There’s actually a way how to reduce lactose content in milk which I found out recently from a friend of mine. She told me that she used Kefir grains to lessen the lactose content of the milk.
“With what? Kefir grains” – this was my initial reaction after telling me what she added in the milk. Well, you can say something like – “why don’t you just buy lactose-free milk?” Well, yes we could. But there’s something in Kefir grains that surely will make get some – ‘just a hunch.
Kefir grain, based on the study, is beneficial and healthy. And adding it to the milk is very helpful for people with lactose intolerance.
What is Lactose Intolerance?
My friend and I were both lactose intolerant. If you don’t know what does lactose intolerance means, it is simply the inability to digest lactose. This is because people like us lack an enzyme called lactase. And this enzyme helps to break down the sugar from what we digest so that it can be easily digested by our body. Lactase enzyme is usually produced inside our small intestines.
Lactose is the sugar that can be found in milk, as defined in MedicineNet. These sugar molecules are the ones which are hard for us to digest. And in short, drinking milk is quite a struggle for us even if we want to.
It is a common mistake that other people think that lactose intolerance means allergic to milk. This is precisely incorrect. They are not the same. Lactose intolerance is an incurable uncomfortable condition which can be quite embarrassing as well.
Maybe this short video might illustratively explain to you what is lactose intolerance and what can cause it.
That is why most people, including us, can only drink lactose-free milk. But having to know that there’s a way now to reduce lactose content in milk – it is a real treat for us! Not only the lactose in the milk will be lessened, but we’ll also get more health benefits from Kefir.
But what are Kefir and the Benefits it can provide to our body?
Kefir or milk kefir is not something you can just get from any trees or cultured animals. It is nothing like milking a cow then viola – kefir! Kefir is a thick, yogurt-like “cultured” drink. Although it is made from dairy milk. Other sources of kefir are coconut milk and nuts. Kefir is made from gelatinous whitish or yellowish particles which we usually pertained as “grains”.
However, there are people thinks that Kefir and yogurt are the same because they are both cultured dairy products – but they’re not!
“Many people assume that because yogurt and milk kefir are both cultured dairy products, there aren’t many differences between the two.” – Culturesforhealth
Both yogurt and kefir may have some resemblance in appearance but they still differ on the benefits you can get. However, I am not saying that one is healthier than the other. It depends on your dietary routine or recommendation of your doctor.
Both kefir and yogurt are a good source of a range of protein and high in calcium, potassium, and B-vitamins. They only differ in the number of good bacteria – types and amounts of bacteria found within. One of which is the range and number of probiotics that kefir has as compared with yogurt. Doctors Health Press did a good job of showing the difference between Kefir and yogurt with data tables.
So How Can We Reduce Lactose Content in Milk with Kefir Grains?
To help you out, here’s a video tutorial from Cultures for Health showing you how to make milk kefir. The steps will show how you can reduce the lactose content in milk using kefir grains.