You may not have to give up dairy entirely

If you’re lactose intolerant, you may not need to stop drinking milk completely, experts say.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers this advice for lactose-intolerant people who don’t want to give up on dairy:

  - Try consuming just a small amount of foods that contain lactose. If you tolerate them, you can try gradually increasing the portions.
  - Choose whole-milk products, which can help slow down the digestion process.
  - Try yogurt, kefir or buttermilk with active cultures, which can help you better digest lactose.

If you do avoid dairy products, be sure to eat other calcium-rich foods, including leafy dark-green vegetables and fortified cereals and breads.