You'd be surprised to know that most Malaysians are lactose intolerant. A survey on 300 Malaysians (Malay, Chinese & Indians, aged 18-49 showed at least 80% of them were lactose intolerant.

Basically lactose intolerant individuals are those whose body cannot produce enough enzyme lactase to digest the milk sugar, lactose. Not everyone is born lactose intolerant. Most people are born with the gene to produce the enzyme. But with age (and also less frequency of drinking milk), our body’s ability to make this enzyme diminishes. Hence whenever a lactose intolerant person drinks milk (or anything with high lactose), he will experience bloated, nausea and even diarrhea as his body cannot digest the lactose. Reducing milk products from your diet is one of the best ways to prevent this problem. You may also opt to split your consumption to 2-3 times a day. But it depends on individual’s reaction to lactose too. For me, even coffee laced with a bit of cow’s milk is sufficient to cause bloating and diarrhea =(