Are there any lactose free versions of Ensure or other nutritional drinks?

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catpower Regular Member Date Joined Nov 2008 Total Posts : 192	Posted 3/11/2009 3:39 PM (GMT -6)
	I usually drink the chocolate Ensure, but it's now bothering my stomach (which is unfortunate b/c I can't tolerate food right now). I am wondering if the lactose in the Ensure is bothering me and would like to try something lactose free. Thanks! Diagnosed with Crohn's Disease; Meds: Entocort & Asacol; female in late 20s. Back to Top

janicea Regular Member Date Joined Feb 2009 Total Posts : 349	Posted 3/11/2009 3:43 PM (GMT -6)
	Rainbow light and a lot of other manufacturers make flavored powder meal/nutritional protein powders you can just make smoothies out of using juice or rice dream or soy milk or a combo - that would give you a lot of flexibility to create whatever drink you would like. You can use a blender or an immersion blender. That's what I've done. WHen doing mixes I've tended to stay with vanilla, but no reason you could not try chocolate, or some other flavor! Often you can get little one serving packs that let you try different flavors too. :) Back to Top

Rider Fan Veteran Member Date Joined May 2008 Total Posts : 1432	Posted 3/11/2009 3:47 PM (GMT -6)
	Rainbow light? Where would one purchase this product? I'm in Canada... I've never been able to find a lactose free equivalent of ensure/boost... 32 y/o male. Dx'ed in 1999. No surgeries. Current meds: Humira. 22.5mg prednisone. Udo's Choice Probiotics (30 billion). Tried SCD, didn't work, now avoiding gluten and dairy. Back to Top

Valerie3 Veteran Member Date Joined Feb 2009 Total Posts : 529	Posted 3/11/2009 3:49 PM (GMT -6)
	Ensure Plus is lactose/gluten free. I have some in my fridge and I just checked the label. Back to Top

catpower Regular Member Date Joined Nov 2008 Total Posts : 192	Posted 3/11/2009 3:51 PM (GMT -6)
	Thanks, I am on my way to the store now! Diagnosed with Crohn's Disease; Meds: Entocort & Asacol; female in late 20s. Back to Top

Julie1014 Veteran Member Date Joined Oct 2005 Total Posts : 1245	Posted 3/11/2009 3:53 PM (GMT -6)
	Hmm.... I am currently drinking Ensure and mine is lactose-free also. Blessings, Julie Diagnosed with Crohn's March 2006, Fibromyalgia November 2008 Asacol 3 times a day, Remicade 10mg/kg every 4 weeks, Prednisone 10 mg, Miralax, Prevacid 30mg, Vit B12, Vitamin D, Slow-FE (Iron), Hydrocortisone enemas Imuran stopped 9/8/08 (possible Pancreatitis) Paxil 40mg daily (for Panic disorder) Xanax .5mg three times a day, 1mg at bedtime (for anxiety attacks) Back to Top

Rider Fan Veteran Member Date Joined May 2008 Total Posts : 1432	Posted 3/11/2009 5:03 PM (GMT -6)
	Oh, guess I need to open my eyes! Thanks. 32 y/o male. Dx'ed in 1999. No surgeries. Current meds: Humira. 22.5mg prednisone. Udo's Choice Probiotics (30 billion). Tried SCD, didn't work, now avoiding gluten and dairy. Back to Top

ivy6 Elite Member Date Joined Sep 2005 Total Posts : 10401	Posted 3/11/2009 5:34 PM (GMT -6)
	Isosource is no longer being manufactured (I'm told), but it is possible to get a dairy free product called Fresubin (sp?), which is made in Germany. Co-Moderator Crohn's Forum. Back to Top

catpower Regular Member Date Joined Nov 2008 Total Posts : 192	Posted 3/11/2009 5:51 PM (GMT -6)
	So my trip to the store showed that most Ensure is Lactose free; however, it is not milk protein free. The stores I went to were out of Vanilla, so I just asked my husband to check a few more stores on his way home from work. Thanks again. Diagnosed with Crohn's Disease; Meds: Entocort & Asacol; female in late 20s. Back to Top

ivy6 Elite Member Date Joined Sep 2005 Total Posts : 10401	Posted 3/11/2009 5:54 PM (GMT -6)
	Isosource was dairy free, and I'm pretty sure Fresubin is too, as long as you get the right variety. Co-Moderator Crohn's Forum. Back to Top

