QUESTION: Why is there sugar in my milk?
ANSWER: When you see grams of sugar listed on the nutrition facts panel of plain (unsweetened/unflavored) cow’s milk it’s lactose or milk sugar. Dairy farmers and milk processors haven’t added any sugar to that milk, it’s just the naturally occurring sugar in milk (lactose) that is considered a carbohydrate.
Some individuals have lactose intolerance caused by a deficiency in the small intestine of the enzyme known as lactase. Your doctor can prescribe a test for lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance occurs more often in older adults, Native Americans and those of African and Asian descent. You need the enzyme lactase to help break down lactose. When you don’t have enough lactase this creates digestive problems like gas, bloating and diarrhea when milk and some dairy products are consumed. If you have lactose intolerance:
1.Try a lactose free or lactose reduced milk (e.g. Fairlife or Lactaid).
2.Try tablets that contain the enzyme lactase which will help you digest the lactose.
3.Try eating dairy or drinking milk in smaller quantities with a meal instead of by itself.
4.Switch to non-dairy beverages and products.
5.Try dairy with live cultures like yogurt and kefir.
6.Use aged cheeses like chedder rather than soft unaged cheeses like mozzarella.
Source: Mayo Clinic and WebMD
Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN
Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian
facebook.com/LeahMcgrathDietitian
800-334-4936