Lactose intolerance is one of the most common food intolerances in the world; it affects major percentages of the world’s population.  Oddly enough only those of northern European descent seem to be able to tolerate lactose.

There is no known medical treatment for lactose intolerance as there is no way to improve the body’s ability to produce the lactase necessary to digest lactose.  Instead the only way to treat a person who suffers from lactose intolerance is through diet.

For infants and young children the best way to deal with lactose intolerance is for them to avoid anything that contains lactose in even minute amounts. Doctors do not recommend anything that contains lactose for children under the age of 4 to 6 months of age.

As children get older their bodies ability tolerate lactose may improve and consumption of small amounts may not lead to reactions.  It will be different for each child some may be able to handle drinking a glass of milk others may react to the lactose baked into a cookie.  Only the affected person can know how much lactose their body will tolerate.

The same applies for most adults although the tolerance levels may be higher to the point where creamer in your coffee or even a bowl of ice cream may have no effect.  There is also the chance that as a person gets older their tolerance levels will decrease to the point that even a small amount of lactose will cause discomfort.

For people who react to even the smallest amount of lactose in foods there are over the counter aids that contain lactase enzymes to help with the digestion of foods that contain lactose.  These enzymes can come in the form of a pill or a liquid that should be taken before eating or drinking anything that contains lactose.

There are plenty of foods available that are either lactose free or contain only a trace amount enabling people that suffer with lactose intolerance to enjoy a glass of milk or eating a well balanced diet.  Watching carefully what a person eats and drinks and learning what their tolerances to lactose are is the best ways to manage lactose intolerance.