FitzyK23 Veteran Member Date Joined May 2005 Total Posts : 4213	Posted 3/11/2009 6:11 PM (GMT -6)
	I like Mix1. 27 Year old married female law student (last year!!). Diagnosed w/ CD 4 years ago, IBS for over 10 years before that, which was probably the CD. I am sort of lactose intollerant too but can handle anything cultured and do well w/ lactose pills and lactaid. For crohns I am currently on Pentasa 4 pills/4x day and hysociamine prn. I also have bad acid reflux and have been on PPI's since age 13. I have been through prilosec, prevacid, and nexium. Currently I am on Protonix in the morning and Zantac at night. I also take a birth control pill to allow some fun in my life. Back to Top

pb4 Elite Member Date Joined Feb 2004 Total Posts : 16713	Posted 3/11/2009 10:57 PM (GMT -6)
	I too was severely lactose intolerant but since taking primadophilus reuteri everyday I no longer have that issue, it also aids with high cholesterol and for women, vaginal health and I feel it has definitely helped with my crohn's as well. :) My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :) Back to Top

Kaycie Regular Member Date Joined Jan 2006 Total Posts : 438	Posted 3/11/2009 11:04 PM (GMT -6)
	Boost makes a drink that is a fruity drink you can mix with sprite or water. It's a berry taste and dairy-free. I had major dairy troubles a few years back when I was pregnant and couldn't keep anything down. I can't think of the exact name, but I do know a nutritionist had to order it for me. Luckily, the hospital ordered enough for me to get through about 2 weeks at which point I didn't need it anymore. There were 2 or 3 flavors I think. Kaycie - Age: 26 Crohn's - Dx Nov 05 Failed Remicade, moving onto a Clinical Trial called ABT-874 - Tentative start date - 10/2/08 - 10/16/08 - Infusion, every 4 weeks. IVF #1 (In-Vitro Fertilization) - Failed IVF #2 - IVIg, Heparin, Baby Aspirin - TWIN GIRLS!!! Reagan Dawn - 8/2/07 - Lived 1 hour 27 minutes due to Cloaca, NOT affiliated with my Crohn's Addison Maria - 8/2/07 - 13 months old Back to Top

ladybug0709 Regular Member Date Joined Dec 2008 Total Posts : 60	Posted 3/12/2009 10:17 AM (GMT -6)
	Ensure is lactose and gluten free as mentioned above. The Boost Fruit Beverage mentioned above is a good substitute if you think its the Ensure giving you problems although it is not as calorie or protein dense. Crohns almost 17 years. No surgeries. Currently taking Imuran and Entocort. Also take multivitamin/mineral supplement, omega -3 oil, calcium and vitamin D. Eat lots of yogurt. Limit wheat and gluten as much as I can. Back to Top

MMMNAVY Veteran Member Date Joined Jul 2006 Total Posts : 6923	Posted 3/12/2009 10:25 AM (GMT -6)
	ok you are going to laugh at me, but HMR make a lactose free drink/pudding. (I like their powder chicken soup too) Usually it is for weight loss, but what it is a nutritional drink (it does not contain dieretics like slimfast plus or other "diet" drinks like optifast). It is used by my GI as a sub for ensure. ^{Forum Co-moderator - Crohn's Disease:}^{_All comments have the caveat contact your local health care provider.} ^{I will find a way or make one. –Phillip Sidney 1554-1586} ^{All that I am and all that I shall ever be, I owe to my Angel Mother.} ^{The Bucket List- Have you found joy in your life? Has your life brought joy to others?} ^{Make sure your suffering has meaning…} Back to Top

Zanne Veteran Member Date Joined Apr 2005 Total Posts : 3763	Posted 3/12/2009 11:36 AM (GMT -6)
	When I am in the hospital they will not let me have Ensure or Boost or any of the liquid supplements because my charts says I am lactose intolerant. But they have a clear supplement that is lactose free. I found the taste bad, but I really have a thing about tastes. I think it comes from years of preps and bariums. But, I also can now tolerate much more lactose than I used to be able to, so I convinced them to let me have Ensure last time. But there must be some thing in it, if the hospital dietitian won't let you have it. Suzanne CD 20 years officially, 30 unofficially. 3 resections '93, '95 '97 Managing with strict low residue diet, keeping symptoms to a minimum. All test show small amount of ulceration, still have occasional blockages. But still have a great time with my 2 daughters and husband! Prednisone, 6MP,Prevacid, B12 shots, Bentyl, Xifaxan..... Back to Top

ladybug0709 Regular Member Date Joined Dec 2008 Total Posts : 60	Posted 3/12/2009 11:42 AM (GMT -6)
	Believe me, it's lactose and gluten free. Only if you have a "milk allergy" - then you cant have it. Crohns almost 17 years. No surgeries. Currently taking Imuran and Entocort. Also take multivitamin/mineral supplement, omega -3 oil, calcium and vitamin D. Eat lots of yogurt. Limit wheat and gluten as much as I can. Back to Top

