by Emma Hartlaub
The term lactose intolerance has been thrown around the health and food world, confusing the condition with various other terms and diets. Here are 10 facts that even helped a dairy-free person like myself clear up the difference between myth and reality.
- Being lactose intolerant is different from being allergic to milk. Intolerance is the inability to digest the lactose sugar found in milk due to the lack of lactase enzyme, whereas the allergy is a reaction to the milk protein.
- Early Europeans may have been lactose intolerant. The discovery and study of Neolithic skeletons showed that their DNA has no lactase gene, implying that they had the condition.
- When babies stop drinking breast milk, the amount of the lactase enzyme decreases in their intestines. This means we are naturally susceptible to being lactose intolerant.
- Lactose intolerance can run in families. (I know this to be true because my aunt, my brother and myself are all lactose intolerant.)
- The condition is more common as we get older because it develops during teen and adult years. A person is rarely born with it.
- Out of the world’s population, 70% have some variation of intolerance.
- 1 in 10 adults have self-diagnosed themselves as lactose intolerant due to digestive issues.
- Think you’re lactose intolerant? No worries! Dairy alternatives and lactose-free products such as soy, almond, hemp, coconut and cashew milks are more common on the shelves of stores.
- People with lactose intolerance can still eat cheese! Foods like butter and natural cheeses contain a small amount of lactose, which can be tolerable for some.
- Here’s something to think about: humans are the only animal to drink another animal’s milk.
Facts sourced from WebMD, GoDairyFree (here, here), Eat Confidently with Li, Everyday Health.
- Photography: Nina Lea Photography
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