Are you lactose intolerant?

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I was able to enjoy tall glasses of ice cold milk, big bowls of ice cream and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Oh how I miss those days.

Back in the early 90′s I had major surgery which left me lactose intolerant, among other things. Now the wonderful foods and beverages I once loved became feared “enemies”. I also have a harder time digesting certain foods. Sometimes things like baked beans (the kind you have with hot dogs), spinach, broccoli and apples upset my stomach.

Even salads can leave me with bad stomach cramps and bloating. I don’t normally use cream based dressings. I tend to stick with balsamic or oil and vinegar. I also don’t top salads with a lot of things. Mostly onions, cucumbers, peppers, carrots and the occasional crouton. Sometimes I can enjoy a salad just fine, other times it causes so much distress and discomfort that I tell myself I’ll never eat salad again.

Whenever I make the attempt to enjoy the dairy products I once loved something always happens to make me regret my decision. Depending on the food or beverage I’ll either experience horrible stomach cramps, bloating, gas, cramps or even the dreaded diarrhea (sorry… TMI). If you are lactose intolerant or know someone who is I’m sure you can totally relate to these experiences.

I can get away with eating some products in very small quantities with little to no problems afterwards. For example, I can eat aged cheeses like cheddar with little to no problem. I can also eat ice cream in small doses. For some odd reason when the ice cream melts that is when I start to experience stomach issue. This is why I only enjoy tiny bowlfuls of ice cream. In a way I guess that is not so bad. It prevents me from over eating, but at the same time I would give anything to be able to enjoy an ice cream sundae again.

I have tried lactose pills and other products. It’s been hit or miss for the most part. Sometimes they are OK, other times they are no help. I’ve even tried antacids or anti-diarrhea products BEFORE eating in hopes that it helps.

I think the one thing I miss the most is milk. I used to love milk and I would drink it all the time. I especially loved chocolate milk.I can drink milk in small doses (a few sips). I can’t drink chocolate milk at all. Oh how I miss chocolate milk!

Whipped cream and Cool Whip are hard for me to tolerate. Even recipes made with heavy creams. Sigh…

Cheese is big deal for me. I LOVE CHEESE! I would eat it every single day if possible. I love grilled cheese, cheese slices on crackers, cream cheese on bagels, and melted cheese on foods like pizza, lasagna and baked ziti. Usually I have to push the cheese aside or in the case of pizza often have to pull some of the cheese off. Pizza is not pizza without ooey gooey melted cheese.

Recently I received a product to review that is supposed to be able to help me with the gestational issues that I experience when I enjoy something with lactose. It’s called Beano Dairy Defense. It is the first over-the-counter option that prevents both gas and dairy issues, giving you the freedom to eat the foods you want and those that are good for you, without worrying about the uncomfortable digestive issues they can cause.

Beano Dairy Defense is made with two natural enzymes that help to break down lactose and complex carbohydrates found in foods that normally cause bloating, diarrhea and stomach discomfort.

In order to use Beano Dairy Defense simply enjoy one chewable tablet before your meal. The tablets are small and are raspberry sorbet flavored. They are very tasty. Even the bottle they chewables come in is tiny making it easy to tuck it into your pocket or purse discreetly so that no one notices.

I’m going to try Beano Dairy Defense for a few weeks and see how well they help with my digestive issues. I am going to post my review in the next couple of weeks. I’ll also be hosting a giveaway too. Be sure to look out for that post.

Do you have any kind of digestive issues? Are there certain foods you have to avoid? Feel free to share your experiences.

PHOTO SOURCE: Beano Facebook page

Kimberly

*I am participating in a sponsored campaign for Beano. I received Beano products and compensation in exchange for my
participation. The opinions stated here are my own.

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