade of wrestling with all the details here and admitting that yeah it's really a problem. It's difficult to give up dairy! But often you can work your way around the major problems and still eat most of what you want.
posted by librarylis at 12:51 PM on February 19, 2012
Sounds like you have mild lactose intolerance. Switch some/all of those dairy products you listed to soy or lactose-free and get yourself some lactase pills, and see if that helps things. It may be something else (gluten, etc). I'm lactose intolerant and if I drank a glass of milk, I'd have explosive diarrhea 15 minutes later. The delay in onset of your symptoms suggests that you may have another sort of food intolerance, or at least a milder version of lactose intolerance- i.e. your body still produces some lactase enzyme, but not enough to cope with your dairy intake. You might be fine with yogurt if you cut out other dairy.
If not, soy yoghurt tastes like yogurt and berries (unlike soy ice cream, which is a sad imitation that will make you long for the real thing).
posted by emd3737 at 1:29 PM on February 19, 2012
If not, soy yoghurt tastes like yogurt and berries (unlike soy ice cream, which is a sad imitation that will make you long for the real thing).
posted by emd3737 at 1:29 PM on February 19, 2012
If you do go to your doctor and they are a bit 'whatever', there is a really simple test for lactose intolerance. There is also a horrible, prolonged fasting, drinking lactose and having multiple bloods taken test. I've had the second one and it was conclusive - I'm lactose intolerant - but I wish I'd been able to have the first! When I was diagnosed I was told the amount of lactase your body produces can vary and that stress is a significant factor in lowering production. I have never followed up on this but I was VERY stressed when I was diagnosed.
FWIW, I can't tolerate yoghurt, cream, ice-cream, milk or soft cheese in even tiny quantities. A little bit of hard cheese now and then, like Parmesan in pesto say, causes me some discomfort but not too dramatic. I can't get lactaid capsules where I live so I just do without. I used to looooove dairy but I don't really miss it now. Although... I was diagnosed 12 years ago and only really became super vigilant in the last three years.
Oh! Lactose-free yogurt is yummy if you can get it, but there's a limited range of flavours.
posted by t0astie at 1:46 PM on February 19, 2012
FWIW, I can't tolerate yoghurt, cream, ice-cream, milk or soft cheese in even tiny quantities. A little bit of hard cheese now and then, like Parmesan in pesto say, causes me some discomfort but not too dramatic. I can't get lactaid capsules where I live so I just do without. I used to looooove dairy but I don't really miss it now. Although... I was diagnosed 12 years ago and only really became super vigilant in the last three years.
Oh! Lactose-free yogurt is yummy if you can get it, but there's a limited range of flavours.
posted by t0astie at 1:46 PM on February 19, 2012
Lactose intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy.
It just means your body doesn't produce enough lactase to break down lactose. All you need to do is swallow some lactase (in pill form; go for the cheap store brand) before you swallow some lactose.
Unless it's a real milk allergy (which, again, is totally different, and worth ruling out), there's no need to actively avoid anything.
Lactose-fee milk is just regular milk with lactase added. Not really worth the extra $$$ if you've got the pills. (It does indeed taste better, though.)
Speaking of pills: Pretty much all chalky tablet medication contains lactose as filler, so it's worth opting for the plasicky capsules if you have the choice.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:27 PM on February 19, 2012
It just means your body doesn't produce enough lactase to break down lactose. All you need to do is swallow some lactase (in pill form; go for the cheap store brand) before you swallow some lactose.
Unless it's a real milk allergy (which, again, is totally different, and worth ruling out), there's no need to actively avoid anything.
Lactose-fee milk is just regular milk with lactase added. Not really worth the extra $$$ if you've got the pills. (It does indeed taste better, though.)
Speaking of pills: Pretty much all chalky tablet medication contains lactose as filler, so it's worth opting for the plasicky capsules if you have the choice.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:27 PM on February 19, 2012
Are you Asian? Adult-onset lactose intolerance is somewhat common. It not unheard of in other ethnicities.
I pretty much stopped drinking milk after graduating from college. Started taking protein supplements in the mornings in my mid-20's and oddly felt awful just before noon; gas, bloating, nausea, and sour breath. Switched to lactose-free stuff and didn't have a problem.
Small amounts of dairy is still ok (cream in food, small amounts of cheese, yoghurt-topped salmon steaks), but a glass of milk, a cup of yoghurt, or even a bottle of Boost/Ensure, or lots of very dairy-rich food will bring up the symptoms.
