What you eat and don’t eat or drink does make a difference. That’s one reason the potential for going dairy free has been more frequently discussed. Some clients at Revolution Training in Stamford, CT know they’re lactose intolerant or have milk allergies, so the decision is simple for them. They avoid dairy to prevent a negative reaction, which can prevent digestive issues that include gas and diarrhea or for milk allergies, can actually be life threatening.
Everyone is different.
Your ethnicity plays a role in how dairy affects you. People from specific geographic areas or certain ethnicities tend to have more problems with dairy than others do. For instance, people with an East or Central Asian heritage or ancestors that are indigenous North Americans have between an 80 to 100% chance of being lactose intolerant. It’s also at approximately 70 to 90% for African heritage or African Americans. On the other hand, French, German, Italian, Finish and British backgrounds have a very low, approximately 15-20% potential. If you suffer from diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, gas or nausea 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating it may be from milk products.
Weight loss and clear skin may be a benefit of going dairy free.
With dairy, weight gain doesn’t come from a reaction to the dairy, but to the calories the dairy products contain. Think about the options dairy offers. There is ice cream, butter, cheese and several high calorie foods that contain dairy. If you’re counting calories or trying to lose weight, cutting out those products may help. Some studies show that there’s also a link between acne, eczema, and psoriasis and dairy. Giving up dairy can help clear the skin.
Dairy has many nutrients and using it wisely may help you lose weight.
If you eat cottage cheese or drink milk, but avoid consuming ice cream, butter and other high calorie options, you’ may actually lose weight by consuming dairy, particularly if you drink the full fat option. The reason is simple. Both milk and milk products contain healthy fat and protein. Both fill you up and keep you feeling full longer. Dairy products contain calcium, riboflavin, phosphorus, vitamin D & A, pantothenic acid, potassium and niacin.
- If you aren’t sure whether dairy is causing a problem, try an elimination diet. If you suspect that dairy is a problem, remove it from your diet for 5-6 weeks. It the problem disappears, then reintroduce it to see if the problem returns.
- If you find dairy bothers you, make sure you read all labels. You might be surprised at how many contain dry milk solids, such as ranch dressing, pancake mix, candy—like caramels or milk chocolates, instant cereals and even the breading on fried foods.
- There are non-dairy alternatives. You can choose almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, cashew milk, oat milk, hemp milk, macadamia milk and quinoa milk with more added every year.
- Some people find that dairy can cause headaches, but it also may boost healthy bacteria in your gut that boosts your immune system. Others find that giving up dairy improved their energy and overall mood. Find what works for you.
For more information, contact us today at Revolution Training