Rider Fan Veteran Member Date Joined May 2008 Total Posts : 1432	Posted 3/12/2009 12:40 PM (GMT -6)
	What is HMR? So ensure is lactose free, but it still has milk products in it? Hmmm...I'm not sure if I should try it or not... 32 y/o male. Dx'ed in 1999. No surgeries. Current meds: Humira. 22.5mg prednisone. Udo's Choice Probiotics (30 billion). Tried SCD, didn't work, now avoiding gluten and dairy. Back to Top

pb4 Elite Member Date Joined Feb 2004 Total Posts : 16713	Posted 3/12/2009 1:48 PM (GMT -6)
	Use lactaid products (pills or liquid) or primadophilus reuteri (daily) when in doubt with lactose products. :) My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :) Back to Top

Celey Veteran Member Date Joined May 2007 Total Posts : 1284	Posted 3/12/2009 4:07 PM (GMT -6)
	It has milk protein..... Lactose is milk sugar.... Which is what a lot of Crohn's disease people have a hard time digesting due to damage of the intestines... I think I am being picked on by life, sometimes. But's that okay. Life and I are good buddies... I know life doesn't mean no harm. It just is the way it is. I can accept that. Back to Top

Valerie3 Veteran Member Date Joined Feb 2009 Total Posts : 529	Posted 3/12/2009 4:35 PM (GMT -6)
	It actually explains a lot for me - I have trouble with dairy when I'm not feeling well (usually I'm OK with it), and when I'm sick I can never keep Ensure down. Now I know why! I always thought it must be something else because it was lactose free, but I guess it could be the milk protein in it? Back to Top

Celey Veteran Member Date Joined May 2007 Total Posts : 1284	Posted 3/12/2009 4:39 PM (GMT -6)
	Well... If you're allergic to milk, that would be a possibility... I have to say, though... It could also be that you're drinking too much of it at once... Ensure is packed with nutrition. And sometimes, introducing your body to so many nutrients (especially if you've gone a while without eating as healthy as you could... or if you've been eating a lot of jello and such), it can put a shock to your system and not feel too good on your tummy... It's best to drink it a little at a time... And not the whole bottle/can in one day... I think I am being picked on by life, sometimes. But's that okay. Life and I are good buddies... I know life doesn't mean no harm. It just is the way it is. I can accept that. Back to Top

Valerie3 Veteran Member Date Joined Feb 2009 Total Posts : 529	Posted 3/12/2009 4:43 PM (GMT -6)
	That could explain it, usually when I drink it, I finish the bottle in about 20 minutes or so. I don't consider that really "fast", considering the size of the bottle, but I guess when I'm really sick it may be too much to handle. I've always wondered what could cause me to have a hard time keeping it down, because it tastes SO bad coming back up (LOL). I'll definitely have to try drinking less at a time! Back to Top

pb4 Elite Member Date Joined Feb 2004 Total Posts : 16713	Posted 3/12/2009 6:49 PM (GMT -6)
	Celey said... It has milk protein..... Lactose is milk sugar.... Which is what a lot of Crohn's disease people have a hard time digesting due to damage of the intestines... Lactose intolerance happens to many without an IBD, it's not prone to IBDers alone and not all IBDers suffer with lactose intolerance. :) My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :) Back to Top

pb4 Elite Member Date Joined Feb 2004 Total Posts : 16713	Posted 3/12/2009 6:51 PM (GMT -6)
	Being allergic to milk/milk prodcuts means you have an allergy to casein which is in milk, this is completely different than having lactose intolerance, lactase is the natural sugar in milk/milk products and those that are intolerant to lactase have lactose intolerance. Signs of a milk allergy that may occur immediately after consuming milk include: Wheezing Vomiting Hives Signs and symptoms that may take more time to develop include: Loose stools (which may contain blood or mucus) Diarrhea Abdominal cramps Coughing or wheezing Runny nose Skin rash Milk allergy or milk intolerance? It's important to differentiate a true milk allergy from milk protein intolerance or lactose intolerance. Unlike a milk allergy, intolerance doesn't involve the immune system. Milk intolerance causes different symptoms and requires different treatment than does a true milk allergy. Common signs and symptoms of milk protein or lactose intolerance include digestive problems, such as bloating, gas or diarrhea, after consuming milk. :) My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :) Back to Top

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