The Question

Here's a question that no one seems able to answer (at least not definitively).

While I am eating gluten-free, the purpose of which is to repair my damaged small intestine, can I eat dairy products, or will I continue the damage?

Ignoring the convoluted nature of the question, basically, I want to know if I eat cheese and drink milk, will my belly still heal itself, since I have knocked off eating bread and all the other tasty gluten products.

Here is what a volunteer with the Gluten Intolerance Group (www.gluten.net) has to say:
"If you are lactose intolerant and not avoiding dairy, you are delaying the healing process. You should not be intentionally consuming dairy until you are healed and then incorporate it slowly to see if your body can tolerate it. As to how long it will take, every individual is different and depending on their avoidance of having accidental or intentional ingestion will determine the length of time to heal. I hope this helps."

Here is what the celiac disease foundation (celiac.org) had to say:
"Many celiacs are lactose intolerant. That does not mean you are causing yourself harm. But taking the Lactaid tablets and drinking lactose free milk will help you digest dairy products. Sometimes, we overcome the lactose intolerance after we are on the GF diet for quite a while."

And a volunteer with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (celiaccentral.org) said:
"Thanks for contacting the NFCA your question. I am also lactose intolerant. You are not harming your intestines by eating dairy. The discomfort you may feel after eating dairy is because (like many, many adults) your body no longer produces the enzymes to help digest the sugars in dairy product (that's basically what lactaid is - the enzyme that digests the sugar). So, it's fine for you to eat dairy and take a supplement - just make sure the supplement is gluten free. But, you might be interested in knowing that there are some cheeses that are naturally very, very low in lactose: Asiago, Blue, Brie, Camembert, Cheddar, Colby, Edam, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Gruyere, Havarti, Limburger, Monterey Jack, Muenster, Parmesan (that you grate yourself – not out of a green shake can!), Port du Salut, Roquefort, Romano, Stilton, Swiss. Basically, firm, aged cheeses tend to be low in lactose. Fresh, creamy cheeses like feta, mozzarella and ricotta have more lactose. Also, some lactose intolerant people are able to digest goat milk product more easily. Hope this information is helpful for you."

While I really appreciate the fact that people have answered my email from all three of these organizations, I still don't feel particularly comfortable with the answers. I also called a nurse line associated with my insurance company and got another wishy-washy well-I-don't-see-why-you-couldn't-eat-dairy sort of answer.

It was a big step for me to give up gluten. And it took me three years to decide to finally do it. I don't know if I can say no to dairy too. So, if anyone out there in cyber-land knows the answer-- and can back it up with some reference (preferably scientific), I would love to know.