My child is lactose intolerant. Should he avoid all milk products, including yogurt?

When a person has lactose intolerance, his body lacks a sufficient quantity of the enzyme (lactase) that digests milk sugar (lactose). Some people have no lactase enzyme and cannot tolerate even small quantities of lactose. Others have low levels of lactase, and can tolerate some lactose. Children vary in the amounts and types of food they can handle, and this is certainly true in the case of dairy products. Some lactose-intolerant children can drink milk, for instance, if they keep portions small. Others must read food labels carefully to avoid all milk-based ingredients as well as the obvious sources. Interestingly, the bacterial cultures used to make yogurt produce some lactase enzyme, which can break down the lactose in the yogurt. This is why some people are able to eat yogurt without discomfort. Let your child's symptoms guide how much and what he can have.