My doctor said slowly reintroducing dairy regularly to my diet might turn my enzyme production back on, but no guarantees. I haven't bothered trying, just acknowledge that I'm intolerant of lactose now.
posted by porpoise at 4:15 PM on February 19, 2012
I pretty much stopped drinking milk after graduating from college. Started taking protein supplements in the mornings in my mid-20's and oddly felt awful just before noon; gas, bloating, nausea, and sour breath. Switched to lactose-free stuff and didn't have a problem.
Small amounts of dairy is still ok (cream in food, small amounts of cheese, yoghurt-topped salmon steaks), but a glass of milk, a cup of yoghurt, or even a bottle of Boost/Ensure, or lots of very dairy-rich food will bring up the symptoms.
My doctor said slowly reintroducing dairy regularly to my diet might turn my enzyme production back on, but no guarantees. I haven't bothered trying, just acknowledge that I'm intolerant of lactose now.
posted by porpoise at 4:15 PM on February 19, 2012
Try cutting out milk products and see if your symptoms decrease.
Adding my voice to the chorus of folks with more severe lactose intolerance - I can't handle yogurt and the pills don't help me much.
If cutting out milk products doesn't reduce your symptoms, look into Fructose Intolerance. This one is harder to diagnose by yourself because fructose isn't on ingredient labels, for the most part. It (and/or fructans, which also can irritate folks with fructose malabsorbtion) are present in fruits, but also many other raw ingredients - stuff as diverse as brown sugar, corn, honey, wheat products, beer, and vinegar (my doctor gave me an eight-page booklet).
What beverages do you drink in the morning? Most fruit juices (except citrus), beverages with high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener, tea or coffee sweetened with brown sugar or honey, or drinks like Emergen-C (whose main ingredient is fructose) could be aggravating you if you have fructose intolerance. It could also be your breakfast cereal if that involves wheat cereal and/or fruit.
In terms of your lunch, if you're eating yogurt with fruit that could be the culprit, if you are fructose intolerance. As would the tomato-based soup, the banana and perhaps toppings on your salad, such as tomato.
You may also have both problems (lactose and fructose intolerance), which makes diagnosis by elimination diets even more difficult. There are both lactose- and frutose-intolerance breath tests that can be administered by a GI doctor. There is no equivalent of Lactaid pills for folks that are fructose intolerant.
posted by scrambles at 4:21 PM on February 19, 2012
Adding my voice to the chorus of folks with more severe lactose intolerance - I can't handle yogurt and the pills don't help me much.
If cutting out milk products doesn't reduce your symptoms, look into Fructose Intolerance. This one is harder to diagnose by yourself because fructose isn't on ingredient labels, for the most part. It (and/or fructans, which also can irritate folks with fructose malabsorbtion) are present in fruits, but also many other raw ingredients - stuff as diverse as brown sugar, corn, honey, wheat products, beer, and vinegar (my doctor gave me an eight-page booklet).
What beverages do you drink in the morning? Most fruit juices (except citrus), beverages with high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener, tea or coffee sweetened with brown sugar or honey, or drinks like Emergen-C (whose main ingredient is fructose) could be aggravating you if you have fructose intolerance. It could also be your breakfast cereal if that involves wheat cereal and/or fruit.
In terms of your lunch, if you're eating yogurt with fruit that could be the culprit, if you are fructose intolerance. As would the tomato-based soup, the banana and perhaps toppings on your salad, such as tomato.
You may also have both problems (lactose and fructose intolerance), which makes diagnosis by elimination diets even more difficult. There are both lactose- and frutose-intolerance breath tests that can be administered by a GI doctor. There is no equivalent of Lactaid pills for folks that are fructose intolerant.
posted by scrambles at 4:21 PM on February 19, 2012
In terms of diet, almonds are now your new friend. Almond milk. Almond butter. Almond yogurt. Almond cheese. Yes, almond cheese.
You can find this stuff at Whole Foods and specialty grocery stores. Good luck!
posted by quadog at 4:30 PM on February 19, 2012
You can find this stuff at Whole Foods and specialty grocery stores. Good luck!
posted by quadog at 4:30 PM on February 19, 2012
Dropping wheat and soy cured my wife's "lactose intolerance." Ditto my sister (who had "lactose intolerant" reactions to cheeses....).
