Lactose-free milk, a healthier option or a weight-gain trap?

Scientists endeavored to examine the properties of lactose-free milk more closely. It's not only favored by those suffering from milk sugar intolerance but also frequents the kitchens of those battling extra weight.

The expert highlights that regular milk and its lactose-free counterpart both contain the same number of calories (approximately 50-60 kcal/3.38 fl oz). The doctor also compared lactose-free milk to cola-type drinks, which contain 37 kcal/3.38 fl oz and 0.35 ounces of carbohydrates (sugars)/3.38 fl oz. Therefore, lactose-free milk is, in fact, more caloric than many popular carbonated drinks.

"Lactose-free", "sans lactose", and "lactose frei" products do not undergo chemical extraction or filtering processes to remove lactose. So what happens to the lactose? The simple answer is, a lactase enzyme is added to the milk containing lactose. Consequently, lactose-free milk is not lacking anything, it actually has more to offer.

Lactose-free products can be rightly defined as food items containing lactase and lactose broken down into simpler sugars. So, who should be consuming milk with lactose, and who shouldn't?

As experts underscore, people with lactose intolerance should primarily be those opting for lactose-free products. Consuming food containing lactose can lead to discomforts such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and a sensation of fluid movement in the intestines. Conversely, those primarily required to avoid lactose-free milk include individuals with insulin resistance and diabetes, as it has a notably higher content of simple sugar than regular milk.