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Newsletter – April 2016

Contents: Creamy Cucumber Dill Shrimp Salad, What’s the purpose of lactose? Who else is lactose intolerant?, Video: “Got Lactase? The co-evolution of genes and culture”

A Fresh Spring Salad

Fresh dill and garlic blends with our lactose-free cream cheese for a creamy rich dressing in this light and fresh salad. Add a dash of salt, a grind of black pepper, and an overnight chill in the fridge to allow the flavors to meld. It’s the perfect portable salad for a picnic at the beach or a light lunch. You’ll find this recipe, and lots of other great lactose-free recipes here.

 

We’re wondering – who else may be lactose-intolerant?

If you’re lactose-intolerant, you’re not alone – not by a long shot!. An estimated sixty-five percent of the world’s adult population is lactose intolerant, meaning their bodies don’t produce enough of the lactase enzyme, which has the ability to break down milk sugar. Adults who can digest lactose are called lactose persistent, which is actually the result of a genetic mutation in early dairy farming cultures that enabled them to continue producing lactase enzyme past childhood. Such early dairy farming cultures were found in Northern Europe, and parts of the Middle East and West Africa. Lactose intolerance is therefore tied to the origin of people’s ancestors, which you can see in the overview on the chart below.

Learn about the history of lactase persistence

This short film below follows human geneticist Spencer Wells, Director of the Genographic Project of the National Geographic Society, as he tracks down the genetic changes associated with the ability to digest lactose as adults.

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