Why are some people lactose intolerant?
What is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerant is basically the inability of some people to digest a sugar called lactose usually found in dairy products. Our small intestine produces an enzyme called lactase. Lactase breaks down lactose into simple sugars called glucose and galactose so that they can be absorbed into the bloodstream. But people who are lactose intolerant produce very little or no lactose at all. So as a result when they eat any dairy product the lactose travels to the large intestine where millions of bacteria much on it. This leads to the excess production of water and gas. Hence resulting in bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and other problems.
Lactose intolerance can be classified into:
- Primary lactose intolerance – This category of people were able to produce enough lactase during their childhood but gradually stopped its production as they got older.
- Secondary lactose intolerance – This category of people stopped producing lactase due to some disease and injury that might have occurred to their small intestine.
So this brings us to our next question – Should we consume dairy products or not.
People have divided on this matter actually. Research shows that having dairy products is good for your health, while other groups of people have a negative perspective.
Starting with the positives, a bowl of milk has high nutritional value as it contains everything our body needs to remain healthy. It is one of the prime sources of calcium which helps to keep our body strong. For small children, it is very helpful in developing their bones and hence aiding in their growth. It also has good quantity of potassium which helps in regulating our blood pressure. Dairy products contain good amount of probiotics which helps in improving our gut health. Milk obtained from animals that feed on grass has more amount of omega-three fatty acids which is beneficial for the development and healthy operation of our brain and heart.
Some groups of people feel that we should stop consuming dairy products once we reach adulthood. Milk obtained from animals is meant for their young ones. And consuming their share of food seems unfair. Also, we are the only species that continue to consume milk even in our adulthood and it kind of seems unnatural.