I Just Learned A Life-Changing Fact About Parmesan Cheese

Time to stock up.

If you're lactose intolerant, then you probably understand the misery of having to pass on delicious cheese- and milk-filled foods all the time.

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Maybe you had a bad experience with a fully loaded serving of cheese fries that scared you off all cheese and ice cream and other dairy-filled foods forever, or maybe you once downed an iced latte with whole milk that you and your entire classroom will literally never forget.

Well, I've just made a discovery that will put a smile in your bland, cheese-less day.

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According to health authorities, Parmesan cheese contains an almost negligible amount of lactose. 😨😨😨

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More specifically, each serving of Parmesan cheese contains less than 1 gram of lactose per serving. It's even lactose-free, by some accounts. A cup of whole milk, by comparison, has 12–13 grams per serving.

If you're anything like me, this probably explains why while you can't tolerate ice cream, you can easily down a plateful of Parmesan cheese–topped pasta.

And to brighten your bland, cheese-less day even more, note that hard cheeses like Swiss and cheddar also fall under this safer-to-eat category.

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Thank cheesus.

So why are harder, aged cheeses better for lactose-sensitive or lactose-intolerant folk? That's because the longer a cheese ages, the longer its bacteria is able to break down its lactose, aka the ingredient that might give you all kinds of gastrointestinal problems.

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That also means that fresher cheeses — like feta and ricotta — have more lactose in them and will probably uncomfortably inflate you.

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Here're a few recipes to help you celebrate your new cheese partnership:

The Best Crispy Chicken Parmesan

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

Chicken Parmesan-Stuffed Garlic Bread