What to do about diarrhea and acne after drinking milk? Milk alternatives during weight loss.

What should people who experience diarrhea after drinking milk do?

Although drinking milk is beneficial for weight loss, many people are still hesitant to drink it because it causes diarrhea. Some people experience diarrhea after drinking milk due to allergies to certain components of milk, poor gastrointestinal digestion, or lactose intolerance. This is especially true in my country, where most people lack lactase, making it difficult to digest and absorb the large amount of lactose in milk. Lactose is broken down by bacteria in the intestines, producing large amounts of gas and lactic acid, which accelerates intestinal peristalsis, leading to symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea. The following methods can be considered to alleviate this situation:

(1) Drink small amounts frequently, keeping the total daily intake below 200 ml.

(2) Drink after meals, avoiding drinking on an empty stomach.

(3) Consider using lactose-free milk as an alternative. Lactose-free milk contains lactase, which hydrolyzes lactose without affecting the absorption of protein, calcium, vitamins, etc., making it a very good choice.

(4) Consider using yogurt as an alternative. Because lactose is broken down during fermentation, drinking yogurt will not cause diarrhea. However, it should be noted that plain yogurt is very sour and has a poor taste. Therefore, many vendors add a lot of white sugar to adjust the taste. It is best to choose unsweetened yogurt.

(5) Consider using soy milk or tofu pudding as alternatives. If using soy milk, be sure to cook it thoroughly, as soybeans contain lectins and trypsin inhibitors. Drinking uncooked soy milk can easily lead to diarrhea.

Does drinking milk cause acne?

There is some controversy regarding this. Many people say that drinking milk causes acne, especially men and women in gyms who drink whey protein powder to increase their protein intake.

The reason why milk may cause acne may be related to insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), as studies have shown that IGF-1 is directly related to sebum secretion. If your body constantly produces excessive oil, this oil cannot be metabolized through the thick stratum corneum and accumulates in the pores, triggering acne.

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, foods high in protein can cause "internal heat," which can lead to acne. However, the IGF-1 content in a glass of milk is limited. Therefore, I personally suggest that unless you experience noticeable acne breakouts after drinking milk, drinking a glass of milk daily is fine.