*This is a sponsored post with The Motherhood. All opinions are my own and not swayed by outside sources.*
Growing up, I had tremendous issues with my stomach. I hid it from my parents but I dealt with embarrassing bouts of stomach problems at home and had no idea why. After a visit to the doctor, we figured out the culprit- I was lactose intolerant. From the time I was 14 to about a year or so ago, I could hardly have any dairy. Milk would make me end up in the bathroom (sorry if TMI) with serious problems. Forget about pizza- that could never be eaten by me! I was lucky though that there was an alternative in my house, that we have been drinking for a few years now-Lactaid!
In the past year or maybe two years, I have been able to stomach milk again. I started out testing it in small doses and had baby-step successes. I actually made meals with cheese. However, I am still drinking my Lactaid every day and making recipes using Lactaid. Stay tuned because I have a crazy good recipe using Lactaid next month! My daughter is starting to show some signs of having some lactose intolerance so she has been following along drinking Lactaid milk with me. They even made Chocolate Lactaid, which my family are huge fans of.
Just last week, I had the opportunity to receive information from a session with celebrity chef, Melissa d’Arabian, and registered dietitian, Michelle Harrington. They gave very useful information for people that have an issue digesting foods with lactose such as cheese, milk, and pizza to name a few.
Melissa d’Arabian is a mom of four girls and author of NY Times best selling cookbook, Ten Dollar Dinners. She is a celebrity chef and an acclaimed television host. She was on live segments on the TODAY Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda on April 15 for her Breakfast Recipes and will be on June 25 for her Entree recipes. She has 8 online videos available on food.today.com and youtube.com/LACTAID.
Michelle Harrington , R.D. and LACTAID Regulatory and Nutritional Affairs Manager is a pediatric Dietitian at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia and is passionate about helping families find nutrition solutions in today’s complex world!
So what is lactose?
***What is Lactose? ***
- Lactose is the major carbohydrate in milk and other dairy foods
- Lactose (milk sugar) consists of two simple sugars – glucose and galactose
- Lactose must be broken down into glucose and galactose by the intestinal enzyme lactase before it can be absorbed by the body
***What does it mean to be Lactose Intolerant?***
- Most people produce that natural enzyme, lactase, which breaks down lactose (sugar in milk). The amount of lactase your body produces will determine how much lactose your body can break down
- Everyone has different levels of lactose intolerance
- It is common for lactose intolerance to be progressive; many people develop a lactose intolerance later in life
I love LACTAID! It is the perfect product to help people who have a lactose sensitivity to digest dairy products without stomach discomfort, so they can enjoy the creamy, delicious taste of dairy that they love. It also provides the lactase that the body can’t produce enough of, which helps you break down lactose. LACTAID dairy products are 100% real dairy, just with a natural yeast-derived enzyme added called lactase! It is the nation’s #1 lactose-free dairy brand!
LACTAID Milk
LACTAID is real milk – 100% lactose free – with the same nutrient profile- The lactase enzyme is added to the milk to break down the lactose, resulting in a slightly sweeter taste
- LACTAID is ultra pasteurized and lasts longer under proper refrigeration – once open it should be consumed within 1 week
- LACTAID products are calcium enriched
- We need about 1000 mg of calcium each day
- LACTAID provides 500 mg of calcium in each 8 oz glass— you only need two glasses of LACTAID to get your day’s worth of calcium requirements
- A regular 8 oz glass of milk has 300 mg of calcium
I also wanted to share some tips that I received from the seminar that I wanted to send to you, for those that have lactose intolerance or know somehone who does!
Tips for eating with Lactose Intolerance:
- Important note: if someone who is lactose intolerant consumes products containing lactose on an empty stomach, they will be more prone not to tolerate it. Eating lactose with other food will help you digest it more easily
- Many lactose-intolerant people find that yogurt doesn’t bother them
- Yogurt has live and active cultures in it that help digest the lactose
- Greek yogurt has double the protein and fewer carbs, which means less lactose and easier to digest
- If tolerated, yogurt is a great way to get nutrients and calcium needed in an everyday diet!
