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What Dairy Products Can I Eat if I’m Lactose Intolerant?

If you’re lactose intolerant, you may roll your eyes when you think of dairy. Yes, June is National Dairy Month, but what good is that to you?

Have no fear! There are dairy foods you can eat, even if you have an intolerance to most dairy products.

Most people who experience lactose intolerance are not allergic to dairy products, but sensitive to them. However, when eating something causes you discomfort, it can be tempting to avoid that food altogether.

Video by Jonathan Parrish

Dairy products are an important part of getting the calcium you need for strong bones, so consider these ideas for keeping some dairy in your diet:

1. Try reduced-lactose or lactose-free milk and other lactose-free dairy products.
2. Eat yogurt, kefir & buttermilk with “active & live cultures.”
3. Choose cheeses lower in lactose, such as Swiss, Colby or Monterey jack, parmesan and cheddar.
4. Start with a small portion, such as ¼ cup milk, and increase it as your body becomes more tolerant.
5. Mix milk with other foods.
6. Experiment to see how much lactose you can tolerate. It’s rarely an all or nothing condition!

You can find more information about lactose intolerance on The Dairy Alliance website.

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