cow milk alternatives

• many people are lactose intolerant, this means they are unable to digest the lactose (natural sugar) found in cows milk
• the bacteria in the gut will feed on this unabsorbed lactose, causing varying degrees of abdominal symptoms such as wind, diarrhoea, bloated stomach, stomach cramps
• most large supermarkets tend to stock a limited amount of sheep or goat milk which are possible alternatives for the lactose intolerant
• a small minority of people can be allergic to the proteins found in milk so will have to follow a dairy free diet to avoid serious allergic reactions
• examples of alternative milks include: soya beans, oats, rice, almonds, coconuts
• these alternative milks are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals to improve nutritional values and are widely available