Lactose intolerance is a common condition where some people are unable to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk. Lactose intolerance can be temporary or lifelong and can be caused by an illness or injury, certain medications or genetically inherited. For years, many people have been put off of the idea of giving up their favorite cheeses due to their intolerance to lactose. However, with many products becoming lactose free, it’s no wonder why sales of the cheese industry have risen by over 35% in recent years. Lactose free cheeses offer the same mouth-watering flavors and textures as regular cheeses, but without any unwanted side effects that might make you regret indulging!
The lactose-intolerant cheese lover is a special breed. We’ve learned to navigate around our condition, but even the most knowledgeable cheese connoisseur can still be stymied by a seemingly innocuous question: “Is this cheese safe for me to eat?” Well, wonder no more! I’ve done the legwork and found some of the best lactose free cheeses for you. Not all cheeses contain lactose, so enjoy those made from aged cheese. In general, the longer a cheese has been aged, the lower its lactose content will be. This is due to two factors: firstly, as a dairy product ages and develops more flavour it becomes harder for bacteria to break down milk sugars into lactic acid. Secondly, the bacteria that do break down lactose can die off during long-term storage or fermentation processes (such as cheesemaking). Aged cheeses like Parmesan and Romano contain no lactose at all; some have trace amounts such as mozzarella or cheddar.
Hopefully, this article has helped you identify which cheeses are best for your lactose intolerant diet. You can enjoy many varieties of cheese without fear of getting sick or feeling ill.
