Step1
Avoid milk and all milk products. This includes yogurt, cheese, cream, butter, ice cream and sour cream.
Step2
Taking milk digestive aids will not help you tolerate milk if you have a true allergy.
Step3
Avoid processed foods as much as possible. Milk is a hidden ingredient in many items. Stick with simple, pure, fresh foods - which are more healthful anyway.
Step4
Read all labels very carefully. Look for the words milk solids, casein, sodium caseinate, lactose or sodium lactylate, as well as any word that begins with "lact." Stay away from products containing these ingredients.
Step5
Watch out for labels that say "dairy-free." That doesn't necessarily mean that they're milk-free. Many contain casein. Prime culprits are coffee whiteners and nondairy creamers.
Step6
Avoid products that list "natural flavors" and "seasonings" in their ingredients. They often contain milk products.
Step7
Call a manufacturer for answers if a product isn't clearly labeled. Many prepared foods - even luncheon meats - use milk as a filler.
Step8
Be wary of eating canned tuna. Most brands contain lactose in the broth.
Step9
Check the ingredients on medications and vitamins. Some may contain milk products; for example, a number of liquid antibiotics use lactose as a filler.
Step10
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about an ingredient.
Step11
Take care when eating foods containing galactose. It is a byproduct of lactose, the milk sugar, and some people have reactions to it.
Step12
Buy vegan foods. Vegan foods do not contain any animal products, including milk.
Step13
Order vegan foods (if available) when traveling on an airplane. This will ensure a milk-free meal.
Step14
Be diligent in restaurants. Ask what the dish contains. Stick to simple recipes without heavy gravy and sauces, which tend to contain milk.
Step15
Buy a dairy-free cookbook, or use kosher and vegan cookbooks for milk-free recipes.
Step16
Remove milk from recipes: Use soy butter or margarine instead of butter, and replace milk with water, fruit juice, soy milk or rice milk. Use a vegetable oil instead of melted butter.
Step17
Supplement with vitamin C with added bioflavonoids, 1,000 to 5,000 mg daily, and/or quercetin, 500mg twice daily. They both help strengthen the immune system and decrease reaction to allergens.
Step18
Take 100mg bromelain twice daily. It enhances the absorption of quercetin.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I have been living with this since I was 12 and being 22 I have seen my share of "Great New Products".
Milk:
Some are good, like Lactose Free Milk. I am not talking about 8th contintent, or soy milk. I am talking about the Lactate brand milk. I had to describe it to my fellow classmates in college and I explained it as "It is like milk with a touch of sugar in it.". It has gotten much better over the years and I don't know where I would be without it. It is a bit more expensive than regular milk but even that has gotten better. You can cook and such just like regular milk, often times it actually tastes better than using regular milk.
Pizza:
I know everyone's favorite is pizza. Now, the pizza places around where I live (Columbus, OH) are usually pretty open to putting no cheese on pizza. However, some smaller cities I travel to are not so open to the possibility of having no cheese on pizza.
Free food:
Often times when ordering at fast food restaurants if they are in a hurry it makes it better for you. Ordering with no cheese often makes them have to change something for you, and operating under the "customer is always right" idea they will just remake it the way you like it. I have had many times (Taco Bell mainly) that they remake it and just give you both. The one with cheese and the one without. It happens frequently in fast food restaurants.
The whole point is don't let this ruin your day, being lactose-intollerant is not the end of the world by any means. It just means that you get to try new foods, change your lifestyle, and hopefully lead a healthier life. I am more than happy to help anyone who is also lactose intollerant (there are many of us around) and give some ideas about what to have. By the way, The Olive Garden is a death sentance to lactose-intollerant people. Take care and good luck!
Chad R. Smith
chads2k2@yahoo.com
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 You might ask a friend or any one you know who also has a milk allergy. They might be able to help you find the right kinds of bread and the things you need during the first few weeks.