DIET FOR LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

Nutrition / therapy

Basically you can do the Lactose intolerance Classify according to degrees of severity in order to achieve a better therapeutic approach. It will depend on the amount of lactose classified in grams that can be easily digested per day. At 8-10g daily one speaks of a slight lactose intolerance, up to 1g of a medium lactose intolerance and, in the case of complete intolerance, of a severe lactose intolerance.

Please also read the article on the topic lactose.

Before getting radically all dairy products out of his nutrition banished, it should be noted that there is usually still a residual lactase activity, which means that small amounts of lactose can still be properly digested, so that small amounts of lactose are harmless and do not lead to any side effects. But this is different for everyone and it has to be tested individually how much residual activity the lactase still has.

There are two options for treating lactose intolerance, which can also be combined with one another. On the one hand, it is recommended to change your diet and avoid lactose-containing products or limit their consumption. It is advisable to have a professional (Doctor, nutritionist) to get advice. In the meantime, almost all lactose-containing products are also offered as lactose-free products. In these products, the lactose was previously broken down industrially and the residual lactose content is only harmless 0.1g / 100g Food.

Another therapeutic option is taking lactase supplements. These are sold in capsules and contain the enzyme lactase. In this way, you can enjoy products containing lactose without hesitation. You can either take the lactase tablets directly or add the powder contained in the capsules to the food (e.g. Yogurt or rice pudding) sprinkle. The food must not be too hot, otherwise the enzymes will be destroyed (denature).

A combination of both methods makes sense, as this also supplies the body with the important calcium contained in dairy products. In addition, calcium can be obtained through calcium supplements or through a targeted diet such as foods rich in calcium Broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, hazelnuts, sesame seeds or certain types of mineral water are included. A complete avoidance of dairy products is therefore not recommended.

As a brief guide, it can be stated that acidified milk products such as buttermilk, quark and yoghurt and particularly mature cheese are often harmless, as the acidification process has already broken down a large part of the lactose. Furthermore, milk products that contain fat are better tolerated, as the chyme stays longer in the small intestine and there is therefore a greater chance that the lactose will be broken down.

Especially with vegetarians, whose main source of protein is often dairy products, a protein deficiency can also occur if dairy products are completely avoided. Here, too, you should seek more detailed advice from your doctor.

You might also be interested in this: The protein deficiency