Lactose Intolerance Information « Back

Lactose is the sugar naturally found in milk and many milk products. In order to digest lactose, the body needs lactase, an enzyme that is made by the body. Some people do not make enough lactase to break down lactose (milk sugar), so they may experience physical symptoms when consuming foods that contain lactose. This is often referred to as lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance doesn't have to mean dairy intolerance. And, many health authorities agree that milk and other dairy foods are an important and practical source of key nutrients, for all people – including those who are lactose intolerant. People who have difficulty digesting lactose can still enjoy dairy. According to an expert panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to examine lactose intolerance and health, eliminating dairy foods may not only be unnecessary to manage lactose intolerance, but also may lead to nutrient shortcomings which may result in adverse health effects.

Enjoy Dairy Again with These Tips:

Sip it.
Start with a small amount of milk daily and increase slowly over several days or weeks to build your tolerance.

Try it.
Opt for lactose-free milk and milk products. They are real milk products, just without the lactose, providing the same nutrients as regular dairy foods, and they taste great.

Stir it.
Mix milk with other foods, such as soups and cereal; blend with fruit or drink milk with meals. Solid foods slow digestion and allow the body more time to digest lactose.

Slice it.
Top sandwiches or crackers with natural cheese such as Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, mozzarella and Swiss. These cheeses are low in lactose.

Spoon it.
Enjoy easy-to-digest yogurt. The live and active cultures in yogurt help to digest lactose.

Health Professional Toolkit
The National Dairy Council’s Lactose Intolerance Health Education Kit provides the latest research related to lactose intolerance, as well as information and resources on management strategies to help individuals with lactose intolerance enjoy dairy foods and meet nutrient recommendations.

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Supportive Science
The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on Lactose Intolerance and Health was convened to examine the latest research on lactose intolerance, strategies to manage the condition and the health outcomes of diets that exclude dairy foods. After a review of the scientific evidence, the Consensus Development Conference panel completed a draft consensus statement that is intended to correct some of the common misperceptions about lactose intolerance, including the belief that dairy foods need to be excluded from the diet.

Scientific Summary of the consensus statement and implications from the NIH Consensus Development Conference on Lactose Intolerance and Health.

In the News
National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Panel concludes avoiding dairy due to lactose intolerance is unnecessary in most cases and may pose diet and health risks.

Use Tips and Tools for Lactose Intolerance reported on The Dairy Report, your resource for news, analysis and opinion on nutrition and health research.