Cool down this summer and celebrate National Ice Cream Month!
It is estimated that about 98 percent of American households purchase ice cream. However, about 30 million American adults have some degree of lactose intolerance by age 20. While lactose intolerance isn’t too severe for most people, symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas after having milk products may cramp your style.
So, here are some tips on including ice cream in your diet when you have lactose intolerance, and even a homemade lactose free ice cream recipe for you to try at home.
Pay attention to food labels.
Usually, limiting or avoiding ice cream made with milk and cream does the trick. But sometimes you can eat small amounts of milk products at a time.
Read the ingredient list on the food label to identify dairy ingredients with the most significant amounts listed first. Those ingredients with the smallest quantities will be listed last. For example, if milk or cream is listed first, you know that the product contains mostly dairy products, and you may want to avoid or eat it in small amounts.
Look for lactose or dairy-free ice cream products.
There’s no need to avoid ice cream altogether when a wide range of lactose and dairy-free ice cream options are available. The main difference is that lactose-free products are made from real dairy ingredients where the lactose has been removed. Dairy-free products are made from plant ingredients containing no dairy. Try frozen desserts made from oat milk, soymilk, cashew milk, coconut cream, and even avocado.
Avocado’s smooth and naturally creamy texture makes it a perfect ingredient for frozen desserts without dairy.
Make your own frozen treat!
The butterfat in cream is what makes ice cream smooth and creamy. Avocado does the same thing with less saturated fat (and no animal products)!
Try this Avocado Banana Dairy-free “Ice Cream” recipe. This frozen dessert is lactose-free, delicious, refreshing, and made with heart-healthy avocado. One serving of this homemade lactose free ice cream has 7 grams of fiber and only 9 grams of sugar.
For more avocado-inspired recipes and healthy meal planning tips, please visit our recipe section at www.loveonetoday.com.
