• Try lactose reduced milk (found in the milk section of most grocery stores). It’s 99% lactose free. Or use liquid lactase drops (found in drugstores) to make lactose reduced milk at home.
• Take lactase enzymes tablets (also found in drugstores) at meals containing regular milk or milk products. These tablets take the worry out of dining away from the home.
• Try small servings of aged cheese such as Cheddar, Swiss, brick, camembert, limburger and Parmesan. These cheeses contain very little lactose.
• Eat yogart. The bacteria in yogart produce lactase enzyme, which continues to digest lactose even after the yogart is eaten.
• If you are severely intolerant, drink a plant based beverage such as soy or rice beverage in place of milk. Look for a product that is enriched with vitamins A, D,B12, riboflavin, calcium and zinc.

Anne Lindsay