When someone has a problem after consuming milk, they are considered to have lactose intolerance. Unpleasant conditions in the abdomen such as pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea occur.
Milk or lactose is a main source of food for people when they are young. Our body secretes an enzyme called lactase at birth, which breaks down lactose (milk) into glucose and glucose into galactose, which is absorbed into the bloodstream.
But this enzyme stops being produced in the body for genetic reasons around the fifth year of life. This automatically makes the milk unprocessed in the gastrointestinal tract. This way it stays in the colon for days, where it ferments and causes problems like bloating, gas, and sometimes more serious problems with regular consumption of milk.
Exceptions are some people who abnormally carry a genetic mutation in their DNA and the enzyme lactose continues to be secreted into their body.
This can last for several more years or a lifetime. For this reason they have no problems with the processing of milk.
In the world, more than 60% of the population loses its ability to break down milk in adulthood.
Scientists aren't sure why some people lose this gene and others don't. It is not clear whether this mutation is important for the preservation of the human species, but one thing is for sure - you shouldn't go overboard with milk. Check out those milk substitutes.
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