I did this once and definitely saw results but I dont think it was from an actual sensitivity. I think it’s because dairy is in alot of garbage food that normally people eat too much of anyway (pizza, creamy pasta baked with cheese, quesadillas, ice cream/desserts, chocolate, etc..). So when you cut it out, you are cutting out alot of extra calories and choosing healthier options which makes you lose lbs!
Some people believe that they do something good to exclude dairy, due to ethical reasons. That is totally fine to feel better by that since the dairy industry might not be the most ethical one in regards to the animals.
Going dairy free made me feel better in ways I didn’t realize I needed. I didn’t realize I had an intolerance but the transition in my BMs made it clear I did. It helped me with anxiety too, although in a sort of roundabout way. I used to have bad stomach aches that I thought were purely anxiety, but I think it was also dairy intolerance so when I quit dairy they got a bit better. Perhaps it was stupid of me not to have realized dairy was a trigger, but it honestly didn’t seem like I had an intolerance until I tried out a dairy free month.
It made a huge difference for me, but it took weeks before I noticed the difference. I was sure that I didn’t have an issue, before removing it. So many issues I had dealt with since childhood cleared up. With that said, I was eventually able to reintroduce and enjoy some form of dairy i.e. butter, yogurt, kefir, and aged cheeses.
This isn’t about what is healthy, it’s about what you can digest properly. If your body has trouble digesting something it’s going to cause inflammation. Finding that inflammation was huge for me.
I haven’t given up dairy completely, but an allergy test several years ago revealed that I’m very allergic to it. This is not the kind of allergy that causes anaphylaxis, so please don’t think I’m putting myself in danger. But approximately two hours after consuming dairy, I will get a stuffy nose. I never made the connection because of this delayed reaction.
The purpose of the allergy test was to determine why I kept getting sinus infections. Evidently, allergens cause swelling, which prevents sinuses from draining. Doc explained that when the mucus doesn’t drain, you have what is essentially a little petri dish in your head. That little petri dish becomes a sinus infection.
I would get two or three severe sinus infections every year, each of which required steroids and antibiotics. Minimizing my dairy consumption has helped tremendously. I can use milk in my coffee with no discernible effects. If I really want something like ice cream (that’s rare because I don’t love sweets), I’ll use some Flonase and, perhaps, take a non-sedating allergy medicine. Now I might get one sinus infection every other year.
I can’t say whether reducing or eliminating dairy entirely will help you, but it might be worth experimenting by not consuming it at all for at least two weeks, preferably one month. If you notice a difference but miss dairy, you could try reintroducing it in small amounts to see if anything changes.
Good luck to you!
I try to limit dairy but I haven’t completely cut it out, for example I still eat cheese and butter, and on occasion I will use milk for cereal or something. I like almond and oat milks better and do notice less inflammation in my body when not consuming as much dairy.
I found out that I’m allergic to dairy after having an allergy test. My migraines had gotten to the point that I couldn’t plow through them any more and it was getting difficult to function. After I had to go to an urgent care - again, for some extra strength pain killers, they suggested a food allergy test. Since it was about the only kind of doctor I wasn’t seeing at the time, I relented. After I found out I was allergic, I cut out all dairy. It didn’t make a huge difference in migraine frequency, although for a while I found some relief. Unfortunately, dairy is not the sole contributor to my migraines. It’s probably relatively insignificant, since they’ve gotten much worse over the last decade or so. And, an unfortunate side effect of cutting out dairy is that I pretty quickly put on about 30 lbs that I have been unable to lose. And, it’s not weight that I needed to gain, by any means.
As others have said, it’s case by case. I found that a food diary helped for a while. It allows you or a nutritionist to see trends in how you’re eating and whether your eating habits contribute to any health issues you’re having.
Over the last couple of years, I have slowly reintroduced greek yogurt and cheese into my diet. I don’t notice a big difference in how I feel, but I can hardly stand the smell of milk anymore, let alone the taste.
I’ve been vegetarian my whole life but relied on whey protein powder and cheese quite a bit. When I first cut it all out a few months ago I stopped having the almost constant sinus headaches I have lived with my adult life. Was always told they run in the family and you get used to them. Might be coincidence but I’m not going back to find out. There are some great plant based milks that will fill in.
Cutting out dairy was life changing for me. I’ve been dairy free for almost 10 years now. Horrible painful cystic acne, joint issues, bloating, constipation all we’re gone within a couple months. I don’t condone this to healthy eating alone, I ate healthy before cutting it out. My mom and siblings followed my footsteps, and it was a game changer for them as well. However, every body is different and I know people who eat dairy with no issues.
Until you completely eliminate a food group for an extended period of time (about 60 days) you actually don’t know if it negatively impacts you or not. Because if something is causing issues it has been for so long it could be unnoticed at this point.
There is no way to tell other than to strictly give it up for X amount of time and see how you feel.
