Advanced nutrition: absorbing Stuff from team FLEX

Q: I don't know if I'm lactose intolerant, but I seem to have trouble digesting large quantities of dairy products. I like them and they're a cheap source of protein, but should I cut them out of my diet?

A: There's a difference between "lactose intolerance" and a general difficulty in digesting milk products. The trouble usually comes when you make a drastic change in your diet -- and, for that reason, FLEX always recommends that you phase in any dietary changes. Slowly add or eliminate foods rather than making radical wholesale changes that disrupt your digestive patterns.

If you want to take in more milk products, but are not taking in many now, you probably won't be able to down a quart of milk and digest it properly. Try adding a couple of ounces of milk to a whole-food meal -- perhaps to your oatmeal at breakfast. Gradually increase the amount of milk you're consuming; take in a few more ounces per day. It's likely that your body will grow accustomed to additional dairy consumption and that you won't have digestive problems.

If digestive troubles persist, you should consult a doctor to determine whether you are truly lactose intolerant. In this condition, your body is unable to manufacture the necessary enzymes to digest dairy products.

Milk is an excellent source of protein and calcium -- and, as you noted, it provides those nutrients fairly inexpensively. If you like milk and want to include it in your diet, it's worth taking the time to gradually add it to your daily meals. Keep in mind that nonfat milk is your best choice. Even low-fat varieties contain a high percentage of calories that come from unhealthy saturated fats.

Send your questions on any topic of nutrition to Advanced Nutrition, FLEX magazine, 21100 Erwin St., Woodland Hills CA 91367.

For more Information on nutrition and supplements, visit www.flexonline.com.

Muscle Morsels

Is there a magic pill for adding muscle mass and getting ripped? Not yet, but it could happen soon, according to an article in the journal Science. Dr. R. Sanders Williams says the chemical pathways that muscle cells use to build strength and endurance have been identified, which means it may be possible to develop a supplement that will build muscle without exercise. This may be a double-edged sword for FLEXers. On one hand, you might get the muscle you've always wanted from one simple pill. On the other, you won't necessarily have to work out in order to get it. FLEX readers love to work out, and they want their hard work to distinguish them from the masses. Wouldn't it be a shame if everyone got their hands on this magic pill?