Dairy-Free Diet
The Basics
People who are allergic to the proteins in dairy products and some people who are highly intolerant to lactose (the sugar in dairy products) have to eat a dairy-free diet. A dairy-free diet contains no milk, cheese, butter, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, whey, casein, or foods that contain any of these ingredients.
- Understand the difference between lactose intolerance and dairy protein allergy. Knowing which problem you have will help you know how strict to be with your dairy-free diet.
- Learn the scientific terms for milk or dairy products and read food labels to verify that they are dairy-free before you consume them.
Best bets: Milk substitutes like soy milk, rice milk, nut milks, and milk-free products like soy cheese and rice ice cream