Question

Recall Stephanie. Her symptoms resolved when she limited her intake to chicken broth, Gatorade, and tomato juice, but when she resumed her normal eating pattern, her symptoms returned. She has unintentionally lost a few pounds. She decided to keep a food diary to see if her symptoms correlated to food. She concluded that milk is a problem and has eliminated all milk and dairy products from her eating pattern. What nutrients may she be lacking in by eliminating all dairy? Is it appropriate for her to eliminate all dairy? Does eliminating dairy effectively eliminate all sources of lactose?

Answer 1

Lactose comprises of a molecule of beta D-Galactose and a molecule of alfa or beta D-Glucose. Lactose is hydrolyzed by the action of lactase enzyme and the inability to produce the lactase enzyme in individuals' results in a condition called Lactose intolerance. The undigested Lactose remains in the intestine and causes cramps, stomach pain and diarrhea when they drink milk or eat dairy products because their intestines don't have enough of the enzyme lactase to break down lactose. Lactose intolerance present in adults, which is an unpleasant and not life threatening, condition that is prevalent. Lactose intolerance can be avoided by not taking milk and milk products in the diet.

Alternative options to overcome Lactose intolerance:

Lactose free milk products are made from regular milk just with the addition of lactase enzyme .This enzyme is responsible for breaking down lactose to glucose and galactose which are the subunits of lactose. Thus there is no longer any lactose in the milk or the products made from it and lactose intolerant people can consume these products.

Tablets containing the bacterial version of lactase can aid digestion, but they must be taken every time dairy products are consumed.

What nutrients may she be lacking in by eliminating all dairy?

ANS: Generally milk contains several other important nutrients like calcium, protein, iodine, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins B2 and B12. So Stephanie can lack these nutrients may she is eliminating all dairy products.

Is it appropriate for her to eliminate all dairy?

ANS: In most cases eliminating all dairy products was not an appropriate decision because by eliminating dairy products can affect other nutrients availability.

Does eliminating dairy effectively eliminate all sources of lactose?

ANS: Only dairy products can contain lactose sugar, so an eliminating dairy effectively eliminate all sources of lactose.

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