Is Lactose Intolerance common?

Little frustrated. I have been having some issues and after bloodwork/talking with my GI I find out that I may be lactose intolerant.....

I have to try 2 weeks of NO lactose. What do I snack on??? Yogurts, Cottage Cheese, String Cheese, Laughing Cow.......were all like easy 'go-to's'.......

Help, ideas, insight???

Talk to your doc or nut.  Lactose intolerance doesn't mean that you can't have any cheeses and yogurt.

Yogurt with active cultures are often used by people with lactose intolerance.  The action of the bacterial cultures converts the lactose into lactic acid which is usually tolerated.  The key here is to look for active cultures.

Same thing for aged cultured cheeses - the older the cheese the less lactose is in it through the action of the bacteria cultures.  Look for cheeses aged at least 3 months.  Popular versions are cheddar, swiss, colby, etc.  Fresh cheeses like Mozzarella, queso fresco, or Fromage blanc are probably out.

Some people find that they can use lactase to replenish the missing enzymes and tolerate full dairy.

 Just read an article by mark bittman in the New York Times suggesting that it is Very common