[avatar user=”Corinna” size=”80″ align=”left”]Corinna Walsch[/avatar]
Lactose intolerance does not have to affect your health, since it is a misconception that you need to avoid milk and milk products. Dairy foods are an important food group to include in your diet, since these foods are very good sources of the nutrients calcium, magnesium, potassium and protein, and are associated with a number of health benefits. Most people are aware of the benefits of milk and other dairy foods for bone and dental health, but more recently a large body of evidence has linked dairy intake to other health benefits as well. These include a decreased risk for diabetes, hypertension and cancers of the digestive system. Milk has also been recognized for its unique ability to prevent or treat the loss of muscle mass (sarcopaenia) that occurs commonly in the elderly.
[avatar user=”GabiSteenkamp” size=”80″ align=”left”]Gabi Steenkamp[/avatar]
Lactose intolerance generally does not affect ones health unless in rare cases where it is severe, particularly in babies who battle to thrive.
It is also important to ensure that dairy products are not cut out of the diet completely so that adequate calcium requirements are met.
For further reading please visit our page on Lactose Intolerance.