Health Nuts: Dairy Opinions?

I eat what I like, and I happen to LOVE dairy.
I don't worry about whether or not it's good for me. I just eat it like everything else - in reasonable amounts.

i find i feel better if i eat less dairy. i love it, and i'm not lactose intolerant, but it does make me feel kinda bloaty. so i keep it to small servings, and buy the best quality i can. that means only a sprinkle of cheese, or a dab of sour cream. and i buy organic raw milk. when i can't get that, i generally opt for unsweetened vanilla almond milk (yum.)
the only thing i really can't live without is half and half. NOTHING else tastes right in my coffee.
khairete
S.

Every single thing, on any topic that comes out with a "this is good for you" article will have a counter "this is so hazardous to your health" article within a week. It's ridiculous and nothing can really be trusted. It's made worse when you realize that most of these articles are backed by those with a major stake in the industry (like dairy farmers telling you how important dairy is).

Anyway, I don't believe that eliminating food groups is healthy. I think some things should be eaten in moderation, but I don't think they should be avoided altogether. I feel strongly that dairy is an important part of your diet. I realize the nutrients can be obtained in other ways, but it takes A LOT more spinach to give you the same amount of calcium as one glass of milk. So, I think having cheese, yogurt and/or milk at least a few times a week (if not daily) is important.

All that said, my son is highly allergic to dairy and cannot ingest it at all. He's very healthy and strong (age 6), but I do often worry that he's not getting enough calcium. The alternate milks, yogurts and cheeses don't taste as good, so he doesn't eat them as often.

I see absolutely no reason whatsoever for a healthy person to eliminate dairy from their diet. It is good for you. It is also extremely delicious (at least, if you're talking about cheese and ice cream!)

So, for myself-- am lactose intolerant. Can do feta, Parmesan, and sheep/goat's cheeses. I drink soy milk (just a splash with my tea) and now just make soups which call for stock and not any dairy, just to keep it easy. I can always swirl a little chevre in something to give it a little creaminess.

My son has seasonal/environmental allergies, so while dairy doesn't directly affect him in the way it does me, it does complicate the allergic reactions he experiences when our pollen count is up. So, we go with almond milk, which he likes, and coconut milk yogurt. He does get some dairy, however, I can predict 99% of the time that if he eats some mozzarella on a pizza or a string cheese, he WILL get pimples within 2 days. (yes, we wash his face twice a day). So we often do a pizza with no mozzarella but with feta and Parmesan on it. He will sometimes have cow's milk or regular ice cream, but during allergy season, it does tend to stuff up his sinuses by thickening the mucus. (sorry, gross.

When it comes to dairy, there is no universal truth. Like many foods, they work for some people and are a problem for others.

I'm not a health nut. (If I were, I'd have a svelter physique to show for it!) But my son does have a dairy sensitivity, so I can speak for the anti-dairy side of things.

My son shares a lot of physical symptoms with kids on the ASD spectrum, though socially he has only the mildest of Asperger-ish symptoms. But like most spectrum-ish kids, he can't handle milk proteins. Even trace amounts of dairy produced chronic congestion, which for him meant chronic ear infections and temporary hearing loss. It also produced symptoms of clinical depression. The change, post-dairy, was stunning. It was like the clouds just cleared away and the sun came out. Now I am very invested in the scientific method, and I'm very un-woo-woo, if you know what I mean. But this has prompted me to reconsider the way we define the baseline for health.

All of which is to say, common symptoms of milk-protein sensitivity include the following:
Mild digestive upset (loose stools)
Chronic respiratory congestion (be it nasal, chest/bronchial, or anywhere in the ear canal [which affects balance/proprioception as well as hearing])
Depression and other mood disorders
For SOME people, an exacerbation of ASD symptoms, not only social but also neuromuscular.*

So, if you or someone in your life has any of those issues/symptoms, I highly recommend going a month or two 100% dairy free. And that means reading every package and avoiding even trace amounts -- and avoiding sheep/goat/etc. milk too.

But, if none of those symptoms are an issue, then honestly, I personally probably wouldn't bother. It's a lot of work and trouble for an undefined benefit. You'd do better looking for organic and/or raw milk.

So, it's not a question of is dairy good or bad. It's a question of are you (and your kids) part of the population that can handle it. Or not.

* INSANELY IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE: I am not, not, not, NOT saying for one second that a dairy-free diet is a cure for autism. There is no known cure for autism, and I'd be irresponsible to the point of flat-out evil to suggest that there is one. But it can alleviate some symptoms, to a certain extent, for a fair number of kids. (I'm not aware of documentation, either for or against, on autistic adults.)

