Milk and Milk Alternatives
What’s in your refrigerator? Almond or coconut milk, soy milk, low-fat, raw milk? These days it could be just about anything.
The problem is that humans need the enzyme lactaseto digest milk sugar (lactose) but production of this declines significantly after weaning. That’s why so many people have difficulty digesting milk and other dairy products. Gastrointestinal issues are most prevalent in African-, Asian-, and Native-Americans, with up to 90% of these populations suffering from lactose intolerance. Those of European descent have a less difficult time with dairy digestion.
But there are other reasons that people avoid dairy: allergies, inflammation, veganism, animal rights and environmental concerns sway people to seek milk-alternatives. In fact, the FDA identifies milk as the most allergic food in America.