When I cut out dairy, the only thing I notice is that my exercise recovery isn’t quite as good for some reason. I think it does make some sense though because casein and whey are some of the most insulinogenic (and leucine-rich) proteins.
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I will say, I don’t know why, but cheap brand greek yogurts give me acne on my forehead specifically. As long as I buy Fage or another higher end brand, I don’t get any. Very strange.
It’s going to be case by case. I see dairy as a kind of superfluous food to be consumed in moderation (the occasional treat that may have dairy in when you’re out to eat etc).
Adult mammals no longer need breast milk outside of infancy. Dairy as a beverage is wholly unnecessary. I do think there are some healthy forms of dairy to consider such as kefir, some yogurts, etc (for those who tolerate it well).
In baking and whatnot, though, I use natural almond or oat milk (homemade or the kind with only 2-3 ingredients).
I have had to go dairy free while breastfeeding all three of my kids. The only difference for me is that when I go back on dairy after being off of it for months, I get some indigestion. It can cause asthma-like symptoms too when running. For my friend it helps her not feel arthritis so much. Like others have said, I think it depends on the person.
Cutting out lactose was indeed life-changing, because I no longer feel bloated and in pain after eating. I still eat some dairy in moderation (butter, higher-end Greek yogurt, some hard cheeses) and it doesn’t make much difference in my health one way or another.
Improved my skin, bowel movements, lost weight. I didnt think i was sensitive to it but the more I read about the hormones, living conditions and just how disgusting the whole mass dairy operation is, well it became an easy choice. I’m all the way vegan now and its great.
If you have no sensitivity or issues then it’s not going to make any difference. A lot of people will claim beneficial change when they make a decision on something dietary, but me telling you my choice was a great one is different to actual evidence existing.
Dairy products have benefits such as being a source of calcium, protein, some good fats and some other minerals (vitamins too but nothing outstanding).
something that exists is a governmental and industrial incentive for the consumption of these because first of all it is cheap, requires little or no preparation and is sometimes a by-product of livestock (that said, I’m not even close to being vegan).
as dairy products are easily accessible and provide calcium and protein in good volume they are always an option but they are only an option other foods such as dark leafy vegetables (kale, spinach, etc) provide calcium in good amounts and proteins you can get from meat products , eggs, pulses (derivatives like tofu, textured protein, hummus, etc.), whole grains (gluten is a protein), fish and seafood.
in this case, do not force yourself to eat or eat more if you do not want to, just try to have a varied diet with fruits, vegetables, legumes, proteins (animals and vegetables if you are not vegan), good oils/fats and few ultra-processed foods (fortified foods and supplements can lead to a condition medical condition called hyper vitaminosis which is a toxic/harmful amount of vitamins in the body)
I went a year without dairy and never felt too different. Maybe some people react better without it than they do with, and vice versa. All I’m saying is that I’m really enjoying full fat Greek yogurt with nuts and berries. Godly combination. If you’re super curious, go without it for awhile and find out. It’s going to be a huge individual thing, ya know?
A friend once said to me, “do you really want to be drinking a liquid that comes out of an anmimal’s nipple?” That one question stopped my milk consumption. I’m a black coffee drinker 5+ years now.
I had the exact opposite effect… was still getting my calories and protein in but soreness lingered longer, had more joint aches than usual, felt weaker in general. Could have just been in my head because I’ve always been a big dairy guy and I was not happy to give them up.
I have found reducing consumption better than loading up on dairy on a daily basis. I tried going dairy free for a few weeks but I feel more benefitted by just cutting down. It eases my GI system quite a bit. Dairy substitutes don’t work well for me. So you have to play around with your diet and do what works for you.
If consuming dairy does nothing to your gut, I don’t see the reason for giving it up. Anything in excess isn’t good. I am horribly lactose intolerant so giving up dairy (or using taking lactose pills when I do consume dairy) has been a life changer.
My opinion on diary is I don’t eat it at all anymore. It is not a good source of calcium imo and unethical. I don’t believe in exploiting animals for food, but everyone has a different value system when it comes to food etc, and that’s my opinion. I studied nutritional science with a concentration in public health at my state university and I have learned to follow the Harvard healthy eating plate (and it does not include dairy) for what is in my diet and I am vegan so I basically follow those guidelines in a vegan matter! I have cut out dairy for 8 years and would not consider adding it back. Easy to maintain health and just have over all less mucus and better skin and less bloating, but every body is different in how they will response to dairy. I have no sensitivities to dairy though.
I’m currently doing a dairy free phase (has been 3 weeks of absolutely nothing, not even cooked butter) and haven’t noticed any difference - but has a decent diet anyway (my dairy intake was mostly plain yogurt and milk, not fried cheese sticks and pudding cups / other junk). It completely depends on the person. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to explore alternative products and will continue to drink oat milk for the reduced carbon footprint, but it hasn’t had any noticeable effect on my health, gut, skin, or energy levels.