Butter contains traces of lactose and should be avoided if you're lactose intolerant. Depending on your level of intolerance towards lactose, you may be able to eat small amounts of butter without developing common symptoms. Before you make any dietary changes, you need to talk with your doctor. Lactose intolerance is incurable, but it is manageable through diagnosis and a modified diet. Avoiding lactose is the most effective way to prevent lactose intolerance symptoms.
Background
Every adult is intolerant to lactose to a certain degree, according to Mayo Clinic. Lactose is a complex sugar found in cow's milk that requires the enzyme lactase to break it down into more simple sugars so that the body can absorb it. As you grow into adulthood, your body stops making as much lactase, which can cause irritation, inflammation and swelling in your digestive tract. Only people with significant symptoms, such as diarrhea, gas, bloating, vomiting and nausea, are considered lactose intolerant.
Butter Considerations
Butter is made from cow's milk, which contains lactose. To determine how much butter you can tolerate before developing symptoms, perform an elimination diet. In one day, remove all lactose-containing foods from your diet for two weeks. After the two weeks, continue a lactose-free diet while slowly introducing butter back into your diet. Start with one pad of butter on a slice of toast. Eat it and observe how your body reacts to it. The next day, use two pads of butter, and so on, until you notice common lactose-intolerance symptoms. Share your findings with your doctor to determine the most effective treatment options.
Symptoms
Lactose intolerance symptoms differ in severity from person to person. Some people may be able to handle more lactose than others. Symptoms typically develop within 20 to 30 minutes after ingesting dairy products. Common symptoms include bloating, gas, foul-smelling stools, stools that float, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain. Symptoms should subside once the lactose is expelled from the body.
Allergy Considerations
If you develop other symptoms aside from digestive complications, you may be allergic to milk. If you're allergic to milk you need to avoid butter and all other dairy products as they could lead to a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms unrelated to lactose intolerance that are related to a milk allergy include hives, skin rashes, shortness of breath, facial swelling or tingling, nasal congestion, sinus headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, wheezing and coughing. The difference between intolerance and an allergic reaction is that an intolerance is a defect of the digestive system, while an allergy is a malfunction of the immune system.
