How much upset milk causes depends on the severity of your lactase deficiency. From 60 to 80 percent of those with lactose intolerance can still drink a single glass of milk without distress and about half can drink two glasses of milk, says note researcher Dr. Dennis Savaiano of the University of Minnesota. The Yogurt Salvation Yogurt is safe because it comes predigested. In one of nature's small miracles, the bacteria in yogurt take over for the missing enzyme and digest much of the milk sugar for you. According to tests by Dr. Savaiano, two bacterial cultures, Streptococcus thermophilus and especially Lactobacillus bulgaricus, that transform milk into yogurt gobble up much of milk's lactose during fermentation, and once in the intestine eat much of the remaining lactose.
Plain yogurts have more anti-lactose activity than flavored yogurts.
Buttermilk and acidophilus milk, although fermented, still cause as much distress in most people as plain milk. Beware of frozen yogurt. When yogurt is commercially frozen, it is sometimes repasteurized and this kills the bacteria. Dr. Savaiano once tested all the brands of frozen yogurts sold in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Be sure to check processed foods for hidden sources of dairy products.