Product Description
Milk is one of the best sources of essential nutrients such as protein and calcium, yet many people struggle with proper digestion of milk and dairy products. In fact, milk-related digestive issues, such as lactose and milk protein intolerances, have created an aversion to dairy consumption, leaving many people subject to inadequate nutrition. Lactose intolerance, a condition characterized by the inability to break down the sugar found in milk, affects 10 to 16 percent of the entire American population. Lactose intolerance is the result of the body's inability to produce enough of the enzyme lactase. Lactase deficiency can develop over time; sometimes beginning as early as age 2, when the body begins to produce less lactase. Lactase deficiency can also be the result of damage to the small intestine from severe digestive diseases or a congenital absence of the lactase gene. In normal digestion, lactase breaks down the milk sugar lactose into glucose and galactose, two simpler forms of sugar. Glucose and galactose are then absorbed into the bloodstream. In people with lactose intolerance, when the lactase produced is insufficient to digest the amount of lactose consumed, the bowel retains water. Undigested lactose then passes from the small intestine into the colon where it is fermented by bacteria. The resulting symptoms can include cramping, bloating, gas, nausea and diarrhea. According to the National Institutes of Health, specific populations show even higher levels of intolerance: 95 percent of Asians; 60 to 80 percent of African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews; 80 to 100 percent of American Indians; and 50 to 80 percent of Hispanics. For many, milk proteins are an added problem and can cause milk protein intolerance in dairy-sensitive individuals. Digestive enzyme supplementation can help make dairy digestible and enjoyable again.