- Rule of thumb for eating cheese: the harder the cheese, the less moisture or whey in it—as a result, the less lactose in it
- Always choose the aged cheeses, as they are lower in lactose
- Aged Cheddar, Gruyère, Pecorino and Swiss cheeses will have less lactose in them
- Melissa suggests introducing these aged cheeses back into your family’s diets in small amounts to see how much they and/or you are able to tolerate
Next month, I will be back talking all about Lactaid and my recipe that I created using Lactaid! Stay tuned…
Giveaway: One winner will receive a Lactaid coupon to try it for yourself! To enter this giveaway, simply leave me a comment about which product you want to try from the Lactaid site. Please leave comments in the comment section proceeding this post. Giveaway ends 5/26. US only. Good luck!
We think my husband is lactose intolerant we’d love to try chocolate lactaid! Thanks for the chance
I milk my goats for our milk.
But any kind of ice cream is good!
Thanks!
I’m LI and would live to try the chocolate milk or ice cream. I live taking the pills so I can have dairy when I want.
I’d totally give the chocolate Lactaid a try! Or maybe the ice cream (because then maybe I could share with the dog haha!).
This is such a great product for so many people.
We just love the lactaid brand! The other half waits all year for their lowfat Eggnog!
askandilltell86 at aol
Looks like a great product! Thanks for the info!
I have five half gallons of the purple fat free lactaid in our fridge right now!! My kids have an allergy to regular milk. The dr thinks it is either the hormones they give the cows or how it is processed. Milk alternatives like almond, coconut and soy and lactaid are the only milk they can have without having really bad allergic reactions. I just wish our stores took it more seriously the number of people that need lactaid, because while I can get the milk,mother don’t carry any of their other products. And that makes me very sad. I really want to try the rest of the lactaid line!
If I was lactose intolerant I think I would cry. Actually, I know I would cry. But at least I know there’s options should that horrific day ever arrive.
Hubby has that problem so we drink Lactaid and it’s great, love the ice cream too
I have Lactaid milk with my cereal every day but I’ve never tired their ice cream
I carry Lactaid pills in my purse always for my son’s girlfriend, my husband and my daughter.
I’d love to try Lactaid ice cream! My hubby is lactose intolerant and it would be cool for him to eat ice cream without taking a Lactaid 1st!
This is a very educational post. Fortunately none of us are lactose intolerant. However, I would still like to try out this milk out!
My mom is lactose intolerant, this post will be very helpful for her. I will send this to her.
I would try the lactaid chocolate milk
I’d buy the Lactaid whole milk.
Wow I’ll need to tell hubby about this, he’s lactose intolerant. I bet he’d like the LACTAID® Lowfat Cottage Cheese
1 percent milkfat chocolate milk
Hmmm, never tried this and probably should – I have stayed away from milk for few years because of my lactose intolerance
I’ve tried the milk before, but I’d love to try the chocolate milk!
I would get the lactaid ice cream for sure!!!
Chocolate Lowfat Milk
I’ve never tried the Lactaid brand but would like to .. thanks!
i havent tried this milk before we usually just drink cocnut or almond milk
I would like to try the 2% reduced fat milk!
I would like to try the 2% lactaid!
I would like to try the ice cream.
I have been drinking almond milk because regular milk disagrees with me but i never thought of this product! would love to try this! i really miss milk.
I’d like to try the fat free milk.
I would love to try the LACTAID Butter Pecan Ice Cream but unfortunately I checked to see if they sold it at our local stores and they don’t!
I already use many of the Lactaid products, but never tried the ice-cream.
I would love to try LACTAID Ice Cream!
Chocolate Lactaid
I really like Lactaid milk but had no idea they made ice cream; love to try that!
I would love to try chocolate ice cream!
I would love to try the Butter Pecan Ice Cream!
i too want to try the butter pecan ice cream
I’d like to try the LACTAID® Strawberry & Cream Ice Cream.
I’d like to try the cottage cheese. momlovesdeals at gmail dot com
The chocolate milk!
Chocolate Milk
chocolate lowfat milk sounds delicious.
I’d go with Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
I’d like to try the LACTAID Chocolate Lowfat Milk.
Thank you!
I would love to try the chocolate milk!
Wow-I want to try their chocolate milk and ice cream
I’d like to try lactaid ice cream
Love the milk .I use it in my cereal .Never tried the ice cream.
I would like to try regular lowfat Lactaid milk.
My son would love to try the ice cream.
I’d like to try the chocolate milk.
I want to try the chocolate milk.
i want to try the cottage cheese!
LACTAID® Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
LACTAID® Ice Cream