Ever feel like your stomach is holding a grudge against dairy?
That bloated, crampy, why did I eat that feeling might not just be bad luck—it could be lactose intolerance. For some, a little cheese is no big deal. For others, one sip of a milkshake is a fast track to regret. But how do you know if it’s really dairy to blame?
Lactose intolerance isn’t always obvious. Symptoms can be mild or extreme, occasional or constant. Are you just overthinking that post-pizza stomach ache, or is your body really saying no to dairy?
This quiz will help you figure out where you stand. Is it time to rethink your relationship with ice cream, or can you go back for seconds? Let’s find out.
History lesson
How Did Humans Develop Lactose Tolerance?
For most of human history, milk wasn’t on the menu. Like other mammals, early humans only produced lactase—the enzyme that breaks down lactose—when they were infants. Once weaned, the enzyme switched off, making milk harder to digest.
That started to change around 8,000 years ago when early farmers in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa began domesticating cattle and drinking their milk. At first, this likely caused the same digestive problems many people experience today. But over generations, a genetic mutation emerged that kept lactase production active into adulthood. This meant people who could digest milk had a nutritional advantage, giving them more calories, protein, and hydration—critical in times of famine.
This mutation spread rapidly, especially in Northern Europe, where dairy became a dietary staple. Today, lactose tolerance is common in places with a long history of dairy farming, while lactose intolerance remains the default for most of the world.
So, if your stomach doesn’t handle dairy well, don’t blame evolution—you’re just in the majority of humans who never got the mutation.
Quiz Writer
Gennie dances through life with the grace of a leaf caught in a playful gust. That is to say, she continuously finds herself moving to the ever-changing rhythms of the world around her. She often shares stories of swaying to the melodies of Vivaldi and Chopin and a touch of Ella Fitzgerald during her early years. Gennie never misses a beat, whether she's penning evocative stories that resonate deeply or solving intricate puzzles that challenge the mind. Currently, she's weaving words for her upcoming book, a title she playfully keeps a secret. Dive into a conversation with her, and you'll quickly find yourself captivated by her tales, riddles, and the vibrant energy she brings to every encounter.
Did you know?
Before pasteurization, drinking milk was a gamble
Raw milk straight from the cow might sound natural, but before Louis Pasteur’s breakthrough in the 19th century, it was also a major health risk. Milk could carry bacteria like tuberculosis, salmonella, and E. coli, making it a leading cause of foodborne illness—especially in cities where fresh milk was hard to come by.
Pasteurization—the process of heating milk to kill harmful bacteria—changed everything. It made milk safer, cut down on disease, and helped extend shelf life, turning dairy into the everyday staple we know today.
So next time you pour a glass of milk, thank science for making it a whole lot safer.
How to Play?
Our personality quizzes are set up a little differently than your basic trivia quiz, but you’ve probably seen their kind around. Rather than having to choose the right answer from a list of multiple choice options, in this case, there is no “right answer”! (Two plus two will always be four, but every Golden Girls character is equally awesome.)
So, stop stressing. Just click on the answer that suits you best, and enjoy the ride. These quizzes are just for fun but who knows – you might just learn something about yourself along the way!
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