Are you lactose intolerant?

We have been trying to determine if Grace is lactose intolerant. From everything we have seen we are sure that she is. So, thanks to moneysavingmom.com I have found a wonderful solution! Lactaid milk is expensive! (lets face it, milk at all is expensive these days!) You can purchase lactase drops (about $14 a bottle) online, or at a health food store. I prefer to buy them online since you can get coupons for future orders oftentimes (my next bottle I get 50% off for doing a quick survey of how I liked the product). I am still researching all the ways you can use them, but here is what i have learned so far! The reason people are lactose intolerant is because their body does not produce enough lactase in order to break the lactose down into lactaid which you body then uses (confused yet?). The lactase drops essentially do the work for you, and convert regular milk into lactaid milk. For one gallon of milk you would use 56 drops (more or less as needed). You then allow the milk to sit for 24 hours to break down the lactose. One bottle of lactase drops can convert 12 gallons of milk. You can also use the drops in yogurt, ice cream or any other lactose containing product (I am not sure of what the amount would be however, still researching that one!) I have also read that you can mix it with water and drink it just before consuming lactose containing ingrediants. I am not sure of what the amounts are. You can also buy lactaid chews that will accomplish the same thing. We use the drops because Grace is not old enough for the chews yet. To buy a gallon of lactose free milk is around $8.00 (it costs about $3.88 for the generic brands for a 1/2 gallon). Depending on where you get your milk (we use quik trip since its the cheapest around here) It is about $2.69 for a gallon of 2% milk. The prices may vary a little depending on where you live. At 2 gallons a week for Lactaid milk you would be paying an average of $62 a month. If you use the regular milk and add the lactose drops you would be spending about $30 a month on milk. $2.69 a gallon adding $1.14 per gallon of milk ($14 of lactase drops divided between 12 gallons of milk). It saves a lot of money! I have found the drops to be just as effective as the the lactaid milk, the only difference is you do need to prepare it a day in advance. I hope this helps you save some money, it has saved us a lot!