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Cow Conundrum: The Science Behind Lactose Intolerance, Dana Morcillo

Osmosis Magazine

We’ve all heard those words before - lactose intolerant. You, a close friend, or even a random stranger at d-hall mutters those words and with it comes the inability to eat milk, cheese, and ice cream. But what does being lactose intolerant actually mean? Besides special access to that one refrigerator in d-hall you’ve always wondered about, lactose intolerance means that you lack a special enzyme needed to digest lactose - a sugar present in many of your favorite foods.