Dairy is for Baby Cows....
To many, the idea of eliminating dairy from their diet seems an impossible request. We love our dairy....we love our cheese! Many of us won't give it up without a fight, but once we do..we see clearly why dairy is just for baby cows!
Dairy is a very common allergen for many individuals. We do not make the lactase enzyme along our gastrointestinal tracts after childhood, and so many people experience gas, bloating, increased mucous production, indigestion, weight gain, fatigue, headaches, seasonal allergies , inflammatory conditions like arthritis and some autoimmune disorders from continued consumption into adulthood. Continuing research also shows links between dairy consumption and heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, prostate and breast cancers.
Dairy includes milk, cheese, half and half, cream, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, butter, and ice cream. Hidden sources include casein, whey, rennet, lactulose, lactalbumin, lactglobulin, and curd. Furthermore, dairy products such as "milk solids" are very widely used as an additive for numerous types of products. Whether these products need to be avoided depends on the reason for the dairy-free diet. Some products that often contain milk solids or other dairy items include: Breads, margarine, muesli bars, processed meats, soy cheese.
Milk Alternatives: Oat milk, Rice Milk, Hemp Milk, and Almond Milk. Soy milk is not recommended for everyone (ask your doctor if it is a good alternative for you).
Take the Dairy-Free Challenge and see for yourself what it can do for you and your health!
Lakeshore Wellness Center: Naturopathic Holistic Medicine and Acupuncture in Chicago.
http://www.lakeshorewellnesscenter.com
http://www.rxacupuncture.com
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Dairy is a bane for those of us not blessed with the enzyme. (Thank God for Lactaid) I think healthy diet recommendations should include calcium sources with dairy listed as an option or as part of Fats and Oils. Afterall, dairy has NOT been in diets of ALL peoples for as long as one reader indicates, has it? Weren't we hunter-gatherers first? Also, why isn't lactose intolerance a more common diagnosis? I think too many doctors misdiagnose lactose intolerance symptoms as stress and IBS. It's too bad that getting a dairy-free meal is such an oddity in this country. Soy Latte anyone? Thanks for listening, Linda (lslassiter)
Hi Linda
It's thought that human beings were originally omnivores, meaning capable of being vegetarian or carnivores. But some literature suggests that we were actually vegetarian, based on the structure of the ancient jaws and teeth of bones studied. But other studies would disagree.
When saying we were hunter-gatherers - we were. But we mainly ate the grains and fruits, nuts, vegetables and berries etc, gathered by the women. Hunting was a long and difficult process that required days to do and the meat had to be eaten quickly (no freezers back then!) so people mainly survived on a vegetarian diet, with occasional meat. It also depends on the climate and terrain of the various groups and tribes of people. Humans were mainly "foragers" who spent their days eating from bushes and trees, rather than hunting.
We are descendants of the ape and many species of ape (monkeys etc) are vegetarian (herbivores). Some will eat insects and the like but most are herbivores/vegetarian. Many will make exceptions in time of need (won't we all!) but in for most species, it's vegetarianism all the way. Even gorillas are vegetarian, except they do like to eat grubs! Like humans, the ape families will adapt and eat animals products when they need to. Baboons, for example, are known to eat small animals.
Our meat consumption has grown exponentially in the last hundred years.
But evidence of dairy eating (and keeping cows for more than their meat or coats: ie; their milk) goes back about 9,000 - 10,000 years. Using animals for dairy was comparatively easy because processing could be done by hand and no hunting was involved.
Why aren't more people diagnosed as lactose intolerant? Well, many are non-whites and in non-western areas of the world where tests are not available and cannot be afforded.
Most people in Scandinavia and the European Lowlands have the enzyme to tolerate dairy very well. Evolution, need, and the human diaspora (the eventual migration from Africa to other global areas) saw to this.
Lactose intolerance may also be misdiagnosed or under diagnosed.
Getting a dairy free meal can be difficult in the U.S. (depending on location, where I live there are many vegan and vegetarian restaurants and stores) but it's nearly impossible in France!
Susan, I appreciate your post and information. I think my lactose intolerance was partly due to being treated for acne with anti-biotics (for 10 years!). Hooray for soy-based products (like IMO) and Lactaid !