What Is Lactose-Free?
Lactose is found in more than just milk and milk products like ice cream. If you are trying to stay away from lactose, you may be surprised to know that lactose can be "hidden" in prepared foods. For example, instant potatoes, processed breakfast cereals, soups and baked goods can have lactose in them. However, there are lactose-free options.
-
Lactose-Free
-
Lactose-free foods have no lactose, which is sugar that is typically found in milk or milk products. These foods will have "lactose-free" listed on the product label.
Significance
-
Lactose intolerance occurs from an inability to digest lactose because of a deficiency of the enzyme lactase. The enzyme is produced by the cells lining your small intestine.
-
Symptoms
-
Within 30 minutes to two hours of consuming any milk product or milk, you can feel symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating and nausea if you are lactose intolerant. You can also have gas or experience diarrhea. These symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Considerations
-
Lactose-free products offer you the same enjoyment of drinking milk without the harmful symptoms. Drink lactose-free milk, rice milk or canned nutrition drinks with soy milk.
Warning
-
According to Medicinenet, lactose is used as the base to create 20 percent of prescription drugs, including birth control birth pills, and 6 percent of over-the-counter drugs.
-
