Many people have asked if lactose-free milk is good for you? And it’s an interesting question. We guess the answer is ‘yes’ as it doesn’t differ nutritionally from regular milk. However, it’s a great option for anyone who has difficulties digesting regular milk and we’re going to tell you why.
What is lactose?
To understand why we produce lactose-free milk, let’s explain a little more about lactose. Lactose is simply a natural sugar that’s found in milk and milk products. However, many people find it difficult to digest lactose and experience a range of symptoms if they drink regular milk. If a person finds digesting milk difficult, they are said to be lactose intolerant.
What happens if you can’t digest lactose?
Some of us are unable to digest lactose because we have very low levels of lactase, the enzyme that breaks lactose down into simpler sugar forms called glucose and galactose, in our digestive system. So, as the milk enters our stomach, the lactose remains undigested until it enters the large intestine. Once there, the bacteria in the large intestine start to break down the lactose releasing gases which cause us to feel bloated, which can bring about abdominal pain, diarrhoea and sickness.
What is lactose-free milk?
Lactose-free milk is regular dairy milk without the lactose. A percentage of the lactose is removed by passing the milk through filters before adding an enzyme known as lactase which breaks down the lactose into smaller sugar molecules. This makes the milk much easier to digest as the lactose has already been broken down by the lactose before it hits the stomach or the large intestine.
Lactose-free milk still has all the same nutrients as regular milk
The process of creating lactose-free milk does not affect its nutritional composition. It still retains all the goodness of regular milk. It’s a great source of protein and packed full of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus, and riboflavin. Lactose-free milk is often given an extra boost of vitamin D to make it even more nutritionally sound.
So is lactose-free milk good for you?
As we initially said, lactose-free milk is an excellent source of nutrients, including protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals and makes a great addition to any healthy eating program. With lactose-free milk being widely available throughout Australia, it means that people who can’t tolerate regular milk don’t have to miss out on all that dairy goodness.
Delicious lactose-free milk direct from the cows on our Dubbo farm
At The Little Big Dairy Co in Dubbo, NSW, we produce delicious lactose-free milk that gives anyone who is lactose intolerant all the goodness and flavour of our regular milk but without the nasty side effects. It comes directly from our beautiful herd of Holsteins, and we can trace each bottle of milk back to the gorgeous cow who made it. So, we would quite happily say that lactose-free milk is good for you, whether you are lactose intolerant or not!