Lactose Free Protein Powder

About Lactose Free Protein Powder

Lactose is a low glycemic index disaccharide sugar composed of glucose and galactose. Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and some milk products. It has been suggested that around 65% of people after infancy have difficulty digesting lactose. This is due to the fact that the lactose-digesting enzyme called lactase is produced in larger quantities during infancy in order digest the lactose in breast milk. Lactase enzyme synthesis reduces in the human body after this life stage when milk is not the primary source of nourishment.

Lactose intolerance is quite a common digestive condition that typically results in some combination of diarrhoea, flatulence, bloating and abdominal pain. Lactose intolerance does not involve the immune system like an allergy or sensitivity, as it is caused by an inability to digest milk sugar. Though most lactose intolerant people can consume some lactose without symptoms, once tolerance is exceeded from lactose-containing foods, signs and symptoms will develop. Depending on how sensitive you are to lactose, you should be able to consume somewhere between a small quantity to sometimes more than ten grams without symptoms.

There is a massive range of lactose-free protein powders available, such as brown rice, pea and egg, and even lactose-free whey protein powders that can suit the lactose intolerant. Lactose-Free Protein Powder is just as good as a regular protein powder, as the absence of lactose does not affect the bioavailability of the amino acids. In fact, removing the lactose will actually increase the protein powder's bioavailability for the lactose intolerant. It is also reasonable to conclude that the bioavailability of protein powders will differ from person to person, depending on that individual's ability to digest and immunologically "accept" the protein chains present therein.

As with most things in life, experimentation is necessary to ascertain the best course of action for you, as the unique individual you are. If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance, it might be worth giving a lactose free protein powder a go in addition to removing all lactose from the diet for a trial period of a couple of weeks. If your digestive issues improve, yet worsen with the introduction of lactose, this may be an indication that you are lactose intolerant and will benefit from lactose free protein powders.