I Can't Eat Milk Products

If you can't eat milk products without experiencing bloating, stomach cramps, gas and indigestion, you may be lactose intolerant. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, lactose intolerance affects more than 75 percent of the world's population and more than 25 percent of Americans -- whether they know it or not. Many resources are available for the lactose intolerant to learn about and cope with the condition.

Lactose Intolerance

• Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk. Infants are born with lactase enzymes that allow them to digest milk easily. However, most adults lack those enzymes and have trouble digesting milk products as a result. Some researchers have suggested that because the majority of adults are in fact lactose intolerant, those who can digest milk are the abnormal ones.

Medication And Supplements

• Some lactose intolerant people choose to take prescription or over-the-counter drugs or lactase enzyme supplements that allow them to continue to eat dairy comfortably.

Lactose-Free Products

• Many supermarkets carry lactose-free cheese, yogurt and milk. Some of the dairy products commonly referred to as "lactose-free" should really be called "lactase-enhanced." These products include lactase enzymes that allow consumers to properly digest the lactose.

Lactose-Free Diets

• Some lactose intolerant people take an aggressive approach to the condition and cut dairy out of their diets entirely. Others go even further and become vegan. Veganism is a dairy-free, egg-free variety of vegetarianism that often includes avoiding animal-derived products including leather. Websites like VegWeb, Fat Free Vegan, and Choose Veg provide free vegan recipes. Some popular recipe database websites include collections of vegan recipes, as well.