As people age, some foods don’t go down as easily as they used to. Avoiding these foods might solve some problems. What do you do when they contain important nutrients your body needs like – calcium?

Some older adults have trouble digesting milk, even though they had no problem in younger years. The reason? With age, the small intestine may not produce as much lactase. Lactase is the enzyme that digests the natural sugar, called lactose, in milk. Without adequate lactase, consumption of milk can lead to gas, bloating and diarrhea. The good news is you don’t have to skip milk and the calcium it provides, just make a few alterations in your eating habits.

First, drink milk in small amounts; usually the body can release enough lactase to digest a smaller amount of milk. Drink milk with other foods. This helps slow down digestion making absorption of lactose easier. Try other dairy foods that are lower in lactose such as yogurt, cheese, buttermilk or special lactose-free milks.