There’s a lot of confusion about lactose intolerance out there.
In fact, sometimes it can be hard to know what to believe and which products are really best for you and your growing family.
That's why we’ve teamed up with Avonmore Lactose Free milk and enlisted a nutritionist to answer your questions once and for all.
First, a quick primer on what we're dealing with here: Lactose intolerance is best described as the inability to digest lactose, the naturally occurring sugar found in milk and other products containing milk.
Lactose intolerance can result in some unpleasant symptoms including bloating, cramps, excess wind and diarrhoea.
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions submitted by our readers:
- Is lactose intolerance hereditary; if I’m lactose intolerant are my kids likely to get it too?
There are a couple of different types of lactose intolerance, so it depends on the type you have. Primary lactose intolerance is genetically determined so it does run in families; it is particularly common in Asian and African populations but also affects approx. 5-10 percent of the Irish population. Secondary lactose intolerance is caused by a problem in the small intestine; it is often temporary and resolves when the gut heals, it does not run in families. You should speak to your GP to determine your cause of lactose intolerance.
- If I have a child who is lactose intolerant, will they always be or can they grow out of it?
It will depend on the type of lactose intolerance they have, which is why it’s important to get diagnosed by a doctor. If they have primary lactose intolerance they will have it long term, but most people are able to manage their intolerance by making small changes to their diet such as drinking lactose free milk. However, many cases of lactose intolerance in young children are temporary and are often caused by an infection in the digestive system. In this case symptoms can improve within a few days or weeks.
- From what age can I give my toddler lactose free milk?
Avonmore Lactose Free milk is a low fat milk, with 1.5% fat, so is suitable for children aged 2+, as their main drink. If your child is between the ages of 1 and 2 and has a temporary issue with lactose intolerance, Avonmore Lactose Free milk may be a suitable short term solution and will provide your child with calcium and other valuable nutrients that they require for growth and development.
- Does lactose free milk have the same nutritional value as regular milk?
Avonmore Lactose Free milk is made with regular cow’s milk and contains the same nutritional composition as regular milk. It is also fortified with vitamin D, to help the body to absorb calcium. The only difference is the added enzyme ‘lactase’ which helps break down the lactose. Not all lactose free products have the same nutritional composition, so it’s best to check the nutritional information on the label.
- Can you be lactose intolerant to milk but digest other dairy products fine?
Yes this is possible, as some dairy foods have lower levels of lactose than others. People who are lactose intolerant can vary in how much lactose they can tolerate – so while some may have difficulty digesting a full glass of milk on its own, most people can tolerate small amounts of hard cheese and yoghurt as some of the lactose has already been broken down.
- Should someone with lactose intolerance completely cut out lactose or simply try to minimise how much they consume?
Dairy is a valuable source of calcium in the Irish diet so it’s important not to cut it out unnecessarily. In most cases, you do not need to avoid lactose completely and will be able to tolerate small amounts of lactose daily. Everyone is different so it does require a little bit of trial and error to find your maximum tolerance level - try increasing the amount of lactose in your diet gradually to find out what works for you. There is one type of lactose intolerance where you would need to avoid all lactose but this is very rare.
- Is there any permanent cure for lactose intolerance?
Secondary lactose intolerance is often temporary and often only lasts a short time. With other types of lactose intolerance there is no cure as such, but most people are able to manage their symptoms by making simple changes to their diet such as taking smaller portions of lactose-containing food or drink at a time, drinking milk with meals or switching to lactose free milk.
If you love milk but are lactose intolerant, here’s some very good news: Avonmore Lactose Free milk has all the taste and nutritional benefits you would expect from Avonmore, just without the lactose.
YES YOU CAN, with Avonmore Lactose Free milk.
Please visit your GP for an expert diagnosis, if you think you or your child might be lactose intolerant.
