Different dairy products contain different amounts of lactose. Some people have a difficult time breaking down lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. When a baby is born, his small intestines produce large amounts of lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. This is because a newborn primarily lives off milk for the first year or so. Around 3 years old, the human body stops making as much lactase because the child is no longer primarily acquiring nutrients through milk. During adolescence or into adulthood, you may stop producing sufficient lactase to handle consuming milk products. This is called lactose intolerance.
Consideration
Not everyone stops producing the same amount of lactase as they age. Some people never develop lactose intolerance symptoms, while others may notice cramping, diarrhea and stomach pain after consuming milk. Some ethnicities are more prone to lactose intolerance, according to MayoClinic.com. Blacks, Asians, Native Americans and Hispanics are at a higher risk of becoming lactose intolerant. Premature babies, certain digestive diseases and radiation used on your abdomen could all trigger lactose intolerance.
Levels
People who are diagnosed with lactose intolerance will each have a different degree of intolerance. Some people can handle a small amount of lactose and others may not be able to eat any lactose. You can use a challenge diet to determine how much of a type of dairy product you can tolerate. Remove all dairy from your diet for three days. Introduce a specific dairy product in a measurable amount. Increase the amount of that product until you develop symptoms. This can help you determine how much of that product you can eat without having to take a supplement.
Low-Lactose Dairy
Certain dairy products contain no lactose or minimal lactose. Drugs.com states that dairy products that contain no lactose have been fortified with the lactase enzyme during the manufacturing process to eliminate lactose. Certain non-dairy milks, such as soymilk, rice milk and almond milk, are naturally lactose-free. Certain dairy products have a minimal amount of lactose because they contain enzymes and cultures that digest the lactose. Dairy products that contain a minimal amount of lactose include kefir, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, aged cheeses, yogurt, processed cheeses and sherbet.
High-Lactose Dairy
Some dairy contains a lot of lactose, which may require that you avoid consuming it or taking a lactase enzyme supplement to assist your digestive system. Dairy products that are high in lactose are cream, buttermilk, cheese spreads, evaporated milk, hot chocolate mixes, ice cream, milk, malted milk, sour cream, ice cream and powdered milk.
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