What is lactose intolerance?
- Lactose intolerance is one type of food sensitivity. People who are lactose intolerant don't have enough lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose. Lactose is the sugar found in milk.
- Individuals who suspect lactose intolerance should see a physician, as with any medical condition. Other, more serious, health problems can have similar symptoms. A medical diagnosis is especially important for children since lactose intolerance is less common in children than in adults, even in minority populations.
- Children may experience fewer symptoms than adults. Symptoms may include bloating, gas, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. In most cases, there's no reason to deprive growing children of the excellent nutritional benefits of milk.
Why keep dairy?
Milk, cheese and yogurt provide a unique combination of nutrients, which includes calcium, vitamin D, potassium and protein. Studies show that including dairy improves the overall nutritional quality of the diet and offers many health benefits - including improved bone health, reduced high blood pressure and reduced body weight and body fat.
Tips for Tolerance: Working Dairy into the Diet
Lactose intolerance does not mean dairy intolerance. If you have symptoms of lactose intolerance you can enjoy the health benefits of dairy foods. This DAIRY tip offers a variety of options; choose those that best meet your individual needs.
Drink milk with meals or a snack, instead of on an empty stomach.
Aged cheeses like Cheddar and Swiss are easy to digest since they are naturally low in lactose.
Introduce dairy to your diet slowly. Start with small portions and gradually work up to three servings a day.
Raise your glass to lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk.
Yogurt is a good choice. Cultured dairy foods like yogurt contain friendly bacteria that help digest lactose.
What can school foodservice professionals do to help?
We checked in with expert Jeanette M. Newton-Keith, MD and asked her opinion about kids at school who are lactose sensitive. She replied, "They need a note from their doctor and they can always work with other beverages. The key thing I recommend is starting with making lactose-free milk available. That way, children still get the health benefits dairy offers." Read more about what Dr. Newton-Keith has to say in the Parents Ask the Expert section.
- Offer milk with meals. Solid foods slow down digestion which helps children handle lactose more easily.
- Serve yogurt which contains "friendly" bacteria that can help children digest lactose.
- Serve chocolate milk. Besides the great taste, many people find that it's easier to digest than white milk and it contains the same nutrients as white milk.
- Use cheese on a variety of menu items. Most cheeses, especially those aged six months or longer, contain only small amounts of lactose.
- And as Dr. Newton-Keith recommended - serve lactose-free milk if requested.
African-American Health and Dairy Foods
The National Medical Association, the largest African-American physician's group in the country, recommends that the American Public, and African-Americans in particular, consume 3 to 4 servings of milk, cheese, or yogurt daily to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and osteoporosis. For more information, see the Nutrition Fact Sheet sponsored by National Dairy Council© and reviewed by the American Dietetic Association's Fact Sheet Review Board.
