Virgin Christmas Eggnog

150ml x Pauls Zymil

Pinch x cinnamon powder

1 x clove

½ x egg white

1/3 x vanilla bean

15mls x organic honey

Method: Shake and strain. Serve long over ice

Garnish: Small slice vanilla pod sprinkle cinnamon

When family members have different likes and dislikes it can be challenging preparing meals that satisfy everyone.  If you add in the complexity of managing specific food intolerances, it can be even more challenging! The following tips will assist in meeting the needs of the family without the stress of preparing separate meals daily:

• Prepare dishes that have separate components in preference to mixed dishes. For example, grilled meat, chicken or fish with individual vegetables served in separate dishes.  This way different family members can serve themselves the foods they like.

• If you need to prepare different meats, for example, for someone who is vegetarian, use the same cooking method but simply separate the food items.  This saves using multiple cooking utensils for one meal.

• Prepare dishes ahead of time and freeze in individual portions.  This can be helpful if someone has a food allergy and needs to be particularly careful to avoid certain foods or food components.
• Have the whole family enjoy the same foods as the family member with intolerances where practical. For example, if someone has a sensitivity to lactose, the whole family can enjoy a lactose free milk such as Pauls Zymil, as it has the same nutritional value as regular milk, just without the lactose.  This reduces the need to buy different milks for different family members. Pauls Zymil Light Thickened Cream is also another great option. By adding lactose free cream to those delicious creamy pastas and desserts, you can be sure that everyone can enjoy their favourite foods

Encouraging the family to be involved in planning, cooking,  meal preparation and sharing the load can also make it easier and more enjoyable for everyone – a weekly meal plan can make a big difference!  By adopting these strategies you can all enjoy a healthy diet that is free from the stresses of managing multiple likes, dislikes and intolerances.

This month is ‘Movember’, an important time for raising much needed funds for men’s health.  Statistics show that men die on average 5 years earlier than women, and one third have not seen a doctor in the past year¹.  So it’s timely to remember that while sensitivity to lactose is often a problem reported by women, it also affects men—but may not to be picked up as readily due to fewer visits to the GP!

If you are a male, or know a man who suffers from the following symptoms, you may like to consider a visit to the GP to check things out:

• Stomach pain
• Bloating
• Excess wind
• Loose bowel movements

The average male needs around 3 serves of dairy foods daily to reach his recommended intake of calcium.  Dairy is also a great source of protein which has been shown to be beneficial for weight management and is needed for muscle maintenance and strength.  A serve of dairy is 250ml of milk, 200g yoghurt or 40g cheese.  If you do experience digestive related issues and they are linked to the lactose in milk, try substituting your regular milk with Pauls Zymil. Pauls Zymil provides the same amount of calcium and protein as standard milk, just without the lactose.

To support Movember and learn more about men’s health, click here for further details.

References:

A sensitivity to lactose can arise for a variety of reasons – some people may be born with it, some may develop it on a temporary basis, while others may experience its development later in life.  While the management of this condition is the same, it’s interesting to know why some people find it hard to digest lactose and others don’t.

A sensitivity to lactose is a type of food intolerance and it’s the most common type in infants^[1]. Very rarely, some babies are born with a genetic condition that results in a complete absence of the lactase enzyme (required to break down lactose during digestion).  However more commonly, a problem digesting lactose in infants is due to insufficient amounts of lactase which generally occurs after weaning at 2-3 years of age^[1]. This type affects over 75% of the world’s population.  Another cause of lactose sensitivity is a result of health problems in the gut, for example, infections.  In this case, the problem will generally rectify itself once the infection or gut related health problem has passed.

Whatever the cause of your lactose sensitivity, a milk such as Pauls Zymil can help you manage your digestive symptoms while also providing you with important nutrients that are found in dairy.


References:
1.Mann, J. and A.S. Truswell, Essentials of Human Nutrition. Second ed. 2002, New York: Oxford University Press. 662.

1.5 cups of Pauls Zymil

2 tb Lemon juice

1 tb Grenadine

1 tb Sugar, granulated

6 Ice cubes

Throw all the ingredients into the blender and hit the button until all the ice is blended. Serve in a martini glass and proceed to be fabulous.

If you have a sensitivity to lactose, it can be important to be aware of all sources of lactose in addition to the obvious dairy sources.  Lactose can be added to some processed foods and drinks as well as being an addition to some supplements.  The amount can vary in different types of foods and drinks so reading labels is important to help you make informed decisions about the types of foods, drinks and supplements that are suitable to consume.

It’s also important to remember that many people who are sensitive to lactose can still include a certain amount of lactose in their diet without experiencing any negative effects, so small amounts are often unlikely to be a problem^[1]. Keep this in mind when grocery shopping as the greater variety of foods you can include in your diet, the more likely you are to meet your nutritional requirements.

Use the following tips when shopping to find out more about the foods that contain lactose.

1. Check the ingredient list for milk derived ingredients

Lactose is present in ingredients derived, or made from, milk.  Examples include milk solids, non-fat milk solids, milk powder and yoghurt powder so keep an eye out for these when checking ingredient lists.

2. Dairy free doesn’t mean lactose free.

A product can be dairy free, however still contain lactose.  This is because lactose can be added to foods as a pure ingredient.  Check for the word lactose in the ingredient list.

3. Check medications and supplements

Lactose can be used as a ‘filler’ in some medications and supplements.  Check the ingredient list on the bottle to identify whether lactose is used in any of your daily medications.

