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From: jin@hropus.UUCP (Jerry Natowitz)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Question about nutrition value of milk
Message-ID: <839@hropus.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 21-Dec-86 18:57:49 EST
Article-I.D.: hropus.839
Posted: Sun Dec 21 18:57:49 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Dec-86 05:37:35 EST
References: <941@midas.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 30

Low-fat milk is a rather nutrition dense food.  That means that,
for the calories, it provides a lot of nutrition.  There are a few
caveats to be attached to milk:

1) Many adults, and some children, are unable to easily digest the
carbohydrate component of milk - lactose.  This is refered to as
lactase insufficiency, lactase being the enzyme that breaks lactose
down to it's component simple sugars: glucose and galactose.
The result is gas and diarrhea from the intestinal bacteria feasting
on the unabsorbed lactose.  Lact-Aid is either a product that can
be added to milk or the milk itself with the product (don't remember
which) that will "pre-digest" the lactose.

2) Cow's milk, of any fat content, is not a good substitute for human
milk.  If my memory serves me correctly cow's milk is too high in protein
for human babies.

3) With the exception of skim milk all milk contains cholesterol and
saturated fatty acids.  Most authorities agree that adults should avoid
these in their diet and many nutritionists feel that children should
have a low intake of cholesterol and saturated fats.

4) Many teens drink excessive amounts of milk to the exclusion of other
foods.  This is probably better then loading up on candy and chips
but can result in an unbalanced diet.
-- 
     Jerry Natowitz
     Bell Labs - HR 2A-214
     201-615-5178 (CORNET 295-5178)
     ihnp4!hropus!jin