| If you ever felt bloated, gassy or just plain ill | | | | of sugar naturally found in milk and dairy products. |
| after eating certain dairy products, you are not | | | | Lactose intolerance occurs when the small |
| alone. Ironically, shortly after I started this | | | | intestine doesn't produce enough of the |
| gourmet cheese business I found myself to be | | | | lactose-digesting enzyme called lactase. So when |
| lactose intolerant. Certainly a cruel hand dealt from | | | | milk products are consumed, the large intestine |
| fate, or so I thought. Panic, depression and | | | | cannot easily digest lactose and therefore |
| anxiety set in with the notion of never being able | | | | stomach aches ensue. Cramping, bloating, gas and |
| to partake in some of the most exquisite foods. | | | | belly pain are some of the (less gross) symptoms |
| Cheese had become my life and my livelihood. But | | | | associated with lactose intolerance. The tricky |
| after doing some research, I discovered that not | | | | part in managing lactose intolerance is that it |
| all dairy products are equal in lactose levels and | | | | affects people differently with some dairy types |
| gourmet cheese can resume its rightful spot in | | | | being easily tolerated (such as yogurt with live |
| my daily diet (phew!). | | | | cultures) and in varying amounts. To help |
| Lactose intolerance is a hereditary condition | | | | determine the right mix of dairy your body can |
| affecting up to 70% of the world's population. | | | | handle without discomfort, it helps to know which |
| Southern European, Asian and African populations | | | | milk-based foods have lower levels of lactose. |
| tend to be the most afflicted. Lactose is a type | | | | |