July is National Ice Cream Month, a time for celebration among ice cream lovers. But not for every one of us.

According to research studies, 30 to 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. Some have been that way since childhood; some lose the ability to digest lactose as adults.

Says HealthDay.com, “The condition is so common—and so natural—that some doctors don’t even like to call lactose intolerance a disorder.

But that’s no comfort to anyone who can no longer have cheese, ice cream, milk, yogurt and even butter, including butter-rich foods such as buttercream frosting and caramels.

Lactose intplerance cuts across ancestral lines, creating gastrointestinal problems in:

 
…people of Arab, Greek, Hispanic, Italian and Jewish ancestry have a much higher incidence than other groups.
 
LACTOSE-FREE ICE CREAM FROM LACTAID

Ice cream lovers: Eat all of the frozen delight you want, without incurring the distressing symptoms of lactose intolerance.

(Second thought, eating too much could give you an ice cream headache or make your inner and outer mouth feel like Alaska in the winter.)

Lactaid Ice Cream, made by Hood, is a delicious line. And what a choice:

The Basics

 
The Mix-Ins

 
The New & Glorious

[1] Lactaid has delicious specialty flavors, like Berry Crumble and Salted Caramel Chip (photo courtesy NotQuiteSusie.com). [2] Chocolate and vanilla Lactaid (photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE).

The magic is simply that the brand adds lactase, a natural enzyme that is no longer produced by the stomach of lactose-intolerant people. It’s the same ingredient as in Lactose supplement pills. It helps break down the lactose so that dairy products are easily digested.

Lactase has no impact on taste or texture. Unless they saw the carton, no one would know the products are lactose-free.
 
Now…

Have an ice cream cone, a shake or a sundae!

Make ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cake!

Eat ice cream straight from the carton!

But there’s more!

[1] (photo courtesy FoodForMyFamily.com). [2] Photo courtesy MyLilikoiKitchen.com).

MORE LACTOSE-FREE DAIRY FOODS

From Lactaid

Lactaid also makes lactose-free milk (0%, 1%, 2%, whole and chocolate), low fat cottage cheese, and holiday nog.
 
From Green Valley Organics

Green Valley Organics adds still more lactose-free dairy options:

 
Use the store locator on the home page to find a retailer near you.

Might we add: No one would know all these products are lactose free.
 
BOTH LACTAID & GREEN VALLEY PRODUCTS ARE DEE-LICIOUS.
 
LIKE CHEESE?

If you’re just mildly lactose intolerant, you may find that buffalo’s, goats’, and sheep’ milk cheeses are easier to digest than cow’s milk.

If you’re substantially lactose intolerant, even cheeses with only 2% lactose can upset your stomach. The only 100% lactose-free cheese is Cheddar.

Fortunately, it’s the most popular cheese in the U.S.