If the lactose intolerance is common for the vast majority of people of non-European descent, then why is milk drinking so common in certain African and Asian cultures?

Question

A lot of pasotoralkst and hisforically pastoralist peoples like the Maasai, Mongolians, Tibetans have a prominent milk drinking culture that existed before European influence. How’d groups like these get by for so long if lactose intolerance is so universal.

In: 23

Answer 1

Even if a large amount of people are lactose intolerant, there’s still people that aren’t. Furthermore lactose intolerance is different for every person. For most, it’s just mild digestion issues and maybe some extra gas. Uncomfortable, but you can live with it. Very few people actually have severe problems with lactose intolerance, as in feeling queasy, throwing up or having diarrhea. So for many, the taste of milk and cheese is worth the price.