Lactose intolerance diet
Diagnosed with lactose intolerance – what should I eat now?
People who are diagnosed with lactose intolerance often wonder what they need to consider in their diet. After all, no one wants to suffer from stomach pain and diarrhea. We would like to give you some tips for everyday life with lactose intolerance.
Lactose intolerance – Enjoyable nutrition without sacrifice
Lactose intolerance affects many people and presents a number of challenges in everyday life—especially when it comes to choosing the right foods. On this website, you will find comprehensive information and practical tips on lactose-conscious nutrition: from lactose-free products and foods with low lactose content to the sensible use of lactase tablets.
Do I have to avoid foods containing lactose?
Depending on the individual severity of the intolerance, those affected must limit or consistently avoid the consumption of milk, dairy products, and other foods containing lactose. Some find this easier than others, who may find it difficult to give up certain foods. Each individual will discover for themselves which restrictions are most severe after a short period of dealing with lactose intolerance. The same applies to how much lactose is still well tolerated and at what quantities problems arise. Our food diary can be an important aid here. By writing down the food and drinks you consume every day, symptoms can be clearly and quickly traced back to specific foods that may be triggering your discomfort.
Don’t want to give up dairy products? Don’t worry: in the following sections, we’ll show you some alternative solutions.
Nutrition for lactose intolerance – alternatives to abstinence
Lactose-free products
Those who choose lactose-free products can continue to enjoy many dairy products without any discomfort.
What are lactose-free products?
Lactose-free foods are specially processed: either the milk sugar is broken down by the enzyme lactase before consumption, or the lactose is completely removed. This makes them easily digestible for people who are lactose intolerant. In terms of taste, they hardly differ from the original products—they often even taste slightly sweeter, as the broken-down lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose, which have a higher sweetness.
Lactase supplements as little heroes
Avoiding milk and dairy products often means significant restrictions in terms of enjoyment for those affected. Even though lactose-free ice cream is now available in stores, for many people it is not an adequate substitute for the homemade chocolate ice cream from the Italian restaurant around the corner. In addition, it is often difficult or impossible to control the actual lactose content in food—this is especially true when eating in restaurants, canteens, or at buffets in vacation resorts. This is because many foods and ready-made products that appear lactose-free at first glance contain certain amounts of lactose. A complete replacement is therefore hardly possible. Special lactase preparations in the form of swallowable and chewable tablets are an alternative and a significant relief in everyday life. They provide the necessary lactase enzyme from an external source, allowing you to enjoy lactose-containing products without worry. This has the advantage that, on the one hand, you continue to consume important nutrients from dairy products and, on the other hand, you do not run the risk of being confronted with unpleasant side effects from the unintentional consumption of lactose-containing foods when you are out and about – at parties or in restaurants.
You can find more information about our lactase preparations here: Lactase tablets
Lactose content in food – 3 surprises
The lactose content of foods varies greatly. If you want to be sure that you can tolerate the amount of lactose or that the dosage of lactase tablets is appropriate, you can use a lactose calculator.
