Glossary of Food-Related Terms (Ll)

Glossary of Food-Related Terms (Ll)

Lactobacillus -

A type of prebiotic/ probiotic found in yogurt and some other dairy products which may improve gastrointestinal health.

Lactitol -

Lactitol is a sugar alcohol used as a bulk sweetener in calorie-controlled foods including baked goods, hard and soft candy and frozen dairy desserts. Low in calories (2 calories/gram), lactitol functions as a prebiotic.

Lactose -

A sugar naturally occurring in milk, also known as "milk sugar," that is the least sweet of all natural sugars and used in baby formulas and candies.

Lactose intolerance -

Lactose intolerance is an inherited inability to properly digest dairy products due to a deficiency in the amount of the enzyme β-galactosidase in the small intestine. This enzyme is necessary for the hydrolysis of lactose (a disaccharide) into its constituent monosaccharides glucose and galactose. Symptoms of lactose intolerance including abdominal cramps, flatulence and frothy diarrhea, can increase with age.

Lecithin -

A by-product of the refining for soybean oil and is also found in eggs, red meats, spinach and nuts. Historically, lecithin has been used commercially in food processing as an emulsifier.