I had forgotten about this until I read rr's comment, but a friend of mine was just diagnosed with celiac disease and was saying that now that she has been off of gluten completely for a few months, she is no longer lactose intolerant. Here's a link from WebMD that explains the connection.
Not a doctor or a nutritionist, but I would think that the odds are that you are "just" lactose intolerant, but if you cut out dairy and still have issues, you might want to get tested for celiac disease.
posted by kaybdc at 4:52 PM on February 19, 2012
I had forgotten about this until I read rr's comment, but a friend of mine was just diagnosed with celiac disease and was saying that now that she has been off of gluten completely for a few months, she is no longer lactose intolerant. Here's a link from WebMD that explains the connection.
Not a doctor or a nutritionist, but I would think that the odds are that you are "just" lactose intolerant, but if you cut out dairy and still have issues, you might want to get tested for celiac disease.
posted by kaybdc at 4:52 PM on February 19, 2012
Get a VEGA test from a naturopath, you will know what you are sensitive to. Intolerance is not the same as allergy - the key is the frequency of the times you eat the offending foods. If you eat them every day, you will get the gas and bloating, and as years pass this could become even worse. But if you space your your dishes with milk ( for example ) every three or four days, giving your body time to recover, then you might not have any symptoms at all.
Find out what is hurting you. Stop eating these foods outright for several months, then reintroduce sparingly and listen to your body. Eat at least 100 different foods a month, so you don't build new intolerances to new foods.
PM me for more information, I've been dealing with this for years. It's not as grim as you fear, it's a small adjustment at worst.
posted by seawallrunner at 12:33 AM on February 20, 2012
Find out what is hurting you. Stop eating these foods outright for several months, then reintroduce sparingly and listen to your body. Eat at least 100 different foods a month, so you don't build new intolerances to new foods.
PM me for more information, I've been dealing with this for years. It's not as grim as you fear, it's a small adjustment at worst.
posted by seawallrunner at 12:33 AM on February 20, 2012
I just wanted to back up those who mentioned that you can have an intolerance to parts of milk other than lactose. I can chew all the Lactaid tablets in the world, but if I have a dish of ice cream, I'm going to feel like crap before I've even finished. I was seeing a naturopathic doctor who figured I'm intolerent to either the lipids or the proteins (or both) and wanted to do some expensive testing, but since the result is still "don't eat dairy" I didn't really see the point. So, if you cut out all the dairy and feel good, then add lactase pills and dairy and feel crap, you might be dealing with something other than lactose intolerence.
Like others, I can get away with some dairy, in small quantities. Unlike lactose intolerent folks, higher fat dairy gives me a harder time than low or no fat. Ask me about ice cream hangovers!
posted by looli at 9:04 PM on February 20, 2012
Like others, I can get away with some dairy, in small quantities. Unlike lactose intolerent folks, higher fat dairy gives me a harder time than low or no fat. Ask me about ice cream hangovers!
posted by looli at 9:04 PM on February 20, 2012
Get a VEGA test from a naturopath
No. Vega testing is ridiculous bullshit of the highest order. It's basically en e-meter for feet. Save your money and go to a real doctor.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:39 AM on February 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
No. Vega testing is ridiculous bullshit of the highest order. It's basically en e-meter for feet. Save your money and go to a real doctor.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:39 AM on February 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
I'm lactose intolerant. It's actually pretty easy to manage I just take a lactase enzyme pill every time I ingest a significant amount of dairy.
posted by jefftang at 10:49 AM on February 21, 2012
posted by jefftang at 10:49 AM on February 21, 2012
I absolutely agree with caclwmr4 --the product Digestive Advantage/Lactose Intolerance has totally changed my life. I HATED having to dig in my purse for a lactaid tab every time I encountered dairy products I wanted to eat. And what a nightmare if I had changed purses or was out of Lactaid. Digestive Advantage is a pro-biotic that you take every day if you need it or not (I always take one a day). I don't have to think about if I plan to have dairy or not, I just take one a day and it WORKS! no more digging for lactaid, no more panic if I forget to take a Lactaid and I realize it half way through my pizza or ice cream. Now my biggest fear is that they will go out of business and it won't be available, so please, all you fellow lactaid intolerants, BUY this stuff! It truly is a life changer. I buy it a CVS. I think it is also available on Amazon.
posted by Lylo at 11:05 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by Lylo at 11:05 PM on April 24, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Keep a food journal. It might not be the milk, it could be the banana or even the yogurt.
posted by myselfasme at 7:19 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]