The only time you have to be concerned about a dessert triggering your lactose intolerance symptoms is if it is made with milk. Common desserts that contain lactose include pudding, custard, ice cream, whipped cream and some cake icing. If you eat a dessert that contains too much lactose for your gastrointestinal system to digest, you will develop cramping, gas, bloating and diarrhea within 30 minutes or two hours after eating the dessert. Use a challenge diet to determine how much lactose you can tolerate in certain desserts.
About Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is caused by a lactase deficiency. Lactose is a sugar found in milk that is too complex for your body to absorb. The lactose needs to be broken down into galactose and glucose by the enzyme lactase. Lactase production slows down naturally around adolescence, but if it slows down too much, you may not be able to digest lactose. Lactose intolerance is a chronic, lifelong condition that has no cure. The condition is managed using supplements, eating a low-lactose diet and using lactose-free dairy.
Desserts
Only desserts that are made with dairy contain lactose. Not all desserts contain the same amount of lactose. You may be able to digest certain desserts without the use of lactase supplements, while other desserts may be difficult to digest. For example, if a dessert is made with yogurt, it may contain significantly less lactose than ice cream. The live cultures in yogurt digest the lactose in the dairy product before you ingest it. If the dessert is made with lactose-free milk, you will be able to ingest it without developing any symptoms.
Challenge Diet
Challenge one dessert to determine how much of that particular dessert you can tolerate. For example, use ice cream in a challenge diet. Don't eat any foods that contain lactose for three days. After the three days, eat a ¼ cup of ice cream and document any symptoms you develop. Add a ¼ cup every day after until you consume a normal serving of ice cream or you develop symptoms. Implementing a challenge diet will help you determine how much of a dessert you can eat without taking supplements. Talk with your doctor before participating in any diet.
Considerations
If you develop symptoms almost every time you eat a dessert that contains dairy, you can take a lactase enzyme supplement. To avoid lactose intolerance symptoms, take the supplement before eating the first bite of dessert. Lactase supplements are sold at your local pharmacy.
