MILK AND LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
Milk is one of the most consumed foods in the world and is a complete food. It is primarily capable of providing us with energy in the form of sugars and fats. But animal milk also contains numerous vitamins and minerals.
There is hardly any other raw material in the world with which humans are able to produce so many different products: from creamy yogurt to butter, from sour cream to various types of cheese: all of this can be made with milk. But not all milk is the same. There are many forms of both plant and animal origin; the latter are those on which we will focus in this article.
Milk is the first food we consume as newborns and, during weaning, it provides us with all the nutritional properties necessary to grow healthy and strong.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to stop tolerating the intake of this ingredient as they grow up, causing unpleasant intestinal discomfort and more... this condition, which can be more or less severe from person to person, is called lactose intolerance.
In truth, we are not intolerant to milk; the intolerance is found towards a specific sugar present within it, called lactose. By reading this article, you will find a lot of information about it: (click here to learn more).
Those who suffer from this unpleasant intolerance often struggle to compromise with their palate. That is why we decided to create this short column with some valid animal-based alternatives to continue consuming this exquisite food.
The classic: cow's milk (bovine milk)
Cow's milk, also known as bovine milk, is certainly the most popular and best-known form of milk. Bovine milk has recently fallen into disrepute due to new dietary trends that often disparage cow's milk, claiming that it is full of hormones and antibiotics and that it is not well tolerated by our body, especially in the case of those who are intolerant to lactose, the sugar in milk.
In any case, it is certainly better to ensure at the time of purchase that the milk is organic and of certified Italian origin.
The prerequisite for the consumption of bovine milk is certainly its tolerability in our body; in fact, those who are lactose intolerant should refrain from consuming it completely; a series of reactions could occur, such as cramps, diarrhea, abdominal spasms, and so on. Fortunately, there are alternatives that allow us to savor a good glass of milk all the same without feeling ill. Let's see together what they are.
Goat's milk – tolerated and genuine
Goat's milk is becoming increasingly popular, thanks also to new trends in dietary habits. Goat's milk certainly has advantages over bovine milk, from which it differs in particular in the proportion of nutrients and taste. Goat's milk, for example, contains much more Vitamin D than cow's milk, and as we well know, Vitamin D is fundamental in our diet, especially for women.
As for the taste, goat's milk, if truly fresh, turns out to have a much stronger and more pungent flavor than cow's milk, but at the same time is also sweeter. The cause of its particular flavor is due to the presence of short-chain fatty acids.
Goat's milk also turns out to be better tolerated by the bodies of people who are lactose intolerant because this type of milk naturally contains less lactose than its bovine counterpart.
In any case, if you have a known allergy to bovine milk, you should first discuss the consumption of goat's milk with your doctor.
Sheep's milk - more than just a delicious cheese
Another good alternative to bovine milk is represented by sheep's milk, which is still little consumed despite the many famous products prepared with a base of this ingredient. We cite, not least, the famous Pecorino Romano, which often accompanies our favorite first courses.
Sheep's milk has the advantage of containing a higher protein content than its rival, bovine milk, but it also contains more fat. This aspect often scares consumers, but it is precisely its fat content that makes this milk better tolerated by those who are lactose intolerant.
The taste of sheep's milk does not differ much from that of bovine milk, although in general, sheep's milk is a bit more flavorful.
Which is the best milk?
There is no precise answer as to which is the best milk variant. Here, everyone must decide individually based on their own tastes and needs and, above all, once it is understood which form is best tolerated by our body. In any case, an optimal intake of all nutrients cannot generally be achieved with milk alone, and it is advisable to follow a healthy and balanced diet. In general, we can say that the quality of the milk is also fundamental, and it is certainly better to buy one that is from your own area rather than one of foreign origin. The Made in Italy food industry is synonymous with qualitative excellence.
Watch out for lactose!
When we think of milk sugar, and therefore lactose, we often only think of bovine milk. The truth is that even goat's milk and sheep's milk contain lactose, although they are better tolerated. In general, all animal milk contains lactose. However, due to its high fat content, sheep's milk is generally better tolerated by those who suffer from lactose intolerance.
Nevertheless, you will no longer have to give up the milk you prefer, even when you are lactose intolerant. In fact, thanks to Lactosolution tablets, you will be able to drink any source of milk without having to make sacrifices. It will be enough to take one small Lactosolution tablet before drinking your favorite glass of milk or before a cappuccino to be able to digest it without feeling ill.