Help for someone that's lactose intolerant!

hey, I'm also lactose intolerant! I think we could help each other!

There are several non dairy milks. I like Almond and Cashew milk the best. And as for cheese, there are some vegan cheeses that are made from nuts. They don't taste 100% like cheese, but really close. Earth Balance is a good brand for non dairy "butter".

I'm lactose intolerant as well. I only ever have milk unless its in my tea or coffee. And I do not use any substitutions either... although I'm not sure if this is effecting my health in any way.
However, I read an article years ago that made sense to me at the time... I'm still questioning it. We're the only species as adults that consume milk. Thoughts?
And I've been told by a doctor that we can get plenty of calcium through spinach.... is this true?

I'm lactose intolerant as well but dairy products are a staple in getting enough protein for me, especially since i'm on a budget and i share my food with my mother (and she wouldn't trade her milk/cottage or whatever for anything non-dairy), so I started taking Lactaid. 2 pills before every meal containing dairy, and you're all good! Well at least it worked well for me. It's probably easier and more pleasant than buying a whole new pantry if you do enjoy dairy products !

flegs2345 wrote: »

I have an allergy to any dairy products and I really want to lose weight but I have no idea what to eat! Can someone help tell me what I can eat that won't hurt my stomach but can help me lose weight to?

Lactose intolerance is very different from an allergy. Which do you actually have?

Ok. Lots of dairy contains little or no lactose. You can either find things that are lactose-free or you can buy lactase pills (IIRC they're about 25 cents per pill) and take one whenever you eat things with lactose in them. (This is the enzyme naturally produced by the body to digest lactose.)

I had to learn which things set me off and which didn't. I can eat ice cream, cheese, and butter just fine. Milk is a different story and I just buy the lactose-free (cow) milk at the grocery store because I really didn't like almond milk and rice milk.

Do some experimenting and see what you can and can't handle. If there's things you enjoy that set you off, get some lactase pills and you'll be good to go.

flegs2345 wrote: »

I'm lactose.

Lactose-free milk is real milk, with the lactase enzyme added to break down the lactose sugars your body can't before it even reaches your gut. It doesn't taste any different from regular milk. A number of brands make it, but I've only been able to find one that makes it in larger than half-gallon cartons (Lucerne). Other brands include Lactaid, Lucerne, and Land'o'Lakes (Dairy Ease).

You'll need to find out how much lactose bothers you. This differs for everyone and is why some people are able to eat ice cream, iced coffees, or certain cheeses and be ok. I can do a little whipped cream on my coffees, but ice cream is totally out (unless I'll be spending the rest of the day alone and have no plans)! For the most part, the harder or older the cheese, the less lactose there is. Steamed milk in HOT lattes/cappuccinos is fine as the steaming process breaks down lactose for you. Greek yogurt is also fine because the bacteria break down the lactose (same reason aged cheese is ok).

Also, it is important to understand the difference between allergy and intolerance. In a dairy allergy, your body attacks the proteins of milk and causes systemic reactions (GI tract, skin, anaphylaxis). In lactose intolerance, your GI tract no longer produces the enzyme lactase which is necessary for breaking down lactose into simpler sugars, and the bacteria in your gut instead ferment the sugar and produce gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Eating lots of food with lactose or having a GI bug can temporarily deplete your body's supply of lactase, and as we get older our bodies produce less lactase.

It's a bit sweeter than regular milk. (I actually like it better.) My wife describes it as being like the milk you have left in a cereal bowl after eating sugary kids cereal.

My husband said he thought it tasted sweeter too, but ounce for ounce it's nutritionally the same. No added sugar. I figure it's all in his head. It took forever for him to be ok drinking it. He called it "fake milk" for the longest time. Now he drinks it more than I do.

Like Iwillgetcrowsomeday said:
Figure out how much really hurts you. Most lactose intolerant people can at least digest a small amount of lactose. I used to be able to eat a small amount of cheese before it bothered me. My body seems to have stoped the production of lactase almost completely which is super annoying.
Since lactose free products exist: So there. I have no idea how much things cost in your supermarkets, in my country special milks like lactose free and the ones made from plants (soy and diverse nuts) cots usually more than 'usual' milk.
Also an option: Lactase tablets when you're eating out somewhere. You should be able to get them at the pharmacy or drug store. You can't overdose lactase so it's save to take a larger amount if you're unsure how much lactose could be in the dish you're eating (they're taken before you're eating).

On calcium: Broccoli! Broccoli has a lot of health benefits anyway so eat that as your side dish whenever you can.