What Is a Lactose-Free Diet?
A lactose-free diet is one that contains no milk or milk products. Lactose is a type of sugar found in these types of foods, but in some cases, the body is unable to digest the lactose, and instead converts it into lactic acid. The lactic acid can then cause diarrhea, bloating, gas, and abdominal cramping. Some people are simply slightly lactose intolerant, and can handle small amounts of milk or products made with milk in their diet, but others with certain medical conditions or extreme intolerances cannot handle lactose at all, and must follow a lactose-free diet.