I ran across something interesting today on the Scientific
American webpage. I often wondered why I heard that technically everyone
is lactose intolerant, yet some have symptoms worse than others. For example,
my father MUST drink milk brands such as Soy, Silk, or Lactaid to prevent
whatsoever from happening upon consumption of regular processed milk. I on the
other hand do not.
According to the article, some time ago
during the last glacial period, it was only children who could drink milk due
to having the lactase enzyme that broke lactose down, "the main sugar in
milk". Adults who did not posses this critical enzyme could fall victim of
the toxin.
Thousands of years ago, a genetic mutation
took over Europe that essentially lead to a change that branched from children
to adults as well; this change resulted in the production of lactase. If this
is so, then technically everyone as a result of this genetic mutation should be
able to tolerate milk, more so lactose, right? If we as Americans were discovered
by Europeans, is it not a possible thought that this mutation was descended to
us now?
I believe, despite my father's need of
milk that helps those who are considered lactose intolerant, it may be a mind
over matter idea. Maybe, symptoms of what one might consider to be lactose
intolerant are exaggerated, and in all honesty no one suffers from it. Placebo
effect anyone?
