Do you know anyone who can't consume milk or milk-based products? The condition is not uncommon and these people are classified as lactose intolerant.
Lactose is the main carbohydrate or sugar found in milk, and in varying quantities in dairy products made from milk including yoghurt, ice cream, soft cheeses and butter. Lactose (milk sugar) intolerance results from an inability to digest lactose in the small intestine.
Back in the cave-days, the only time a person would ever ingest lactose would be when they were infants getting milk from their mothers. During their adult lives milk was never consumed. Only with the invention of agriculture has milk become readily available to adults. Lactose is unique in that only in milk does it exist as a free form, unattached to other molecules.
What causes lactose intolerance?
Lactose is digested in the small intestine by an enzyme called lactase. This enzyme allows the body to break down the lactose into two simple sugars, glucose and galactose. These are quickly absorbed by the intestine and provide energy for the body. The level of the lactase enzyme varies between individuals, as does the severity of the symptoms caused by lactose intolerance.
What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?
Symptoms range from milk abdominal discomfort, bloating and excessive wind to sever abdominal cramps and diarrhoea.
Substitutes for lactose-containing foods
Lactose intolerance generally isn't serious and can be controlled by some simple changes in your diet. The dietary changes for lactose intolerance should include the exclusion of those foods highest in lactose. There is now a wide range of fresh soy milks, yoghurts and ice creams which are lactose free and calcium enriched. Many dairy foods actually have little or no lactose so you can continue to enjoy them.
The power of soy protein
Soy-based products are on the rise for very healthy reasons. The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. Lactose-free, soy protein is a "complete protein" which contains all 9 essential amino acids in the right balance to meet your body's needs. Soy protein is the only plant protein that is complete. This makes it a great substitute for many meats, allowing you to eliminate more saturated fat and cholesterol from your diet.
While soybeans have much to offer from a protein perspective, it is because they contain so many nutrients, such as isoflavones, that they are now the centre of so much attention. Soy protein enhances the body's ability to retain and better absorb calcium into the bones. Soy isoflavones help by slowing bone loss and inhibiting bone breakdown.
Lactose-Free Soy Recipes
There are an abundance of wonderful soy recipes that enable you to get all the benefits of soy....without the traditional soy flavour. Further information available at the link below.
Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. This world renowned, medically approved program will give you results you'll love and all the support you need! Estimate your healthy body weight, tons of recipes, articles, ezine and more at http://weight-loss-health.com.au
whole house cleaning Highland Park ..The total calories that you should be consuming depend on... Read More
Healthy eating is important for everyone, from babies to the... Read More
I know you've heard this many times - "Drink more... Read More
Bye Bye HolidaysHoping everyone had a fun, fantastic, exciting and... Read More
The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such... Read More
With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
Post nasal drip is a sensation of mucous build up... Read More
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More
What if you could actually slow your rate of aging,... Read More
You may have heard that essential fats are an important... Read More
Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes... Read More
Can You Lose Weight Through Eating?You get fat when you... Read More
The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual... Read More
Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More
Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin like A and E.... Read More
With new research, new products and new skin protection advice... Read More
Okay, so you think you are doing pretty well with... Read More
When you actually sit down and think about it, bottled... Read More
After we have eaten a meal -- and often we... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
I spent a few days at a resort in Mexico... Read More
Meal replacements have been part of the diet landscape for... Read More
Although you may have heard about soy and all of... Read More
Lactose is the primary carbohydrate in milk. Cow's milk contains... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Glenview ..The word herb is used to refer to any part... Read More
According to the National Institute of Health, Magnesium is needed... Read More
If you are like most people, you are probably confused... Read More
"It is a bone-deep change you are going into, my... Read More
Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
We sometimes hear about ways that we can take care... Read More
What if I told you tap water and homogenized milk... Read More
Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of... Read More
People who consume too much alcohol have good chance of... Read More
I'm always amazed at how many people seem to know... Read More
Water is the single most important element for human existence,... Read More
The makers of Bumble Bee Tuna generated some buzz today... Read More
Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More
You can spot a juicer a mile off at the... Read More
Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply... Read More
The concept isometric has been a part of the health... Read More
Liquid vitamin mineralThe liquid vitamin mineral dietary supplement is a... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
The body is a marvelous creation, a carbon, oxygen combustion... Read More
Post nasal drip is a sensation of mucous build up... Read More
How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin... Read More
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
At any grocery store in North America right now, there... Read More
It is ironic how something as obvious as nutrition has... Read More
Nutrition |