How do you feel after consuming lactose?
???
Lactose is the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. Discomfort can be triggered anytime between 30 minutes and 2 hours after consumption and can be a nasty surprise if you didn’t know you were lactose intolerant before!
The science bit…
When lactose moves through the small intestine it needs something called ‘lactase’ to break down the lactose moving through the colon. Some people, especially those with known digestive problems and/or family history of lactose intolerance do not make enough of that enzyme, which may incur gas, belly pain and bloating.
Whilst not everyone with IBS has a lactose intolerance, and some have a milder case than others, if you want to be super safe it’s best to just avoid lactose as often as possible.
Finding alternatives
Some of the best dairy-free products I found on the market were delicious chocolate bars from Moo Free.
They taste just like regular chocolate (and a little better if you ask me) – even the Milk Chocolate bars! – and have some sensational toppings that really make you happy these are now part of your reformed diet.
My favourite was the Bunnycomb bar. A faux milk chocolate bar sprinkled with crunchy pieces of vegan-friendly honeycomb toffee.
They’re also individually wrapped in snack portion sizes so that you’re not over-indulging and can enjoy these bars more frequently, as well as trying the other delicious toppings – Try the organic cranberry and hazelnut topper for a real zingy hit!
My Wellbeing Journal 