Question: Does coconut milk have lactose?
Answer: Lactose is the natural sugar found in milk. It is infamous for causing digestive problems for people who are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance occurs because of a lack of lactase production in the body. Lactase is an enzyme that the body naturally produces in the intestines that breaks down lactose to make it more easily digestible. People with lactose intolerance do not produce enough lactase in order to properly digest lactose. This creates various unpleasant stomach issues like diarrhea, stomach aches, cramps, and vomiting. Certain dairy products that contain a significant percentage of lactose usually cannot be tolerant by people with lactose intolerance.
What about coconut milk? Does it contain lactose? Coconut has the word “milk” in its name so we might assume it contains lactose. However, despite the confusion, coconut milk is not a dairy product and does not contain lactose. Coconut milk is made from the meaty portion of the coconut with added water and sugar as its typical primary ingredients. Dairy milk is not present in coconut milk, therefore, it is lactose-free.
