HealthyPIG Magazine

If you've ever doubled over in pain after eating ice cream, or hiked to the bathroom after drinking milk, you may be lactose intolerant. This happens when your body can't digest dairy properly, and you end up in an injury situation.

Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. Normally, an enzyme in your intestines called lactase breaks it down after you eat or drink something that contains it. But people with lactose intolerance cannot make enough of this enzyme. Therefore, undigested lactose ends up in the colon, where bacteria begin to ferment it. This procedure can be very uncomfortable, causing symptoms such as bloating, gas, pain, nausea, and diarrhea.

Although you may have heard of sodium glutamate (MSG), disodium guanylate is another food additive that may not be of interest to you. This is completely understandable, because it is sometimes listed under the general term "natural flavors". Disodium glutamate is often used in a series of foods with MSG, such as canned soup, potato chips and dairy products. However, you may wonder if it is safe. This article explains what disodium guanylate is, which foods contain it, and whether it is safe to eat.