Dairy?

[Lexi]

I have not been able to have dairy for sometime now. I MISS yogurt! I don't care for the soy or rice yogurts at all. I was wondering if anyone can suggest a good supplement for helping to digest dairy. I have seen Lactaid in the stores, but have never tried it. I also noticed that there are a lot of other brands out there. Can anyone suggest a good one, and do they really work?? Thanks!

[psawyer]

Whether it will help depends very much on what your issue with dairy is.

If lactose (milk sugar) is the issue, then these supplements can provide the lactase enzyme that your body is not producing.

But if, like many celiacs, you are intolerant to casein (milk protein), then they won't do a darn thing for you.

[Puddy]

I fortunately do not have a problem with casein. I was lactose intolerant for 30 years before being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I've used Lactaid pills and Lactaid milk for many of those years. They have always worked well for me. I have been gluten free for a year now and notice that for the past couple of months I am not lactose intolerant anymore unless I decide to 'enjoy' ice cream a little too much! As far as brands go, I had been using the one sold at Costco, but they could not guarantee that it was gluten free so I've switched back to Lactaid.

[raisin]

Personally, I have a problem with both, and enzymes aren't enough to resolve it. It's not just casein vs lactose, but allergy vs intolerance.

I went from "just allergic" to "also intolerant" and thought it was the same thing. Took lactose enzymes. It resolved the cramping, gas, and bloating.. but left an upset stomach, irritated skin and sinuses, moodiness, and a bad headache. And yes, those are casein allergy symptoms caused by a histamine reaction, not to be confused with intolerance caused by a lack of digestive enzymes. Open Original Shared Link

If you are sure your only intolerant of lactose, Lactaid is a great remedy.

There is no good or bad, as they are all the same thing : Lactose Enzymes. However, some jack up the price and make it look cheaper by having you need double (or more) the dose for the same amount of enzymes.

[Darn210]

My daughter was lactose intolerant for awhile after her diagnosis and she just used the chewable tablets (CVS brand I think it was) or the Lactaid milk to drink. Her lactase was actually measured as part of her biopsy. She was producing some but not within normal levels. We found that if she was having a bit of cheese, she didn't need to use it (cheese has a lower amount of lactose) but if she was eating ice cream, she needed it. After about 3 months, she no longer used anything.

. . . and just for fun, here is a table that has the lactose content of a few dairy products:

Open Original Shared Link

[Lexi]

So, if I take the lactaid, and it doesn't work, then that means I have issues with casein, right. And, if that's the case, does that mean I can never have dairy again. I guess I will hope for the best.

[brigala]

So, if I take the lactaid, and it doesn't work, then that means I have issues with casein, right. And, if that's the case, does that mean I can never have dairy again. I guess I will hope for the best.

Not necessarily. You might consider talking to your GI doc or allergist if you have one.

I have seen at least one lactaid-type product which was a generic that listed something glutenish on the label (among the inactive ingredients). I can't remember what the ingredient was, whether it was something like a malt flavor or actual wheat... it was a long time ago. So do be careful, and check that the product you're using is gluten-free.

Once you've found a gluten-free lactose aid, if it doesn't help, I'd recommend talking to your doctor if you can; or if you can't, then maybe if you post your specific symptoms someone here might have experience that can help you determine whether you're having an allergy or just a lactose problem.

Good luck!

-Elizabeth

[Salax]

I too am confused on the lactose vs. casein issue. I have used the lactaid product for milk and it works well, however last night I had some DQ Ice Cream and had to run to the bathroom, the evil D was upon me.

How do you determine if you have a casein allergy/intolerance??

I think I might