Thursday, August 24, 2006

Testing the limits

Thousands of years ago, a genetic mutation spread among a group of Northern Europeans which caused them to produce the enzyme lactase as adults, thus conferring the ability to comfortably digest dairy products past the time of weaning. Since then, countless millions of adults have enjoyed the benefits of drinking milk and eating cheese (not to mention the satisfaction of savoring a delicious Dairy Queen Blizzard!), but I think I may have just inadvertently stumbled upon the limits of this particular evolutionary advantage. My lunch today consisted of five pieces of pizza and a container of yogurt. Now I know that there really can be too much of a good thing. As the Swedes say, "Oofdah!"

4 comments:

Catherine said...

Funny you should mention it. On the same day you had the dairy lunch experience, I was told I had to STOP CONSUMING DAIRY ALTOGETHER. That means - no more cereal and milk, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Cottage Cheese, chedder cheese, string cheese, etc. cheese, chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, anykind of ice cream, hot choco, etc.

What WILL I eat? What DOESN'T have dairy? I'm the biggest dairy consumer I've ever known -- I've lived in Wisconsin AND Switzerland! What will I do!!

Dave Carlson said...

What monsterous person gave you such an order?

Do you need me to "take care" of him/her when I come out to visit?

Catherine said...

LOL! It was sort of my son. Well, actually my lactation consultant. He's been screaming a lot, and I've thought it had to do with...digestive trouble. She took one listen and said "stop eating dairy." So I"m going to try it for a week and see if things get better...

Dave Carlson said...

Okay, but my offer still stands.