If you're lactose intolerant, you may be able to digest yogurt without using a supplement. Before eating yogurt, talk with your doctor to ensure that it is safe for you. Lactose intolerance is a common condition where the small intestines don't create enough enzymes to break down a milk-sugar called lactose. Lactose intolerance is commonly confused with a milk allergy and should be diagnosed by your doctor.
Identification
MayoClinic.com states that everyone has a certain degree of intolerance toward lactose but that only those with significant symptoms are considered lactose intolerant. Lactose is a sugar commonly found in cow's milk that requires the enzyme lactase to digest it. If you're lacking enough lactase in your intestines, you will experience common lactose intolerant symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lactose intolerance are diarrhea, floating stools, abdominal bloating, cramping, gas, nausea and fowl-smelling stools, according to Medline Plus. Symptoms typically develop within 20 to 30 minutes after ingesting the diary. More severe symptoms include weight loss, slow growth and malnutrition. If you experience these symptoms, eliminate dairy products from your diet to restore normal functionality of the digestive tract. Talk to your doctor if you experience excessive vomiting or diarrhea.
Yogurt Consideration
Yogurt may be digestible without the intervention of a lactase enzyme supplement. Yogurt contains live and active cultures that can help digest and reduce the amount of lactose in the yogurt, according to Health Castle. The severity of your intolerance will determine how much yogurt you can tolerate without medical intervention. For example, you may not experience any symptoms after eating 1 cup of yogurt, but you may develop some symptoms if you have 2 cups of yogurt. Frozen yogurt does not contain live and active cultures and should be treated as regular milk.
Treatment
If you're lactose intolerant, there are three treatment options. Completely eliminate milk products from your diet to avoid consuming lactose. Use non-dairy substitutes, primarily made from rice, almonds or soy. You also can use a dietary supplement containing the lactase enzyme to help you digest the sugar. Last, you can buy milk products that have the lactose removed, according to Medline Plus.
Consideration
Lactose intolerance is commonly confused with a milk allergy, according to MayoClinic.com. If you are allergic to milk, do not eat yogurt. Eating yogurt with a milk allergy increases the risk of anaphylaxis, a rare but serious allergic reaction.
