Four Reasons to go Dairy Free

As humans, we are the only mammals on the planet that consumes milk from another species throughout our lives.  Every other mammal ends their consumption of milk after being weaned, but we continue to consume milk and milk-based products through adulthood.  We have been told that dairy is a great source of calcium, vitamin D and protein, and that is fact.

However, dairy is not the ONLY source of calcium, vitamin D and protein and for many people it causes as many problems as it solves.  For some people, dairy serves a nutritional purpose, but for others, well, they can do without the negative side effects.  If you’re one of those people, then here are a few reasons to go dairy free

Wait!  Before I get into those reasons, if you’re kinda, sorta hooked on dairy, then quitting cold turkey might not be the way to go for you.  Perhaps try going dairy free for a day or two to start or eliminate one dairy item per week until they’ve all been eliminated.  Remember, dairy encompasses so much more than just milk and cheese, don’t forget about ice cream, butter, dressings, dips, mousse, and, the horror of horrors, chocolate.  Now, back to those reasons to eliminate dairy…

• You might be lactose intolerant and don’t even know it.  There are varying degrees of lactose intolerance and dairy allergies and most involve gastro-intestinal issues, such as nausea, gas, diarrhea, and bloating.  Most sources I located state that 70%-75% of us have some form of lactose intolerance.
• Many dairy products contain antibiotics and hormones that are given to cows to prevent and fight infections and to increase their milk production.  On factory farms, hundreds of dairy cows are kept in cramped quarters which gives an infection the ability to run rampant through a herd.  To prevent that from happening, the cows are given large and regular doses of antibiotics.  Those antibiotics get passed to us through the cow’s milk, which can restrict our ability to fight off infections if/when we contract one.  Synthetic Bovine Growth Hormones (rBGH) are also used among dairy cows to increase their milk production.  rBGH has been linked to increased insulin levels among humans.  If that wasn’t enough, pesticides used on what the cows eat also can be passed to us through milk.
• Removing dairy can lead to weight loss.  If you haven’t noticed, whole dairy products are very high calorie items.  An average slice (103g) of cheese pizza contains 275 calories and an 8-ounce cup of whole milk has 146 calories.  Replacing your dairy consumption with lower calorie, healthier choices can lead to weight loss for most people.  But where will I get my calcium, vitamin D and protein from?  How about: kale, collard greens, fatty-fish, broccoli, beans, bok choy, and fortified cereals and orange juice?
• Clearer skin. Some studies have linked dairy products to increased acne, eczema and psoriasis, but they are unsure the cause.  Some believe it’s linked to the hormones used in dairy cows.  Whatever the cause, many people report clearer skin upon their abandonment of dairy products.

If you’re willing to give dairy-free living a try, but don’t know where or how to start, check out these dairy-free meal plans here, here and here.  Also, here at MagicKitchen.com, we have an entire category of dairy-free meals and entrees to help you on your way.  Browse our selections here.