Lactose Free Milk

[WD]

Can any one explain why Lactose Free Milk has more sugars in it than regular milk? I never checked it out before. I just always thought it would have less as Lactose is milk sugar isn't it? Here I have been trying to eat less sugar and using a lot of Lactaid milk to keep my calcium up.
Diane Sue

 

[Debra L]

I don't have an answer but wonder whether there is sugar (or other sweetener) added to the Lactaid. I wouldn't worry about natural milk sugars, just the added ones. One reason I'm not totally sold on soy milk - lots of added sugar.

Debra

 

[mogambo]

Soymilk does come in unsweetened. If you go to a store that carries a lot of brands, like Whole Foods.

 

[WD]

Lactaid milk has two other ingredients not in my regular milk. That would be Carrageenan and Lactase Enzyme. I am not sure what these items are. Also mine is Calcium fortified so it has Tribasic Calcium Phosphate. Maybe one of these items make the difference. Or the cows had a sweet tooth. Just kidding.

Diane Sue

 

[kathryn]

>Lactaid milk has two other ingredients not in my regular
>milk. That would be Carrageenan and Lactase Enzyme. I am not
>sure what these items are. Also mine is Calcium fortified so
>it has Tribasic Calcium Phosphate. Maybe one of these items
>make the difference. >
>Diane Sue


Carrageenan is from seaweed (Irish moss) and is usually used as a jelling agent. Calcium Phhosphate would just be calcium and phosporus. Lactase Enzyme would be an enzyme (duh!) added to help in the digestion of lactose. So maybe there isn't less lactose in the milk itself, it's just that lactase enzyme helps your body deal with it. None of these sounds like they would add milk sugar.

 

[lemoncustard]

They do not add sugar to lactose free milk. They add the enzyme (lactase) which a lactose intolerant person is missing to break down the lactose (milk sugar) into a more digestible form. The sugars you are seeing on the milk carton reflect that chemical reaction. Lactose free milk has no more calories than regular milk unless there have been other things added to it. However, due to the lactose sugars being broken down it tastes sweeter.

Hope that helps!

Rhonda

 

[WD]

I just wanted to say thanks. I guess I hadn't thought about it, I should have realized it was just the enzyme added to regular milk. I have used Lactaid tablets to help with my tolerance for a lot of dairy. I can handle it in small amounts but have found that dairy is one of the best sources of calcium other than supplements.
Diane Sue

 

[Barbie]

I drink the Lactaid nonfat milk with Calcium - I guess it's the carageenan that makes it thicker than regular skim milk. I find it MUCH more palatable in my morning coffee.