Crystal Nelson
I can’t stand it,” more and more people are saying about certain foods. The front runner of the supposed scapegoats is milk. Is it really that bad for our bodies? Should we switch to lactose-free milk and milk products “to be on the safe side” even if we don’t have an intolerance?
Intolerance or allergy?
In fact, milk triggers severe symptoms such as stomach rumbling, flatulence, or diarrhea in only about 15 percent of Germans. The reason here is lactose, of which most of those affected cannot digest large quantities. Small amounts are only a problem for a few. On the other hand, allergies to whey proteins or milk protein casein are extremely rare in adults: the immune system reacts excessively here. In extreme cases, even tiny amounts can be enough and the affected person can’t breathe, the skin itches, or the circulation sags.
How does an intolerance come about?
Food intolerance is usually due to the lack of certain digestive components in the intestine. People with lactose intolerance lack the enzyme lactase, which is responsible for breaking down lactose. This can lead to digestive problems up to 24 hours after consumption. In rarer cases, there are also headaches, tiredness, and moodiness – you feel like you’re in a daze.
Lactose-free milk: can it be used to prevent it?
Not at all. You can neither “eat” an intolerance, nor can you prevent it by eliminating certain foods from your personal menu. Intolerances are either innate or so-called relative intolerance that develops over the course of life. This means that the body slowly produces less and less lactase over the years. Then, at some point, smaller amounts such as a dash of milk in the coffee will still be tolerated well, but a latte macchiato will no longer be. If completely healthy people switch to lactose-free milk, they do not protect themselves from possible lactose intolerance.
Lactose-free milk: for whom is it an advantage?
Really only for those who have proven lactose intolerance. An uncomplicated breath test by the doctor provides information. Those affected should not only handle milk carefully. Baked goods, sweets, ready-made products, or spice mixtures are often sweetened with lactose. It is worth carefully studying the list of ingredients. For healthy people, lactose-free milk or specially advertised lactose-free products have no particular benefit.
Lactose-free labels on the products
“Many lactose-free goods are not only overpriced, but in many cases the labeling is superfluous,” says Antje Gahl from the German Society for Nutrition. The best example is butter because the spread contains hardly any lactose anyway. Hard and semi-hard cheese Emmental, Parmesan, etc. also contain almost no lactose. However, specially marked products cost twice as much! Sausages Salami, ham, and spreadable sausages are occasionally prepared with lactose. A look at the ingredients is enough to find lactose-free products. This saves a lot of money compared to special products.
