Lactase Enzyme

[jhun]

I'm one month gluten free and five weeks lactose free. I was just wondering if it is safe at this time to use lactase enzymes since I'm really craving for chocolates. My GI prescribed a lactase enzyme and I bought a canister of 60 capsules (very expensive though) but did not touch it till now cause I'm afraid that it will affect my healing.

My doctor also told me that I can eat dark chocolate. I saw only one dark chocolate made by Lindt 85% cacao but the label says "may contain traces of hazelnut, soya lecithin and milk". Does it mean that the contamination is caused by using same equipment for all their chocolates? The ingredients did not mention those three items though.

[aikiducky]

If you're only lactose intolerant, in my experience eating something that "may contain traces of milk" shouldn't be a problem. Yes it's probably just a chance of contamination from making it on the same lines they make milk chocolates.

Pauliina

[sunshinen]

I waited about 3 months before using lactase enzymes with lactose, and still had some problems with lactose. So I would recommend waiting a bit longer. At 6 months, I found I could do lactose with the enzymes and could have small amounts without the enzymes without consequence.

I ate dark chocolate the entire time.

[Looking for answers]

Ghirardellis dark choclate (we buy it by the pound at Trader Joe's) I believe is lactose free. My husband is lactose intolerant but has never reacted to it.

Also, if you're chocolate cravings are really intense and you don't want to give in to them, I would recomend taking L-glutamine, when they are really bad. Julia Ross in her book "The Diet Cure" recommends it and it always works for me. Also, I hear that chocolate cravings can be brought on by a need for magnesium, which most of us lack.

Just a couple of thoughts . . . not that I would dare talk someone out of eating chocolate--what a sin!

[tarnalberry]

I'm one month gluten free and five weeks lactose free. I was just wondering if it is safe at this time to use lactase enzymes since I'm really craving for chocolates. My GI prescribed a lactase enzyme and I bought a canister of 60 capsules (very expensive though) but did not touch it till now cause I'm afraid that it will affect my healing.

My doctor also told me that I can eat dark chocolate. I saw only one dark chocolate made by Lindt 85% cacao but the label says "may contain traces of hazelnut, soya lecithin and milk". Does it mean that the contamination is caused by using same equipment for all their chocolates? The ingredients did not mention those three items though.

The lactase enzyme itself has no offending protein in it, but the formulation of the pill, capsule, powder. liquid, or chewable that you choose could. It can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, as well as by type. Always check the ingredients and/or call the company. (Can't really say a whole category of something is gluten free... Have to check each instance. )

As for dark chocolate, lots of companies make dark chocolate, but if you haven't eaten much, or usually have milk chocolate, starting in at 85% dark chocolate will definitely make you hate the stuff! It'll seem extraordinarily bitter! Start lower - below 60%. I recommend Tropical Source, Endangered Species, Dagoba, or Green&Black. The "may contain traces of..." warning, in this case, is contextually more useful for those with a protein allergy to milk, not an enzyme deficiency for the sugar in milk (which is what lactose intolerance is). So, you are *highly* unlikely to ever notice trace contamination of milk if your problem is lactose intolerance.