What does lactose-free mean?

To be able to explain lactose-free, it is important to know what lactose is.

Lactose is a milk sugar that must be broken down in our body by lactase – an enzyme that helps break down lactose. If the enzyme is not formed or is only partially formed, the lactose will not be broken down properly and the partially digested lactose particles can wreak havoc. When lactose is not properly broken down and thus not absorbed in the small intestine, it continues to the large intestine, where it is broken down by bacteria into gases and other compounds. The inappropriate bacterial degradation can cause flatulence, bloating, diarrhea/constipation, abdominal pain, and other unpleasant symptoms.

What does lactose intolerance mean?

Lactose intolerance (also called milk sugar hypersensitivity, lactose intolerance, lactose deficiency, lactose malabsorption, and primary and secondary lactose intolerance) is another way to be hypersensitive to milk. In most people, lactose intolerance only causes discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract and thus does not cause problems on or in the body that allergies sometimes do.

When milk is said to be lactose-free, lactase has been added which breaks down the lactose in the milk. A lot of Danish people benefit from lactose-free milk since they do not get as many bad side effects from the milk such as diarrhea, flatulence, or stomach aches.