For those who are lactose intolerant, ingesting dairy doesn’t always feel very good. This is often because lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products, can be hard for some people to digest. However, giving up dairy products is no easy feat, especially when it comes to cheese. Not only does it taste fantastic, but there are some surprising health benefits to cheese, making it harder to give up. However, for those with an intolerance to lactose, certain types of cheese can make a person feel sluggish, gassy, and bloated. Luckily, not all cheese is created equal, and there are forms of low lactose cheese available.
Love cheese, but don’t love feeling bloated and gassy? If you are lactose intolerant and are looking for an alternative, learn more about low lactose cheese.
Which Type of Cheeses is Low in Lactose?
Soft and hard cheeses that are aged usually contain very little lactose, so low that it’s barely detectable. Blue cheese and cheddar, for instance, can have as little as 0.1 grams of lactose per serving. However, the exact amount of lactose will vary depending on factors such as the length of the aging process, which brand it is, and what recipe they used. Unfortunately, not every cheese will have the information you want on the label. Some cheese brands may or may not say how long the cheese was aged for, but if you’re going to play it safe, don’t be afraid to reach out to the company.
If you are looking for a cheese that is generally lower in lactose, aim for these kinds of cheese:
• Cheddar
• Parmesan
• Swiss
• Muenster
• Blue Cheese
• Limburger
Which Type of Cheeses is High in Lactose?
Typically wet, freshly made cheeses contain higher levels of lactose, and also higher amounts of whey. The lactose converts into lactic acid as the cheese ages, but fresh cheese doesn’t have the time for this conversion, so it retains more whey. High lactose, fresh cheeses are often wetter than their aged counterparts since it’s a much faster cheese to make the whey doesn’t have the time to drain off fully.
If you want to avoid eating cheese that has a higher level of lactose, avoid or limit eating these types of cheese:
