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Lactose Intolerance is More Common Than You Think
Pizza, Mac n cheese, ice cream, froyo - many of our favorite foods have dairy as their main ingredient. However, there are plenty of other foods that have lactose as an ingredient, which comes from dairy, that we don’t think of, such as bread, soups, and sauces for pasta. This means that most Americans consume a lot of dairy each day. While dairy is good for providing calcium and protein in your diet, what many people don’t realize is that they are actually intolerant to it.
Research carried out by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse discovered that up to 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. This is bad news for the dairy industry. If all of those people decided to cut out dairy completely, then it would take a huge hit. However, most Americans prefer to ignore those noises in their tummy or the slight headache that they get after consuming dairy.
In fact, many people would rather suffer than give up cheese or chocolate. Some people even claim to have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) when actually it’s more likely that they have lactose intolerance. Why are so many people unable to digest dairy properly? Cornell University recently reported that people whose ancestors were from places outside Europe were more likely to have an intolerance. This is because dairy herds weren’t raised safely in certain places, therefore milk wasn’t readily available. People whose ancestors come from Asia or Africa haven’t had milk in their diet for as long, therefore their digestive systems haven’t become accustomed to it. It’s pretty harmless to go on eating foodstuffs that contain dairy, but if it causes you a lot of discomfort, maybe consider reducing it. Alternatively, don’t eat a lot of items that contain dairy on the one day, or use it as a treat.
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Epcot’s New Culinary Experience Tempts New Guests
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is always a big deal and visitors look forward to the myriad of new styles and flavors that are introduced every year. The festival is known for showing influences from different parts of the world.
The 2017 festival was among their most popular. It was also one of their longest festivals, running for a total of 75 days. The 2017 version was also the 35th-anniversary of the festival and fans of Epcot were excited to visit and discover the many marketplaces, teeming with new tastes. From India to Spain and Thailand, the variety of new dishes was scrumptious and stunning.
When it comes to the festival, there are different approaches taken by visitors. Some prefer to strategize and study the map to make a route or choose the most awaited marketplaces. Others instead opt to wing it, exploring pavilions on the go and simply eating what takes their fancy on the day.
The Culinary Director of the festival, Gregg Hannon, says that people would have to visit at least three times to cover all the attractions at the festival. He further added that the energy of the festival is unparalleled; there is enough food and culture to satisfy every visitor.
As mentioned above, one can find a variety of dishes from all across the world, some that are fusion or unique. Some examples include:
- Crispy chicken with red-eye gravy and griddled cornbread
- Charcuterie in a cone
- Seafood salad at the Spain marketplace
- International and award-winning cheeses at the Cheese Studio
- Braised beef “stroganoff” with mushrooms, eggs noodles, herbs and garlic
These are but a few of the great dishes visitors can experience at Epcot. With a fine blend of new, innovative cuisine and more traditional flavors, a visit here is highly recommended for everyone. The magical vibe and the effort by the organizers ensure it's an experience unlike anything else.
