As many as 50 million Americans suffer from lactose intolerance. It particularly affects Native American, Asian-American and African-American people, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. In general, lactose intolerance means you must avoid anything containing milk. Unfortunately, that usually includes ice cream. Nonetheless, with careful portion control or the use of some tasty alternatives, some lactose-intolerant people can enjoy ice cream.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose-intolerant people lack the ability to produce enough of an enzyme called lactase. It's this enzyme that breaks down lactose from dairy products in the gut. Without lactase, the small intestine fails to fully digest the lactose, resulting in some unpleasant side effects. When a lactose-intolerant person consumes something containing lactose, she may feel nauseous, gassy and uncomfortable. She may also experience diarrhea and some abdominal cramps. The symptoms are similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome.
Ice Cream
Most ice cream contains a high concentration of lactose -- as much as 11 g per cup, according to the Health Center at the University of Georgia. As the name suggests, cream is one of the key ingredients for traditional ice cream, along with eggs and sugar. Cream is a dairy product made from the butterfat layer that rises to the top in fresh milk.
Alternatives
Cream and ice cream made with soya milk make useful alternatives to dairy versions. Many health stores and some general stores sell soya ice cream to cater to both vegans and the lactose intolerant. Similarly, some stores may offer ice cream made from special low-lactose milk. If making your own nondairy ice cream, try using soya-based cream. The bacteria in some live culture yogurt may release lactase, so some varieties of frozen yogurt could make a good alternative to ice cream.
Considerations
Some people experience lactose intolerance when young but grow out of it by the time they reach adolescence. Similarly, you may find that you can tolerate smaller doses of lactose but that larger amounts trigger symptoms. You may have to experiment a little with very small servings of ice cream until you find an amount that's comfortable for your body. Some lactose-intolerant people find they can eat ice cream -- but only after a meal, which helps the ice cream work through the digestive system.
