| The prevalence of lactose intolerance varies by | | | | handle without causing digestive upset. For those |
| ethnicity. As many as 25% of Caucasian people | | | | who cannot tolerate lactose at all, there are |
| are lactose intolerant, while among African | | | | lactose-free options such as Lactaid Milk, which is |
| American, Native Americans, and Asian | | | | available as fat-free, 1%, 2%, and whole. Three |
| Americans, lactose intolerance is estimated to be | | | | to four servings of Lactaid milk a day will provide |
| as high as 75-90%. | | | | enough calcium necessary for healthy teeth and |
| Lactose intolerance is the body's inability to digest | | | | bones in adults. Another option of calcium-rich |
| lactose, a simple sugar found in milk and milk | | | | sources in the diet could be calcium fortified |
| products, due to the absence or insufficient | | | | orange or grape juice. |
| amount of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down | | | | Lactaid cottage cheese is another source of |
| lactose. As undigested lactose passes to the colon | | | | lactose-free calcium. Although one serving |
| (large bowel), bacteria break it down into lactic | | | | provides only 10% of the recommended daily |
| acid and certain gasses (hydrogen, methane, or | | | | allowance of calcium, it will certainly count toward |
| both). Lactic acid is an irritant and a laxative, so it | | | | satisfying the daily requirement of this important |
| can cause symptoms such as bloating, abdominal | | | | mineral. |
| pain, diarrhea (can be acidy at times), belching, and | | | | For those who cannot live without gourmet |
| gas. Although these symptoms are very painful, | | | | cheese and ice cream, lactase in a pill form might |
| they are transient and do not cause any damage | | | | aid the digestion of lactose-rich products. Lactaid |
| to the digestive system. Once lactose leaves the | | | | offers Lactaid caplets or chewable tablets that will |
| digestive tract, all symptoms resolve. Lactose | | | | aid digestion and prevent annoying symptoms if |
| intolerance is not a food allergy, so even though it | | | | taken with the first bite of dairy. |
| is uncomfortable, it is not life threatening. | | | | Calcium is also found in green leafy vegetables, |
| Eliminating offending foods from the diet of a | | | | caned sardines with bones, and oatmeal. If you |
| lactose intolerant individual provides complete | | | | have a difficult time meeting your daily calcium |
| symptom resolution. However, in an attempt to | | | | requirement, take a daily calcium supplement. |
| prevent symptoms, many people mistakenly | | | | The two most available calcium supplements |
| eliminate milk products from their diets | | | | come as either calcium carbonate or calcium |
| completely. By doing so, they put themselves at | | | | citrate. Calcium carbonate requires an acidic |
| risk for calcium deficiency, bone loss, and | | | | environment to be absorbed, thus it is best taken |
| ultimately osteoporosis. | | | | after eating a meal. On the other hand, calcium |
| First of all, there are various degrees of lactose | | | | citrate does not require the extra acidity to be |
| intolerance, and some people may tolerate small | | | | absorbed and can be taken without regard to |
| amounts of dairy products in their diet. The trick | | | | meals. However, it provides the least amount of |
| is to find the most amount of dairy you body can | | | | elemental calcium. |