Can i take lactaid after i eat dairy

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Email address

ErrorEmail field is required

ErrorInclude a valid email address

Subscribe

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Thank you for subscribing

Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care.

If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at [email protected].

While we might all be curious about the best plunger or probiotic tampon or cold-sore remedy, it can be difficult to discuss these more personal items. That’s why we’re tackling Things We Don’t Talk About, a series in which we track down the best hygiene-, sex-, and bodily function-related things we all need but might be too embarrassed to ask about. In this installment, we consult experts on what adjustments you can make to your diet if you’re lactose intolerant.

If the thought of a thick milkshake or whipped cream inspires more apprehension than delight, you may be one of the roughly 65 percent of post-adolescents who is lactose intolerant. In short, it means you lack the enzyme lactase, which helps you digest lactose (i.e., the sugars found in dairy products). Any combination of diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, and nausea can sideline your day if you get too overzealous with dairy.

But there could be some other food-related allergy or gastrointestinal problem to blame, which is why Lisa Stollman — a registered New York dietitian and nutritionist (she earned the title of Dietitian of the Year in 2015 from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) — tells me it’s worth seeing a physician for a hydrogen breath test to narrow down the cause. From there, an elimination diet can help zero in on foods that are causing sensitivities, functional nutritionist Angela T. Russo says. Thankfully, for the lactose intolerant, there are a multitude of dairy alternatives (we are living in the golden age of oat milk, after all) and supplements that can help. Below, both experts share their recommendations for preventing an upset stomach if you’re lactose intolerant.

Supplements

Lactaid Fast Act Lactose Intolerance Relief Caplets With Lactase Enzyme, 60 Travel Packs

$11

Since lactase is at the root of lactose intolerance (the majority of lactose intolerance cases occur when people experience a drop in lactase production as adults), the quickest way to prevent an upset stomach is to increase the amount of lactase in your system. Lactase supplements come in many forms these days, the most popular one being Lactaid. Stollman says that tablets can be taken just before a meal or snack containing lactose. “The enzyme supplement will act just like the enzyme lactase, which we naturally produce, but may not have enough of.”

$11 at Amazon

Buy

$11 at Amazon

Buy

NOW Dairy Digest Capsules

$20 now 35% off

$13

There’s also this slightly cheaper lactase supplement that throws in proteases and lipases which specifically aid in the digestion of milk proteins and fat.

$13 at Amazon

Buy

$13 at Amazon

Buy

Align Probiotic Supplements

$27

Both experts also suggest probiotics — the healthy bacteria in your gut which maintain a healthy digestive system — for helping your body process lactose. Probiotics are naturally found in fermented foods like pickles, yogurt, and sauerkraut, but you can also purchase them in supplement form. The Align probiotics, which we’ve covered before, are the top choice that gastroenterologists recommend to patients with IBS.

$27 at Target

Buy

Digestive Advantage Lactose Defense, 32 Capsules

$10

Or, you could try out lactase supplements with additional probiotics in them, like these Digestive Advantage capsules, which contain the BC30 probiotic.

$10 at Amazon

Buy

$10 at Amazon

Buy

NOW L-Glutamine 500 mg,120 Capsules

$15 now 33% off

$10

Russo says she also likes to make sure that people are healing their stomach lining with L-glutamine, which is a protein that helps prevent infection and inflammation in the gut, plus soothes the intestinal region (so it’s often recommended for IBS-sufferers).

$10 at Amazon

Buy

$10 at Amazon

Buy

Dairy alternatives

Oatly Oat Milk

$24

Choosing smaller servings of dairy can help prevent symptoms (“the smaller the serving, the less likely it is to cause intestinal issues,” says Stollman) but you don’t have to cut milk from your diet entirely. She says that drinking milk in combination with other food can slow digestion and may decrease symptoms of lactose intolerance. (She doesn’t recommend more than four ounces of milk per meal, though.) There are even types of dairy that are low in lactose: “For example, hard cheeses, such as Swiss or cheddar. Cultured milk products, such as yogurt, may also be well-tolerated, since the bacteria utilized in the culturing process naturally produce lactase.”

Of course, with the variety of milks at your disposal these days, you could just make the transition to a nut milk or the hypertrendy oat milk. If you’re dabbling in plant-based alternatives, Stollman says coconut yogurt and vegan cheeses are also worth a try.

Editor’s Note: While this Oatly oat milk is available to purchase online, you’ll have an easier time finding a reasonably priced version in person somewhere.

$24 at Amazon

Buy

$24 at Amazon

Buy

Healthworks Chia Seeds Raw Pesticide-Free, 2lb

$18

Because reducing your dairy intake can mean losing a good source of calcium, Russo also recommends adding some high-calcium, non-dairy foods to your diet. Chia seeds, raw almonds, and sunflower seeds are good snack-sized options, but she says you can also add more leafy greens like broccoli rabe, kale, and arugula, or sweet potato to your meals.

$18 at Amazon

Buy

$18 at Amazon

Buy

DAVID Roasted and Salted Original Jumbo Sunflower Seeds, 5.25 Oz. (Pack of 12)

$13

$13 at Amazon

Buy

$13 at Amazon

Buy

get the strategist newsletter

Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.

Will Lactaid help after a meal?

What to do when you accidentally eat dairy and are lactose intolerant?

What helps with lactose after eating?