Over 70 percent of the world’s population is lactose intolerant. Just think about that for a second… that means more people than not struggle to digest lactose (the natural sugar found in cow’s milk).
So if you’re a parent and your child often suffers from common symptoms like bloating, wind, stomach pain or diarrhoea, it could be due to a lactose intolerance.
Types of lactose intolerance to look out for
Lactose intolerance is when the digestive system struggles to break down lactose.
There are two types of lactose intolerance, primary and secondary. Primary lactose intolerance is the most common and occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough lactase (an enzyme that lives in your gut capable of breaking down lactose).
Secondary lactose intolerance occurs when the lining of the gut is damaged which temporarily affects its ability to create lactase. Conditions like this cause irritation or damage to the gut and can be the reason for secondary lactose intolerance. More serious causes are Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease and alcoholism.
What to do if your child is experiencing lactose intolerance symptoms
A child with lactose intolerance symptoms should be seen by a doctor. They could be offered a lactose intolerance test, which includes a number of blood tests that measure blood sugar levels before and after your child has consumed lactose.
How to help a child with lactose intolerance enjoy a balanced diet
We have a wide range of products suitable for sufferers of lactose intolerance. From our almond drinks range (Almond Breeze®) to our tasty snack almonds, everything we make starts with our lovingly grown almonds grown by our almond growers in sunny California.
Full of goodness and super versatile, our dairy-free almond products can be easily added to your child’s day-to-day diet. Whipping up a quick smoothie is a great way to give your kids a healthy treat. We’ve got loads of smoothie ideas, one of our favourites is our Blueberry and Avocado Smoothie, bursting with superfast oats, avocado, blueberries, honey and no dairy whatsoever.
Kids usually love sweet treats and there’s no reason for them to miss out if they’re lactose intolerant. Our No-Bake Chocolate Brownies are satisfyingly squidgy and yummy, made with cacao powder, maple syrup and topped with our Sea Salt Flavoured Snack Almonds. They’re so simple to make too – you don’t even need an oven! If you do want to bake, our Almond Butter Blondies are lovey and sweet with a distinctive molasses flavour. Why not give them a try?
To find more of our lactose-free recipes, just check out our recipe page today.
Not suitable as a complete milk food for children under the age of 3 years. Information from Goodness+ is not intended to be used for medical purposes or as a substitute for professional medical or health advice.