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The Sugar In Dairy Milk Is Nothing To Fear. Here's Why.

Yes, dairy milk contains natural sugar – but that’s really nothing to worry about. Though there’s a raft of misinformation floating around the web, I’m here to tell you that the sugar found in dairy milk is as natural as the very cows making the stuff...

The key is that the lactose found in milk is not the same as added sugar, which adds sweetness without the nutrients.

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 An Evolutionary Whodunit: How Did Humans Develop Lactose Tolerance?

Most babies can digest milk without getting an upset stomach thanks to an enzyme called lactase. Up until several thousand years ago, that enzyme turned off once a person grew into adulthood — meaning most adults were lactose intolerant (or "lactase nonpersistent," as scientists call it). But now that doesn't happen for most people of Northern and Central European descent and in certain African and Middle Eastern populations.

Articles of Interest

How Much Lactose Is in a Gram of Milk Sugar?

Sugar isn’t always something that comes only from a candy bar or a can of soda. Many natural minimally processed foods also contain sugar. One of these natural sugars is lactose, which is found in all dairy foods. Milk sugar, or lactose, is measured in grams, and it's part of the sugar content listed on the food label. In other words, a gram of milk sugar is all lactose.

Is Sugar in Milk Bad?

Milk contains a complex sugar called lactose. Is it as harmful to your body’s health as sucrose, which is found in normal refined sugar? It all depends.

Is the sugar in milk bad for you?

When it comes to nutrition and health trends, and ways to lose weight, sugar has become scrutinised as something we must limit or avoid in recent years. However, not all sugars are created equal and some function as an integral part of a wide range of natural and nutritious foods. Here, we explore the facts on milk and sugar and, don’t worry – we promise not to ‘sugar-coat’ the truth!

Lactose in Cow Milk and Digestion in Humans

Lactose is a disaccharide, meaning it is made up of two basic sugar molecules joined together – one glucose and one galactose. Glucose is the common sugar that circulates in the bloodstream after digestion of food, used to generate energy throughout the body. Galactose, which is remarkably similar to glucose in its chemical structure, can be transformed into glucose for energy, but it is also an important component of cell membranes.

Lactose Tolerance Is an Evolutionary Puzzle

Could famine be the missing piece?

The Difference Between Lactose & Sucrose

Specifically, lactose is a disaccharide, meaning it's a sugar made up of two smaller sugar units. Glucose and galactose, when chemically bonded together, form lactose. When you digest lactose in the small intestine, you break it into glucose and galactose. Your intestine then absorbs those smaller sugar units independently.

What Is Lactose?

The sugar that we consume is often described as either natural sugar or added sugar. Like many other types of sugars, lactose can be considered both a natural sugar and an added sugar, depending on its source. Lactose is inherent to the milk of mammals and can also be isolated from this original source and crystallized for use as an ingredient in foods such as baked goods, caramels, frozen desserts, fudge, meat products, sauces and soups.

What is the role of lactose?

Although glucose could be found in several types of foods, lactose is the only source of galactose. Galactose has various biological functions and serves in neural and immunological processes. Galactose is a component of several macromolecules (cerebrosides, gangliosides and mucoproteins), which are important constituents of nerve cells membrane.

What's the Deal With Ghee, the So-Called Healthy Butter?

In a world where gluten and dairy are regularly demonized (often unfairly, but still), it's refreshing to see a dairy product that's not considered naughty. Ghee, known as the "Paleo butter," is endorsed by many Paleo enthusiasts because it contains no lactose. It has also gained name recognition due to the rising popularity of Bulletproof coffee, of which it's a main ingredient. But what the heck is it? Let's discuss.

Why does milk contain sugar?

One cup of white milk (250 ml) contains 12 grams of naturally-occurring sugar called lactose. It gives milk a slightly sweet taste. The body breaks lactose down into glucose and galactose (most of which is later converted to glucose). This process is important because glucose is the primary source of energy in the body and the sole energy source for the brain.