Yes, boiled milk still contains lactose, though its form is slightly altered.
While boiling milk doesn't eliminate lactose entirely, it does cause some of the lactose to change. Here's a breakdown:
How Boiling Affects Lactose
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Lactose Conversion: According to the reference provided, when milk is boiled, some of its lactose is converted into a non-digestible sugar called lactulose and other compounds. This means that the total amount of lactose decreases but doesn't disappear completely.
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Not Complete Removal: While some lactose is transformed, the majority of it still remains as lactose. The heat primarily rearranges some of its molecules, instead of breaking all the lactose down.
Understanding the Changes
- Lactulose Formation: The formation of lactulose can sometimes cause slight changes in the taste and digestibility of boiled milk, but the major carbohydrate is still lactose-based.
- Other Components: The reference also notes that boiling affects the fats in milk as well, modifying the short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids.
Key Takeaway
Boiling milk doesn't remove the lactose; it simply changes some of it into other compounds, notably lactulose. This means that if you have a lactose intolerance, boiled milk might still cause symptoms, although the severity might be slightly different from that of unboiled milk.
| Feature | Unboiled Milk | Boiled Milk |
|---|---|---|
| Lactose Content | High | Lower, some conversion to lactulose |
| Lactulose | Trace | Present |
| Other Compounds | Some | Modified/changed |
