[Sca-cooks] Feast Food for Picky Royalty

[UlfR]

Rosine <nothingbutadame at inthe.sca.org> [2003.10.15] wrote:
> what the genetic advantages were that caused some cultural groups to be so
> cheese and milk friendly while other ones developed such a severe
> allergy-like reaction to it.
>    Not that it's on-topic, per say, but it is something I've often puzzled
> about as I've watched my little dairy-boy grow. And it sure makes a
> difference in what we pack for lunches.

Simply put, certain groups -- notably Scandinavians and some African
groups -- have for a long time used milk as food for adults. This has in
turn given an advantage to those that retain the ability to digest
lactose[1] as adults. Now press the fast forward button until a millenia
or two has passed...

/UlfR

[1] As someone noted, many well aged cheeses have very little lactose
left. At the other end is scandinavian brown "whey cheese" (mesost),
which basically boiled down whey (goat and/or cow), and very hight in
lactose.

-- 
UlfR Ketilson                               ulfr at hunter-gatherer.org
Making mental lists of laws broken is an enjoyable pastime, but I
recommend against putting it in writing.  -- Alan J Rosenthal