Lactose Intolerance - Home Treatment
There are many different ways to live with lactose intolerance. What works for one person may not work for another. There is no cure for lactose intolerance. So controlling your symptoms is largely up to you. The following tips can help you prevent symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Limit the amount of milk and milk products in your diet. Most people can have about 10 g of lactose each day. This can be a glass of whole, low-fat, or nonfat milk, for example. All milk contains the same amount of lactose. Other milk products contain different amounts of lactose:
| Food | Serving size | Lactose (g) | Calcium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Milk |
8 fl oz (240 mL) |
10-12 |
290-300 |
|
Yogurt |
8 fl oz (240 mL) |
10-15 |
300-400 |
|
Ice cream |
8 fl oz (240 mL) |
10 |
160 |
|
Hard cheese |
1 oz (30 g) |
0-1 |
150-275 |
|
Cottage cheese |
8 fl oz (240 mL) |
3 |
126-155 |
|
Cream cheese |
1 oz (30 g) |
0.8 |
23 |
Foods with less lactose, such as Swiss or cheddar cheese, may not cause problems. If you are not sure whether a milk product causes symptoms, try a small amount and wait to see how you feel before you eat or drink more.
Eat or drink milk and milk products along with other foods. For some people, combining a solid food (like cereal) with a dairy product (like milk) may reduce or eliminate symptoms.
Spread milk or milk products throughout the day. Many people who are lactose-intolerant find it helpful to eat small amounts of lactose-containing products throughout the day instead of larger amounts all at once.
Eat or drink milk and milk products that have reduced lactose. In most grocery stores, you can buy milk with reduced lactose. Some people like buying this kind of milk and find that it helps their symptoms. Others find that it tastes too sweet or is too expensive. People with diabetes may find that lactose-reduced milk raises their blood sugar levels higher than normal.
Eat or drink other foods instead of milk and milk products. You can substitute soy milk and soy cheese for milk and milk products. You can also use nondairy creamers in your coffee. But keep in mind that nondairy creamers do not contain the same vitamins and minerals as milk, and they may contain more fat than milk contains.
Use lactase products. Lactase products are dietary supplements that help you digest lactose. There are many different brands of lactase products. Some are pills that you chew (such as LactAid) before you eat or drink milk products. Others are liquids that you can add to milk 24 hours before you drink it. Because products and brands are different, you may want to try a few to see which ones work best for you.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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