Can you be lactose intolerant and have your ice cream too?
Milk — sure, it does the body good. But what do you do when lactose, the sugar found in milk, doesn't agree with you? "People with lactose intolerance experience gas, bloating and diarrhea when they drink milk," says
Neil Cohen, MD, board-certified gastroenterologist at Virtua Health. "Fortunately, it's relatively easy to treat." With the right diet, people with lactose intolerance can minimize stomach discomfort and still get necessary nutrients and calcium.
Dr. Cohen advises patients to choose dairy products wisely. He recommends processed dairy foods like low-fat yogurt or cheese and lactose-free milk products, as well as calcium-rich alternatives such as green vegetables and fish.
For those bothered by small amounts of lactose, try eating dairy products with other food to help slow digestion and make lactose easier to absorb. And if you just can't resist that ice cream, over-the-counter and prescription medications that aid digestion may help. To make an appointment with a Virtua gastroenterologist, please call
1-888-Virtua-3.