The Dangers of Dairy
Got milk? I hope not.
It turns out that milk does NOT do a body good.
Unfortunately, dairy is the MOST common food allergen we face (not the Epi-pen kind of allergic reaction). 75% of people are genetically unable to properly digest diary. I know, it’s your Ben & Jerry Buzz Kill.
Let’s not confuse “dairy” with “calcium.” We need calcium but we do not need dairy. How can we get calcium without dairy? Easily. Calcium can be found in:
Dairy, despite its reputation (thanks to clever marketing), may increase risk of bone fractures by 50% (especially hips). That means our osteoporosis-fighting will not be done with a tall glass of milk.
Dairy may also increase the risk of MS as well as cancer (especially prostate and cervical cancers). That makes us think twice about dumping cheese on every dish we serve.
Milk has this reputation for boosting athletic performance, but this is another false claim. No need for Muscle Milk or a post-workout milk/chocolate milk drink. Just drink water and maintain quality nutrition.
Dairy, with its gross hormones and terrible antibiotics, can take credit for a host of other nasty side effects, like:
Type 1 diabetes
Anemia in children
I’m sorry to be Debbie Downer. I don’t get to eat yogurt now either.
Now that we know the aftermath, what are some words to avoid as you play Dairy Detective?
Casein / Caseinates
Lactose (or words that start with "lact-")
Want to know if you have a dairy sensitivity? Eliminate dairy (in all forms) for 3 weeks. Yes, you’ll cry. Then reintroduce it and see how you feel. I went 3 weeks dairy-free, then drank a Starbucks mocha (my now “ex boyfriend”) and my stomach was huge and I felt sick.
You can start slow, if you’d rather, by reducing it and being aware of nutritional labels and ingredients. Often you’ll see the words, “contains milk.” That’s a big red flag.
So simply begin by using LESS and wean yourself off of dairy products. They do make dairy-free cheese, coconut milk ice cream and yogurt, as well as non-dairy milks, dairy-free butter alternatives, etc. You’ll quickly notice how much better you look and feel!
Here are more resources to check out: