Dairy is a staple in our modern diet. The problem is that dairy is one of the most inflammatory foods on the market.
There are several reasons for this:
- Many people are lactose intolerant. This intolerance is caused when the body can’t produce the enzyme lactase. This enzyme is what helps break down the sugars in milk. Our traditional dairy no longer has this enzyme because it is killed offer during the pasteurization process. This intolerance can lead to gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.
- Dairy can also be inflammatory to our gut. The vast majority of individuals who I test for food sensitivities react to the dairy family. Food sensitivities to dairy can result in other conditions including acne, eczema, fatigue, metabolic ailments and cardiovascular disease.
- Dairy products can cause too much acidity in the body. Milk is an acid forming food. In order for the body to maintain a neutral pH balance (not too much acidity and not too much alkalinity), it pulls nutrients that are stored in our bones. While some drink milk for the calcium to maintain good bone health, it may have the opposite effect and cause osteoporosis because of the nutrients pulled from the bones. Food sources such as legumes, green leafy vegetables can have higher amounts of calcium versus that of drinking a glass of milk!
- Dairy products can lead to inflammation in due to the fact it is filled with chemicals and hormones. Our traditional dairy farmers inject cows with growth hormone and commonly give their cows antibiotics. All of these added components come through the dairy products we consume. This can alter our microbiome and affect the good bacteria in our gut. Also, the additive hormones in dairy can lead to other hormonal issues including PMS, acne, infertility and other menstrual disorders
I always encourage patients to try and minimize their dairy intake and try and find other alternatives. You can always try foods such as:
- Goat cheese/yogurt
- Sheep cheese
- Coconut yogurt
- Non-dairy alternatives including almond milk, rice milk, cashew milk, coconut milk or oat milk
A little bit of dairy once in a while shouldn’t be an issue, but when it becomes a staple in our diet and our only source of protein, it may be worth considering trying some of these dairy alternatives!
