Many people are forced to refuse consumption of cow's milk because of intolerance of lactose (lactobiose) or an allergy. More and more people exclude any dairy products from a diet for moral or religious reasons – among them the vegans, vegetarians, Christians observing the post ordered by church. That the diet remained full, it is necessary to pick up adequate replacement to a dairy products.
Intolerance of lactose
The intolerance of lactose is connected with a lack of a certain enzyme – the lactase helping an organism to acquire a lactobiose. Production of this enzyme decreases with age, however and babies have a laktazny insufficiency – not a rarity. If need to exclude cow's milk from a diet is explained only by this reason, it is possible to enter into the daily menu fermented milk products (cheeses, yogurt, kefir) which are usually transferred by people with fermental insufficiency better because in the course of fermentation the lactobiose in them is turned into lactic acid.
The refusal of any dairy products is recommended to the people having an allergy to protein of cow's milk. After consultation with the allergist it is possible to expand a diet due to inclusion in it of a goat, sheep, mare's milk.
Now on shelves of large supermarkets or specialized shops of healthy food it is possible to meet milk in which the content of lactose is lowered due to addition of a small amount of lactase.
Post, vegetarianism, rawism …
The people choosing veganism or vegetarianism as a way of life, usually completely exclude from a diet animal products, including milk and any products from it. Consumption of milk is forbidden to believers (both orthodox Christians, and Catholics) during posts. However and it is possible to find equivalent replacement to a dairy products in these cases.
The vegetable milk suits allergic persons too, however it is necessary to remember that soy and nuts are also strong allergens.
"Milk" from vegetable products – soy, nuts, grain – it is possible both to use in pure form, and to use for preparation of porridges, cocktails, pastries. The most known similar product is the soyamilk rich with protein. The soy cheese (tofu) which is widely used in oriental dishes will replace usual cheese from cow's milk. The vegetable milk can be prepared independently – practically all types of nuts, brown rice, oat flakes for this purpose approach. Nuts or cereals will be required to be wetted at several o'clock, to crush by means of the blender, to add water, and then to filter. It is possible to add to ready milk some spice (vanilla, cardamom), sweeteners or fruit syrups to taste. The vegetable milk and various products from it (cream, yogurts, desserts) usually are on sale in shops of dietary products and also in specialized shops for vegetarians, vegans and syroyed.