Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a condition which affects most adults throughout the world to varying degrees. The biggest source of lactose is pure milk; therefore for people who suffer from lactose intolerance, the worst thing which can be consumed is high quantities of milk. Many other foods also contain lactose – even foods you'd never consider – therefore this can make avoiding lactose a little hit and miss.
Lactose intolerance occurs due to a shortage of lactase production inside the small intestine. Lactase is an enzyme which is supposed to break down lactose into glucose, but if it is short supply, can often be overwhelmed and some of the classic symptoms of lactose intolerance may be triggered.
Far from been a disease as is often said, lactose intolerance is in fact thought to be the default setting, if you like, for humans. There are cultures such as those of northern Europe where a very high tolerance to lactose has been developed due to what is known as ‘lactase persistence'. Lactase persistence basically means lactase production has remained at a high level during and throughout adulthood, whilst most people's lactase production drops of. The reason for this genetic change is environmental and cultural factors, based on the principles of evolution, one becomes tolerant to the environment and adapts – and this is the case for many cultures where milk and lactose consumption has been a way of life since, perhaps, time immemorial. For instance, cultures which have for extended periods of time reared cows and drank their milk, tolerance levels through each generations will become higher and higher.
This is all well and good for those tolerant to lactose, but what about the rest of us? Unfortunately, there is no real cure for lactose intolerance. The best options are to cut as much lactose as possible from our diets by substituting regular dairy milk for lactose-free treated varieties or Soy Milk. There are other foods you can also substitute such as cheese, margarine, butter, ice cream, bread and many, many more.
Upon closing, it should be made clear that culling milk from your diet may indeed save you from experiencing some of the unpleasant lactose intolerance, but may deprive you of the good whey proteins and calcium which milk provides and our body needs, therefore supplements will be required.
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