It is a disorder that affects almost 50 million people in the United States alone. And I was once one of them. Until the age of 14, I suffered from lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is defined as the, “Inability to properly digest lactose (milk sugar) and related dairy products” (as stated by the health blog Wrong Diagnosis). Whenever I ingested milk, ice cream, cheese and all other dairy products, I suffered from horrible stomach pains as well as other negative side effects.
To sum up some of the benefits of dairy in your diet, an article from Weight Watchers website states:
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend two daily servings of dairy foods for people eating fewer than 1,600 calories a day and three daily servings for those at higher calorie levels. The Guidelines focus on the benefits of the calcium and vitamin D found in fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent dairy foods in promoting bone health and preventing osteoporosis.”
So what happened to MY Lactose Intolerance? One of my best friends found a way to eliminate my lactose intolerance, once and for all!! And the most amazing part was when he did it. Here’s my interview with Andrew Ritter, Founder of Lactagen:
How old were you when you created Lactagen?
“I initially created the Lactagen program when I was in 8th grade. I severely suffered from lactose intolerance at the time and doctors told me there was nothing I could do about it. The condition severely hindered my life style and I would have symptoms constantly. With little help from my doctor, I decided to research and learn more about my condition on my own. I contacted some of the leading researchers and medical experts in the country on lactose intolerance and with their insight and advice I started testing alternative solutions to my LI. Overtime, I was able to develop a program which gave me the ability to tolerate dairy products again. After completing the program, I started testing the program on others mainly friends and family first and then others as more people found out about.”
How were you able to raise money to fund your research?
“It was difficult to initially raise funds. There were many concerns about the efficacy of the product. To ease concerns of investors; I ran pilot studies, gave product out as samples and enlisted medical experts to help organize clinical trials.”
What was your inspiration for tackling a disorder that had been previously thought of as “something people just had to live with”?
See above-
Who did you consult with amongst the scientific community in order to validate your findings?
“I identified leading lactose intolerant experts around the county and sought them out. Literally, I contacted them to get advice and to discuss their research findings. Over.time, I was able to convince a few of them to take me under their wing and assist me.”
Some people think that it’s simply too good to be true. What would you say to them?
“The proof is in the pudding. The only way you can really see the benefits of Lactagen is to try it.”
How many successful cases have been reported after using the Lactagen program?
“Over the past 12 years, roughly 11,000 sufferers have successfully completed the Lactagen program.”
What is your success rate?
“In a clinical trial, over 80% of lactose intolerant sufferers reported dramatic reduction in symptoms of lactose intolerance.”
Are there any chemicals involved?
“No, the product is all natural.”
How often do you have to take Lactagen?
“Lactagen is taken over a 38 day period.”
You heard him right. He came up with the idea in 8th grade for his science fair project!!! So, what did I do for my science fair project in 8th grade? A rat maze testing spatial memory… yeah, I know, late bloomer, lol. Andrew Ritter’s science fair project, obviously, won the gold medal at the state level.
The great thing about Lactagen, as it pertains to Earn Your Cheat Day’s philosophy, is that it’s an all natural product. I really try to research the products that I put in my body and this one is a no-brainer! If you suffer from Lactose Intolerance, especially if you’re a woman and calcium deficiency is an even more salient issue in battling osteoporosis, I would strongly urge you to follow in my footsteps and give it a try!! Oh, and in case you were wondering, I’ve been symptom free for 12 years!!
photos provided by flickr users Chiu/Meow and Quintanaroo
