IF MILK makes you dash to the loo, it might just be your shield against diabetes type 2, suggests a recent study from Nature Metabolism.
This lactose-intolerant twist on health news uncovered that adults who lack the enzyme lactase, and therefore might not have the easiest relationship with dairy, could lower risk of developing diabetes type 2 with increased milk intake.
Yes, for those who have sworn off milk after too many uncomfortable encounters, it might be time to reconsider your dairy dilemma.
The study reads like a culinary mystery, involving over 12,000 participants whose dietary habits, gut bacteria, and blood chemistry were analysed to see how they reacted to dairy.
The surprising discovery showed an approximate 30% decrease in diabetes type 2 risk when people bravely embraced milk, in spite of their bodies' initial reservations.
Spearheading this dairy paradox was Dr Qibin Qi and team, who found that indulging in milk could be akin to hosting a bacterial "rave" in the gut, where beneficial bacteria like bifidobacterium are the life of the party.
However, this phenomenon was exclusive to the lactose-intolerant club, so perhaps reaching for some cheese is ok.
Milk guzzlers with the power to digest lactose without a hitch (the lactase-persistent folks) suprisingly didn't enjoy the same protective benefits.
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