By being aware of all sources of lactose in your diet, you’ll be in control of your daily intake and your daily wellbeing!

References:
1.         Brannon PM, Carpenter TO, Fernandez JR, et al. NIH Consensus Development Conference Statement: Lactose Intolerance and Health. NIH Consensus State Sci Statements 2010;27.

To coincide with Pink Ribbon Day, this blog looks at how a sensitivity to lactose affects women in particular.  While data is not available on the number of women in Australia who are sensitive to lactose, overseas research shows that in a population of people from various ethnic backgrounds, self reported lactose sensitivity was twice as high in women compared to men! In this particular survey, almost 70% of women surveyed said they thought they had a problem digesting lactose compared to 31% of men reporting the same problem.

Other research shows that when young women perceive themselves to be intolerant to lactose they tend to drink less milk and have lower calcium intakes resulting in lower bone mineral density of the spine.  This is a major concern as strong bones are essential throughout life for optimal health and wellbeing. It has also been shown the people who are sensitive to lactose have higher rates of blood pressure problems and problems managing their blood sugar level and this may be related to the fact that dairy foods have been shown to be protective in both of these areas.  So it’s worthwhile  being super conscious of your dairy and calcium intake if you feel you have a problem digesting lactose.

If you are one of the many women who think they are sensitive to milk or lactose, it’s worthwhile confirming this first with your GP.  If this is the case, ensuring you get enough calcium by including a lactose free milk such as Pauls Zymil, is vitally important.  Aim for 2-3 serves of dairy foods daily, including milk, cheese or yoghurt.

References:

Nicklas TA, et al. Self-perceived lactose intolerance results in lower intakes of calcium and dairy foods and is associated with hypertension and diabetes in adults.

Matlik L et al Perceived milk intolerance is related to bone mineral content in 10- to 13-year-old female adolescents. Pediatrics 2007 Sep;120(3):e669-77.

Lactose free Ice-Cream!

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups Pauls Zymil
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 2 teaspoons gelatine, dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water
• 1 1/4 cups Pauls Zymil Cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

1. Combine milk, sugar and gelatine mixture in a large saucepan, stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Allow to cool then stir in cream and vanilla, chill for 2-3 hours.
2. Using and electric mixer, beat cream mixture for approximately 10 minutes or until the mixture has slightly increased in volume. Pour into an ice cream machine and churn according to manufacturer’s directions, freeze for several hours or overnight before serving. Alternatively pour mixture into a shallow tray and freeze until semi-firm, remove and beat with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes, return to freezer until firm.
3. Remove ice cream from freezer and stand in refrigerator for 15 – 30 minutes prior to scooping.

Additional Information:

Add the seeds of a scraped vanilla bean to the milk in step one for vanilla bean ice cream.

As a loyal Pauls Zymil consumer we know how much you love our brand. That’s why we would like to share our very exciting new news with you.

Pauls Zymil have launched Zymil Skim Milk and the very first Pauls Zymil Light Thickened Cream!

Pauls Zymil Skim is a fat free milk, with all the great credentials of Zymil including being good source of calcium and 100% lactose free.

Many people with lactose intolerance avoid diary and therefore consume insufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Pauls Zymil provides a useful source of these and other nutrients in dairy without the lactose.

Pauls Zymil Thickened Cream is ideal for pouring and cooking but is not suitable for whipping. Pauls Zymil Cream is 40% less fat than regular thickened cream, is lactose and gluten free and has no preservatives.

Look out for Zymil cream and Zymil Skim next time you go shopping, available in all major retailers across Australia.

Lactose sensitivity can be difficult to diagnose based on symptoms alone as the same type of symptoms can also indicate other conditions. Research indicates that many people self-diagnose themselves as lactose intolerant when the cause of their digestive symptoms can due to another factor^[1].

This is a concern as evidence suggests that people who do self diagnose generally cut out dairy foods to manage their symptoms^[1]. However in doing this they are at risk of inadequate nutrition. For example one study showed that individuals who thought they were sensitive to lactose had significantly lower calcium intakes from dairy foods compared to those who did not self-diagnose^[2].

If you suspect you are sensitive to lactose it’s important to confirm this with a health professional to ensure you’re not removing foods unnecessarily from your diet and to rule out any other medical issues that could be causing your symptoms.  A proper diagnosis can also result in the right advice being provided regarding the inclusion of lactose free dairy foods such as Pauls Zymil.

The most common way to accurately diagnose sensitivity to lactose is by undertaking a hydrogen breath test. Very little hydrogen is usually detectable in the breath however if undigested lactose gets through the digestive system it is fermented by bacteria and produces various gases, including hydrogen^[3]. High levels of hydrogen in the breath indicate a person is not digesting lactose efficiently and may therefore benefit from a diet low in lactose.

Sensitivity to lactose is a type of intolerance that is a medically defined condition. However it is important to have a proper diagnosis so you can manage your symptoms effectively. Your GP or an Accredited Practising Dietitian can assess your symptoms, their regularity, and determine the best approach to identifying and managing any problem foods to ensure your nutritional needs are met.

References:
1.         Suchy, F.J., et al., National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference: lactose intolerance and health. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2010. 152(12): p. 792-6.

2.         Nicklas, T.A., et al., Self-perceived lactose intolerance results in lower intakes of calcium and dairy foods and is associated with hypertension and diabetes in adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2011.

3.         Di Camillo, M., et al., Hydrogen breath test for diagnosis of lactose malabsorption: the importance of timing and the number of breath samples. Can J Gastroenterol, 2006. 20(4): p. 265-8.