Each morning I pack my professional bag with my work computer, a book of scriptures for every day, my wallet, and my cosmetic bag. In that cosmetic bag, I make sure I’m carrying all the essentials – lipstick, a mirror, hand sanitizer, wipes, travel-sized deodorant, aspirin, a tampon or pad if needed, and a couple of Lactaid pills. “Lactaid?”- you ask. Yes, Lactaid because I am lactose intolerant and because I never know when I’ll encounter a dairy product. And, well, I don’t want to be backed up for days behind a cheeseburger.

Mostly, I simply stay away from all dairy products altogether. I don’t purchase dairy during my grocery shopping and I try to avoid it as much as possible when/if I’m going out to eat at a restaurant. But why is that? Why is it that I must avoid dairy and avoid the uncomfortable side effects of lactose intolerance? And why are so many other Black people suffering from the same condition?

Let’s start by understanding lactose intolerance itself. Lactose intolerance is a condition in which your small intestine does not make enough of the enzyme lactase to break down lactose. Therefore, when you ingest dairy products, which are laden with lactose, your body has trouble digesting them. You may experience bloating, gas, nausea and/or vomiting, bad cramps, and diarrhea. For me, specifically, it feels like my stomach is attacking me.

The most common types of lactose intolerance are primary and secondary. Primary lactose intolerance usually develops into adulthood. It happens as we grow. You see, when we are born, our bodies are primarily dependent upon milk for nutrition. Hence, we are usually not born with the condition, although there are rare cases of congenital lactose intolerance.  As we mature and begin to replace milk with other sources of nutrition, our small intestines begin making less lactase, as we no longer need as much. Thus, primary lactose intolerance develops as we grow into adulthood. Primary intolerance is the condition most common in individuals of African, Asian, Hispanic, Mediterranean, or Southern European descent.

Secondary lactose intolerance, however, occurs when one has some sort of trauma to the small intestine. This could be actual trauma, a surgery, or an illness.

So why are so many people of color suffering from primary lactose intolerance? Some scientists, including the Mayo Clinic, conclude that the condition is genetically determined. Others note that the diet of African Americans is often lacking in basic nutrients, including calcium, thereby creating an environment in which lactase is not needed. I’m inclined to believe the former. Yes, our diets differ greatly from that of white people, but what does that say for the other minority groups that are also prone to experiencing primary lactose intolerance? Furthermore, it can’t solely be diet because calcium can be found in the other foods that are rich parts of Black culture. These foods include oranges, broccoli, collard greens, sardines, black-eyed peas, and several others.

Research has shown that over 75% of individuals of African descent experience primary lactose intolerance3. Since we all originated from Africa, maybe no one was created to drink a cow’s milk.

Just a little food for thought.

NOTE: While there are credible sources to support the opinion stated in this article cited at the bottom of this article, they do not represent the full scope of the research associated with lactose intolerance. Please talk to your doctor before changing your diet in any way and do your own research to draw your own conclusions.  

Sources:

1)    Byers, K. G., & Savaiano, D. A. (2005). The Myth of Increased Lactose Intolerance in African-Americans. Journal of the American College of Nutrition,24(Sup6). doi:10.1080/07315724.2005.10719505

2)    Lactose intolerance. (2016, September 02). Retrieved January 07, 2018, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lactose-intolerance/symptoms-causes/syc-20374232

3)    Washington, S. (2017, August 10). Got Milk? African Americans & Lactose Intolerance. Retrieved January 07, 2018, from https://blackdoctor.org/464353/african-americans-lactose-intolerance/