Contented tummies - newsbites - overcoming lactose intolerance - Brief Article

Better Nutrition, March, 2003

Increasingly, we hear people claim they can't drink milk because they are "lactose intolerant"--meaning their bodies can't digest the sugar in milk or other dairy products.

But if you're one of these individuals, you might not really be lactose intolerant, and you may be able to continue to enjoy dairy products as part of your diet.

If you have trouble digesting dairy foods, you may have a very low level of the enzyme lactase in your body.

Without sufficient lactase, your body is unable to digest the sugar, lactose, and you end up feeling bloated and sick.

If you have low lactase levels, you can improve your ability to tolerate lactose by gradually increasing your exposure to milk and other dairy products.

Try drinking a half cup of milk with meals or slowly introducing natural, aged cheeses into your eating regimen. Also, eat yogurt with active Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures--such yogurt contains the kind of bacteria that can help you more comfortably digest lactose.