Lactose-controlled Diet

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Lactose (LAK-tose) is the sugar that is in milk. A lactose-free or low-lactose diet is for people who do not digest (di-JEST) lactose well. Digestion (di-JES-chun) is the way your body breaks down what you eat and drink. If you eat foods and drink liquids containing lactose, you may have gas, bloating, cramping, or diarrhea (loose stools). This condition is called "lactose intolerance".
  
  
• People who cannot digest lactose do not make enough of the enzyme, lactase (LAK-tase). If your body makes some lactase, you may need to follow a low lactose diet. If your body does not make any lactase, you may need to follow a lactose-free diet. You may need to learn by trial and error how much lactose you can tolerate. Always read the ingredient labels on products before buying any packaged foods.

INSTRUCTIONS:

What should I limit or avoid eating and drinking while on a low lactose or lactose-free diet?

• Dairy foods:
  
  
  • Butter and ghee (clarified butter).
    
    
  • Cheese spreads, cheese foods, cottage and ricotta cheese.
    
    
  • Cream, whipping cream, and milk (skim, fat-free, one percent, two percent, whole), and goats milk.
    
    
  • Evaporated and condensed milk, buttermilk, and kefir (cultured milk drink).
    
    
  • Ice cream, ice milk, and sherbet.
    
    
  • Malted milk and some hot chocolate mixes.
    
    
  • Processed and natural cheeses.
    
    
  • Sour cream, yogurt (fresh and frozen), and sweet acidophilus or lactobacillus milk.
  
  
• Breads and starches:
  
  
  • Certain packaged popcorn made with cream.
    
    
  • Certain prepared breads, muffins, biscuits and rolls made with milk.
    
    
  • Packaged cereals made with lactose, milk, or whey. For example, Total®, Golden Grahams®, and Honey Bunches of Oats®.
    
    
  • Pancakes, waffles, and French toast made with milk.
  
  
• Fruits and vegetables:
  
  
  • Frozen fruit bars made with milk or cream.
    
    
  • Fruit and yogurt smoothies.
    
    
  • Vegetables coated in batter, or cooked in cream sauces.
  
  
• Meat and other protein sources:
  
  
  • Egg omelets and soufflés made with milk.
    
    
  • Main dishes (pizza, burritos, tacos, casseroles) made with cheese.
    
    
  • Meat, fish and poultry that is batter-dipped, or in a cream sauce.
    
    
  • Processed meats (cold cuts, hot dogs) made with milk, whey, or lactose.
  
  
• Fats, soups, sauces and seasonings:
  
  
  • Chocolate and other spreads, such as Nutella®.
    
    
  • Chowders and cream soups.
    
    
  • Cream cheese and party dips for vegetables, bread and crackers.
    
    
  • Some brands of margarine and butter.
    
    
  • White sauce, gravy, soup mixes and meat seasonings packaged or made with milk.
  
  
• Desserts:
  
  
  • Any cookies, cakes, pies, pastries and desserts made with milk.
    
    
  • Cream and cheese-filled pastries.
    
    
  • Fudge and milk chocolate.
    
    
  • Many candy bars with added lactose, such as Snickers®, and Kit Kat® wafer bars.
    
    
  • Puddings, custards and whipped cream.
    
    
  • Toffee, butterscotch, caramels and nougat.

Checklist for the Patient:

Take this list with you when you shop. Look for products with "lactose-free" written on the label. It may not be clear what products contain lactose. This list contains items to look for when reading food and drink labels. Avoid buying products that have one or more of these ingredients:

• __Buttermilk.
  
  
• __Condensed milk.
  
  
• __Dried milk powder.
  
  
• __Lactose.
  
  
• __Milk solids, milk protein, and milk fat.
  
  
• __Sodium caseinate (made with milk).
  
  
• __Sweet and regular cream.

What other diet guidelines should I follow?

• You may be able to drink milk in small amounts (half of a glass, for example). You may also be able to eat small amounts of lactose-containing foods. Eating other solid foods at the same time you eat lactose-containing foods may cause fewer problems with digestion. You may take lactase enzyme (N-zime) in a pill or liquid. This enzyme may keep you from having problems if you eat food with lactose. Read the label before using this medicine.
  
  
• Many lactose-free and reduced-lactose products have calcium in them. Calcium can also be found in other foods, and taken as a supplement (pill). Ask your caregiver for more information about how to get enough calcium in your diet.

Risks:

If you have lactose intolerance and do not follow these diet guidelines, you may have gas, bloating, cramping, and diarrhea. These signs and symptoms may be mild, or may be very bad. Cramping may be painful. Diarrhea may lead to dehydration (d-hi-DRA-shun). Dehydration means that the amount of fluid in your body has dropped too low. Long-term or very bad diarrhea also leads to other problems in your body. Following these diet guidelines may help you feel better.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Lactose-controlled Diet (Aftercare Instructions)