Don't Let Lactose Intolerance Spoil your Holiday
No one wants their summer holiday to be overshadowed by lactose intolerance, but it can be daunting to try and juggle overseas travel with staying lactose free…
But lactose intolerance can be easily managed by taking simple precautions to ensure you feel great on your holiday.
Travelling abroad and staying lactose free can be tricky when you’re not sure what’s in the foods you’re eating. Sian Porter, Dietitian on the Lactofree Advisory Board, comments: “Delicious food and memorable meals are an essential part of holiday enjoyment. Knowing how much lactose you can tolerate is important, but with a little planning and organisation you can still enjoy your holiday without worrying about your intolerance.”
Some tips to stay lactose free and avoid uncomfortable symptoms while on holiday:
– Don’t miss out on ice cream, simply opt for a sorbet, granita or an ice lolly.
– If you’re catered for, ask your travel agent or telephone ahead to let your hotel or B&B know you require a lactose free diet.
– If self-catering or camping, then carry some long-life lactose free products with you as the local shops may not have the brands you are used to. Lactofree Long Life or our new Portion Packs are the ideal solution.
– When stocking up on your holiday medicine, like diarrhoea or rehydration tablets, check with your pharmacist that the tablets do not contain lactose.
– Carry some lactase enzyme drops with you to help breakdown of lactose in the gut.
Some tips from Sian for avoiding unwanted symptoms at your favourite destination include:
– France – be careful with all that cheese as depending on your tolerance level, even lower lactose cheese may cause symptoms. Brie and blue cheese are low lactose and hard, aged cheeses tend to be low lactose too!
– Spain – paella, Spanish omelette, tapas and gazpacho should be fine but give the crèma Catalana a miss – or make it at home on your return to remind you of your holidays, with Lactofree Semi Skimmed or Whole Milk.
– Asia – coconut milk is lactose free and is used in creamy curries – Lassi and paneer should be fine too as they’re made with coconut milk.
– Greece – Feta and halloumi contain lactose so be aware of your tolerance level.
– Portugal – tuck into sardines and piri piri chicken but skip the custard tarts – they’re likely to contain high levels of lactose.
– Italy – choose a tomato or vegetable based sauce but parmesan is fairly low in lactose so you should be able to sprinkle away. Mozarella contains lactose so choose a ‘white’ pizza without cheese.
Happy holidays from Lactofree!
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