Most east Asians are unable to digest lactose due to a deficiency of lactase. However, It is a power move to still eat dairy regardless. Boom. Rise above.
Lactose intolerance occurs when individuals do not have enough of the enzyme lactase to break down the lactose inside dairy. It can cause a lot of stomach issues and frequent trips to the nearest restroom facilities. In a normal human body, the body is able to break down lactose into two simple sugars- glucose and galactose - which it can actually digest and use. However, in individuals with lactose intolerance, this complex sugar (lactose) cannot be digested by the bacteria within your gut, causing issues within your microbiome. Oh no!
Lactose intolerance is a very frequent occurrence that around 90 to 100 percent of East Asians experience. Initially, cultures that consumed dairy emerged in mostly Europe. Therefore, many individuals of other cultures and ethnicities did not develop the gene mutation to actually digest dairy. It is very normal for many individuals to lose the ability to digest milk after infancy because dairy was not in their diet, and we ended up not developing "immunity" to it.
There are apparently some benefits of having a dairy-free diet. However, for individuals like me, who grow up able to digest dairy and milk and then have that taken away from them, the idea is very sad. There are so many dairy products like ice cream, milkshakes, cheese, etc. that are SUPER good that I cannot eat without drastically reconsidering my life decisions. However, in life, I believe that it is still necessary to live your life and think about the consequences later. I'm sure a lot of other Asian Americans agree with me on this issue, so I do feel it's something worth discussing.
However, like many others, we pick and chose our battles and a good milkshake is sometimes worth the ominous trip to the bathroom. It is always hard to consider the consequences of giving in as a lactose intolerant when dairy and milk products are everywhere. But, in life, it's worth having the mentality of risking it for the biscuit.
Like I said, it is a power move to still eat dairy regardless of being lactose intolerance. Boom. Rise above.
