What is Lactose Intolerance?

The main sugar found in milk is lactose and is actually made up of two sugar molecules bound together (a di-saccharide). The body can’t absorb lactose and it must be broken down into the two sugar molecules (mono-saccharides) glucose and galactose. Many people lack the enzyme lactase that the body uses to break down lactose, so the “milk sugar” is not absorbed and passes from the small intestine to the large intestine (colon).

The problem is that the bacteria living in your large intestine love lactose. We think of these bacteria as the “good guys” (and they are) but while they are breaking down the lactose, the bacteria in the colon create lactic acid and other chemicals which cause many unpleasant effects, including abdominal bloating, gas, stomach cramps, flatulence, and diarrhea. More »lactoseintolerant/coping.shtml

Recipes for those who are Lactose Intolerant

Our recipes for those who are lactose intolerant are first organized by overall type, such as Chicken Main Course Recipes, Breakfast Recipes, or Side Dishes and Extras, then further broken down by Lactose-Free, Borderline (these recipes contain contain lactose-containing ingredients but may be safe for some: proceed with extreme caution); and Cheese-Containing (recipes that contain cheese: some with lactose intolerance may be able to tolerate these cheeses in these amounts: proceed with caution depending on how lactose intolerant you are).