Is tykmælk suitable for people with lactose intolerance?
Tykmaelk, the Danish thick soured milk, still contains lactose, so it is not safe to assume it suits people with lactose intolerance. Fermented dairy such as yogurt is often easier to tolerate than milk, but responses vary. If you react strongly, lactose-free dairy or lactase products are more reliable options.
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Is tykmaelk suitable for lactose intolerance?
It might be tolerable in small amounts, but it is not lactose-free. Tykmaelk is a thick Danish fermented milk, about 3.5 percent fat in the commercial version, made by fermenting milk with a mixed starter culture. Fermented dairy often has less lactose than milk, but it still has some, and we found no official lactose figure for tykmaelk on a page we could open.
What do health sources say?
The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says people with lactose intolerance can try yogurt and hard cheeses, which are lower in lactose than other milk products and are tolerated by some people. It does not mention tykmaelk, but this is the same idea: fermented dairy often has less lactose than milk. It also says lactose-free and lactose-reduced milk are as healthy as regular milk, and that lactase products can help you digest lactose.
What is tykmaelk, exactly?
The commercial product is made by heating milk, cooling it to about 17 to 24 C, adding a starter culture and fermenting it for around 17 to 24 hours until it coagulates. The taste comes from the diacetyl the culture produces. A homemade, old-fashioned version, made by mixing whole milk with buttermilk and leaving it warm for 24 hours, is a different dish from the one in Danish supermarkets.
What are the alternatives?
- Lactose-free milk or lactose-free yogurt.
- Lactase tablets or drops taken with dairy.
- Plant-based yogurt alternatives (a different product, with different nutrition).
- Hard cheeses and plain yogurt, in small amounts.
How should you test your own tolerance?
- Try a small portion with a meal.
- Note any bloating, gas or diarrhea, and stop if they occur.
- Ask a doctor or dietitian if you are not sure whether it is lactose intolerance or a milk allergy. Milk allergy means avoiding tykmaelk completely.
This is general information, not medical advice.
People also ask
Does tykmaelk contain lactose?
Yes. Fermented dairy often has less lactose than milk, but tykmaelk is not lactose-free.
What can I use instead of tykmaelk if I am lactose intolerant?
Lactose-free yogurt or milk, plant-based yogurt, or lactase products taken with dairy.
Is tykmaelk safe for a milk allergy?
No. It is made from cow's milk and contains milk proteins.
Sources
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