An article intended for practitioners of Chinese medicine:

We often recommend to our patients, especially those with digestive problems, to avoid dairy products. What is the reason why dairy products are not good for digestion from a "Western" perspective, while dairy products can be eaten? I am attaching the answer from Roni Baruch, Senior Dietitian M.Sc R.D. at the Gastroenterology Institute at Ichilov Hospital: "Lactose is the milk sugar that consists of 2 units of glucose + galactose. After consuming dairy products, upon reaching the small intestine, the enzyme lactase is needed to break them down in a way that will allow their parts to be absorbed properly.

In the first two decades of life, with puberty, there is a decrease in the expression and activity of lactase in the intestine, a condition that characterizes most people around the world and creates "lactose intolerance" - a concept familiar to many in the population. The percentage of those suffering from this phenomenon in Israel reaches up to about 70%, with its expression in digestive system symptoms varying from person to person and depending largely on the amount of consumption of various dairy products. It is important to note that even those diagnosed with "lactose intolerance" can consume between 10-13 grams of lactose per day, dividing it according to the day within the framework of meals. The dairy product group is important because it is a high-quality supplier of protein, calcium, and other minerals.

A look at the lactose content of dairy products allows us to understand that even people with lactose intolerance can consume cottage cheese, hard cheeses, low-lactose milk, lactose-free milk, in addition to the low-lactose and lactose-free yogurts that have recently appeared on the market. The typical symptoms of someone suffering from "lactose intolerance" are: bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain that appear after consuming dairy products in quantities that the intestine is unable to handle effectively. In this situation, the undigested lactose reaches the large intestine, where it serves as a breeding ground for intestinal bacteria, with the byproducts of their activity causing the same symptoms as described. People who like dairy products have the option of using a supplement containing lactase and consuming it near the time of eating dairy products in order to avoid the above symptoms.

In the attached image you can see the amount of lactose in 100 grams of dairy products.

And back to Chinese medicine 😊... I know that not everyone agrees with the Western approach written here.

When we have patients with dampness, of course we would prefer that they not eat dairy products at all, but I believe that a middle ground should be found - that patients eat what is good for their body but do not feel that they have to avoid things they like. In my opinion, from the information that Roni writes about and the picture, a middle ground can be considered that can suit patients: Cottage cheese and hard cheeses - sometimes yes (not in large quantities but still allow). Skimmed milk, white cheese and yogurt - it is better to avoid altogether.

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