About Lactose Intolerance
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 for lactose intolerance
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 bean recipes that
enable you to get all the benefits of soy....without the
traditional soy flavour.
- Source: Herbalife Today Magazine |
