Lactose intolerant cheeses can you eat

Not all dairy is created equal. For those who are lactose intolerant, eating ingredients that have high levels of lactose can cause some very uncomfortable digestive woes, from bloating and gas to cramping and serious stomach pain. Luckily, not all cheeses are forbidden on a low-lactose diet. In fact, there are several types of cheeses that those sensitive to lactose can still enjoy in moderation.

As a general rule, keep this in mind: the fresher the cheese, the more lactose it contains. Only trace amounts of lactose remain. Cheese with low levels less than 5 grams lactose Fresh unripened cheese such as mozzarella, cream cheese and ricotta are not aged. Only part of the lactose that remains in the curd has a chance to convert to lactic acid. Cottage Cheese, also a fresh unripened cheese, generally has additional milk or cream mixed with the curd.

Therefore, fresh cheeses contain more lactose than aged cheeses. Processed cheese foods and cheese spreads are made by melting natural cheese to stop the aging process and then adding other ingredients, including whey or milk. Cheese foods and cheese spreads contain lactose. Look for aged rather than younger cheeses, and sugar content under 5 grams per serving. Dairy guru Steve Carper also suggests another rule of thumb: The higher the fat content, the lower the lactose level usually.

If you want to avoid lactose altogether, try avoiding dairy entirely. Generally, if you are sensitive, you never want a cheese with a sugar content remember, you can think of lactose as "cheese sugar" approaching 5 grams per serving, at the very least. There are myriad cheeses out there that fit the bill, and come in way under 5 grams of sugar per serving. Some of these cheeses here's looking at you, Parmesan have barely measurable amounts.

Using lactose percentages composed and collected by the aptly named " Steve Carper's Lactose Intolerance Clearing House " his numbers are legit and thoroughly sourced, despite the early '90s website , here are some of the most LII-friendly cheeses on the market. For reference, whole milk has a lactose average ranging from 3. Fresh cheeses, and those with a lot of curds, tend to have the highest lactose percentages.

Here are the main culprits:. There it is, folks! Next time your server is poised over your plate with the Parm, asking you to say when, don't be afraid to let them grate and grate and grate. Wil Fulton is a Staff Writer for Thrillist. He eats blocks of cheese for breakfast. Follow him wilfulton. Skip to main content Eat. What's lactose, and why can't people just learn to tolerate it?

Does this mean lactose-intolerant people can never have cheese, ever?