General FAQs
Suffer from lactose intolerance? Know someone who does? Just want to find out more? You’ve reached the source for facts on this very common condition.
What is it?
Simply put, lactose intolerance is the body’s inability to digest lactose, the sugar in dairy products.1
What causes it?
Lactose intolerance is caused by either a deficiency or a complete lack of lactase in the body. Lactase is the enzyme needed to break down lactose into smaller components for digestion.1
Who gets it?
There are between 30 and 60 million Americans who suffer from lactose intolerance. And because the rate of lactase decline in the human body is genetic, some people are more prone to the condition than others. Up to 80 percent of African Americans and Hispanics, 80 to 100 percent of American Indians, and 90 to 100 percent of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant. In addition to your genetic risk, lactase in the body can decrease with age, meaning your chance to develop lactose intolerance increases as you grow older. But now with the introduction of Real Goodness™, everyone can enjoy the great taste of milk again.1
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of lactose intolerance vary with the degree of lactase deficiency. For example, someone whose lactase deficiency is very mild may not experience any symptoms at all. However, a greater lactase deficiency can result in bloating, loose stools, abdominal pain, and nausea. Of course, the more lactose in your diet, the greater chance symptoms will occur.1
How is it diagnosed?
“Lactose intolerance can be hard to diagnose based on symptoms alone. People sometimes think they suffer from lactose intolerance because they have the symptoms associated with the disorder, not knowing other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome can cause similar symptoms. A doctor can use tests to diagnose lactose intolerance but may first recommend eliminating regular cow’s milk from the diet to see if the symptoms go away.”1
Lactose Intolerance Diagnostic Tests
A broad array of methods can be used to determine if an individual is lactose intolerant. These include:
The Lactose Tolerance Test
This test requires fasting and then drinking a liquid that contains lactose. Several blood samples are then taken over a 2-hour period to measure the person’s blood glucose (blood sugar) level. These measures indicate how well the body is able to digest lactose. Normally, when lactose reaches the digestive system, the lactase enzyme breaks it down into glucose and galactose. The liver then changes the galactose into glucose, which enters the bloodstream and raises the person’s blood glucose level. If, however, lactose is incompletely broken down, the blood glucose level does not rise and a diagnosis of lactose intolerance is confirmed.1
The Hydrogen Breath Test
In this test, the person drinks a lactose-loaded beverage and the breath is analyzed at regular intervals. Undigested lactose in the colon is fermented by bacteria and produces various gases, including hydrogen. The hydrogen is absorbed from the intestines, carried through the bloodstream to the lungs, and exhaled. Because normally very little hydrogen is detectable in the breath, raised levels of hydrogen usually indicate improper digestion of lactose.1
Stool Acidity Test
This test may be used for infants and young children to measure the amount of acid in their stool. Undigested lactose fermented by bacteria in the colon creates lactic acid and other fatty acids that can be detected in a stool sample. Glucose may also be present in the sample as a result of unabsorbed lactose in the colon.1
Is Lactose Free Milk good for children?
Just like lactose-tolerant kids, it’s important for lactose intolerant children to get the recommended daily dose of calcium.2 And taste tests show that across ethnic groups, lactose free milk is the preference of children and teens ages 8-16 including Caucasians, African-Americans and Hispanics.3 When regular milk isn’t an option, Real Goodness™ helps kids get their calcium in a tasty way.
Real Goodness™ FAQs
A broad array of methods can be used to determine if an individual is lactose intolerant. These include:
Why is Real Goodness™ “reduced sugar”?
All milk contains sugar: regular milk typically has 12 grams of sugar. In addition to tasting just like milk, Real Goodness™ has 42% less sugar than both regular milk and LACTAID® due to its unique Ultra Filtration process; it also has less carbohydrates and more protein than LACTAID®. So you get the best of both worlds: delicious tasting milk that is healthier for you!
Can I cook with Real Goodness™?
Of course you can! Real Goodness™ not only tastes just milk, but is also cooks like it. So go ahead and make all of your favorite recipes that call for milk. And if you need some ideas as to what to make, check out Taste What’s Cooking for some ideas!
What is the difference between Real Goodness™ and other lactose free milks?
Besides the fact that Real Goodness™ tastes like milk and isn’t sweet like other lactose free milk brands, Real Goodness™ is a healthier lactose free milk. Check out the comparison between Real Goodness™ 2% lactose free milk and the leading brand, LACTAID® in the chart above.
Conclusion
Lactose intolerance is a condition that affects many people around the world. And even though there are a number of lactose free substitutes, Real Goodness™ lets you enjoy the great taste of milk without the side effects.
Source:
- National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Wooten WJ, Price W. The role of dairy and dairy nutrients in the diet of African Americans. Journal of the National Medical Association. 2004;96(12 suppl):5S-31S.
- National Dairy Council Fact Sheet. Top 3 Reasons Lactose-Free Milk Is Important in Child Nutrition Program. Available at http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/NR/rdonlyres/E698CF2E-0920-4808-9D9A-AE735A007A09/0/Lactosefreemilkfactsheetfinal.pdf