Milk, the original superfood | lactose intolerance

Is milk healthy?

In my opinion, milk is a superfood!

It offers a wide range of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and protein. The downside? We pasteurize it, which unfortunately harms some of the nutrients and enzymes beneficial for our digestion and immune system.

While pasteurization makes milk safer for mass production and distribution, consuming milk directly from well-cared-for animals is not dangerous. Remember, even pasteurized foods can be subject to recalls!

In my opinion, if your body can digest milk, it serves as a convenient source of energy and nutrients, even when pasteurized! Brian and I can't easily get raw milk, so we purchase organic whole milk at 3.8%, and our favourite is a 4.8% unhomogenized Guernsey milk. Bonus, I make homemade yogurt, so we continuously support our lactose digestion.

If your body cannot digest milk, it might cause inflammation—so listen to your body and consider whether goat, cow, or no milk is right for you. Also, keep in mind that you can retrain your body to produce lactase enzymes, more on that below.

Our body naturally produces less and less lactase enzymes as we grow older, (unless we have adapted otherwise). This is why we notice people tend to get upset by dairy at an older age.

Are you lactose intolerant?

If you cannot train your body to produce the lactase enzymes necessary for digestion, the aim should be to reduce or eliminate exposure to lactose, the sugar found in milk.

One method to support our digestive process, and encourage our body to produce lactase is by consuming fermented dairy products.

These active foods, such as yogurt, kefir, and cheese, contain enzymes and bacteria that are easier to digest. Gradual exposure to dairy can help train the body to produce lactase enzymes, thus alleviating gas and bloating.

I've mentioned in previous blog posts that undigested foods can lead to inflammation, known as 'ama.' Keep this in mind if you consume dairy and experience pain, inflammation, or stomach upset.

LOOK A-LIKES

Beware of look-a-likes! Often dairy products contain thickeners and preservatives to make them appear like they have a higher fat content, give them a longer shelf life and be more 'homeogenous'/smooth.

Table cream is one of the best examples.

Eg. Lactantia brand: "Milk, Cream, Sodium citrate, Sodium phosphate, Carrageenan, Locust bean gum." How do you know that the dairy is causing you upset when there are other ingredients involved?

Eg. Chapmann's ice cream brand ingredients: Ice Cream: Modified milk ingredients, Fresh cream, Maltitol syrup, Skim milk powder, Mono and diglycerides, Carob bean gum, Cellulose gum, Guar gum, Carrageenan, Vanilla extract, Natural flavour, Sucralose, Lactase. No sugar added cone: Enriched wheat flour, Maltitol, Canola oil, Salt, Soy lecithin, Caramel colour. Chocolatey topping and lining: Coconut oil, Maltitol, Cocoa, Milk ingredient, Soybean oil, Modified palm kernel oil, Sucralose. Chocolatey centre: Maltitol, Water, Cocoa, Coconut oil, Modified palm kernel oil, Milk ingredients, Carrageenan, Natural and artificial flavour, Salt, Sodium alginate, Potassium sorbate, Soy lecithin, Disodium phosphate, Caramel colour, Sunset yellow. Chocolatey rice crisps: Maltitol, Rice crisps (rice flour, canola oil, salt, mono and diglycerides, malt extract), Coconut oil, Cocoa, Modified palm and palm kernel oil, Sucralose.

Eg. Kraft brand bar cheese ingredient: Cheese (made from cow's milk), non fat milk solids, milk fat, emulsifiers (E331), mineral salt (E341) inulin, salt, preservative (E202), acidity regulator (E270), microbial rennet, water added. Minimum Fat DB: 30%. Allergen source: Contains milk

Imo look for ingredient listings that contain the food you want to eat, and that's it, none of the extras.

Can dairy heal?

In Ayurveda, dairy is heated with spices or transformed into ghee to heal an irritated digestive system.

To create a soothing milk remedy: gently warm the milk on the stove until it reaches a low simmer. Use whole milk, and if possible, choose unhomogenised milk, which has undergone one less processing step. Incorporate spices that are known to stimulate and support our digestive system, such as cinnamon, sea salt, turmeric, ground pepper, nutmeg, clove, cardamom, or even cocoa... Sweeten with raw honey after removing it from the heat. Alternatively, you can use cane sugar, maple syrup, agave, or leave it unsweetened!

Samantha