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As farmers, dairy is a part of our every day lives. Not only do we work with our cows, we also enjoy having the products we produce in our glasses and dishes at the dinner table. We know the products we produce provide good nutrition for our bodies. What if we couldn't enjoy those products anymore?
This topic is especially important to me because I am lactose intolerant, and February is designated as Lactose Intolerance Awareness Month. Lactose intolerance is when your small intestine doesn't produce the enzyme lactase that is needed to breakdown lactose. Every speech I wrote for my position as Princess Kay of the Milky Way dealt with this issue in some aspect. I wanted to help people better understand the topic because being lactose intolerance doesn't mean you have to avoid dairy. I have been lactose intolerant for almost five years now. It is a slow developing issue, and it is completely individualized, with each person having different limitations and experiences when they digest dairy. If you are suffering symptoms, it is best to get a diagnosis with a simple breath hydrogen test from your doctor rather than to diagnose it yourself.
There are many people in America who can suffer from lactose intolerance. The National Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) lists 30 to 50 million people with the intolerance. They also break the number down into ethnicities because non-northern European descendants are more likely to be intolerant. The NDIC states up to 75 percent of African Americans and Native Americans, and 90 percent of Asian Americans have intolerance.
There are positives to the issue. I am very proud of our industry for helping to alleviate this condition by creating products that are lactose-free. I am grateful to go to almost any grocery store and find lactose-free milk. The milk and other lactose-free foods are just like regular dairy products that have been processed to be able to be digestible for people with intolerance. In fact, there is a variety of dairy products available in the dairy case now, including flavored milk, sour cream, yogurt, ice cream, and even eggnog for the holidays, which are lactose free. There also is a supplement on the market that can be taken with any dairy product that contains lactose, making it easier to digest. Plus, hard cheeses, which are low in lactose, and yogurt, with its live active cultures, are already easier to digest.
When I was diagnosed, I researched the information on dairy because I didn't want to give up being able to enjoy the products I loved as well as miss out on dairy's nutrient value. I also am grateful to explain the topic whether it is with my friends as I did when I was writing this article, my fellow Princess Kay finalists or people I share a meal with since this is something that has personally affected my life. When people ask me at an event why the dairy princess isn't drinking milk with her meal - it is because I didn't bring my own delicious lactose-free milk along! However, I feel good knowing that having lactose-free products available in the dairy aisle, plus knowing some easy tolerance tips, are great ways to increase the consumption of dairy products and also give people the healthiest, best options on the market. I really enjoy an ice cream sundae with fresh fruit or dark chocolate, and I can't imagine what I would do without my cold glass of milk. Let us all head to the fridge, and grab some dairy in celebration of Lactose Intolerance Awareness Month! You can find more information on lactose intolerance, including ways to enjoy dairy if you are, by visiting MidwestDairy.com.
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