Hi A.,
My daughter was diagnosed lactose intolerant when she was little. She was not. She had a strong aversion to the chemicals in the processed milks. Organic milk was fine. I'm not sure with our food supply if there is enough calcium in anything, even organic, to make a difference. If it is, it is in our organic food.

I see very little problems with milk as the cow makes it. Most talk about dairy not being good for you is targeted at mainstream milk...which is chemically laden. Moderation in all things... Where's the outrage over white potatoes!!!? :)

Regards,
M.

Myself and my two LOs are slightly lactose intolerant so we avoid cow milk (worse culprit) and drink almond milk. Did you know that "soy" milk/items are also getting a bad rap now because everything we eat from that is not fresh veggies or meat now have some derivative of soy? Anyhow, so almond milk for us. We do have yogurt but limit to one serving a day for the probiotics. We love, love, love, cheese but tend to go with more of the gourmet - blue cheese, goat cheese, etc for snacking. I think everything in moderation is okay and especially if you have a balanced diet full of greens and other veggies.

We are a dairy household. Me, less so as I've been having difficulty with milk products (undiagnosed, suspected low level intolerance based on stomach troubles after ice cream or a second slice of pizza). DS has two cups of milk a day, and hubs and I are both fans of cheese and yogurt.

For many, its a good, and easily digestible source of protein. I say, if you don't have health reasons to avoid it, go on including it in your diet, in moderation.

Best,
F. B.

I like milk, I drink milk and have done so since I was a kid. And I am fine.
My son likes milk, he drinks milk. I don't censor it. And he is fine.
My daughter, is not a milk drinker. She just does not like it, although she likes cheeses and yogurt etc.
My Husband is a non-milk non-dairy person... because of the things you mention. That is him. I am me. There are so many articles about it and you do what you think is best.
Even amongst medical people, there will be great variation in the views about it.
So you just do as you think, is best.
And like anything, it is about balance. Not extremism.
And each person, may or may not, have health reasons for it.
To each his own.

My Husband, because he does not believe, in "dairy".... opts to, get himself NON-dairy versions of "milk" or cheeses, via Whole Foods.
There are many, 'substitutes,' for "dairy." Plant based versions. Not from cows. And as a family, we do not ALL do what he is doing. Just because he is against "milk" does not mean that we therefore have to stop drinking milk. And its fine.
Everything in moderation.

Funny isn't it! Whatever we go looking for we will find. Just last night there was a talk at the University about GMO - 2 scientists, one who has 35 years as a Genetic Engineer and one as a Biochemist working for Health Canada (Like the FDA) And they had different opinions on "what was our next best step" one said, boycott the companies making the crappy food and the other said get your government to follow the laws and uphold the safety regulations.
I had to giggle...but in fact they are both right! And I get to choose which one is right me me and my family!

So here are my 2 cents worth, if you like dairy, eat it and bless it every time it goes into your body. Of course, go organic. And if you "think" that it is bad for you then don't eat/drink it - your body will believe whatever you think about it.

Here is what I know to be true in my home: We don't drink cows milk, we use almond milk, there is a lot of sugar so be careful. But it is better than soy (too much GMO to worry about)
We eat cheese, sometimes it's organic and sometimes it's not, and I am okay with that.
the ONLY breakfast in our home is whey protein shakes from new zealand cows...cleanest source we could find.
I found a substitute for yogurt...chia seeds in almond milk - after about 4 hours it is the thickness of yogurt and lots of fun to eat.
We are vegetarian.

A., it is confusing, keep doing what you are doing, keep asking and do what FEELS right for you and your family. Trust me that will be better than most!

B.

I can not tollerate milk the way I used to. I avioid it .. that is drinking a glass of milk. Up until year ago, I drank a glass of milk with every meal.

My son, Not allowed cows milk as a drink. He has icecream, yogurt cheese.. but if you give him cows milk, your reaction is to duct tape him to a chair. *** note, I have never done that I am just saying that he will drive you nuts**.

My daugther is okay with if, as far as I know. she gets 1-2 glasses a day.

Now.. with all the GMO's .. I can see both sides of this. I think it depends on if you or someone in your family is affected by this or not. I think the Autism/add/adhd issuses are surrounded by the GMO's foods and the persons body. I think it is more prevelant now, because there are more and more items that are GMOd. Some things just do not show up right away (meaning first generation)..

I guess what it boils down to, is it depends on the person. Peroid..

It really doesn't matter. In a few years everything we're eating now or not eating now will be opposite as far as health is concerned.

We are animals that were meant to eat meat, eat veggies, eat fruits, eat some fats and not too many of those, we are a machine that needs a variety of foods.

Nothing we do or don't do is going to extend our lives past the 80's or 90's. We're still going to live as long as our body holds out which hasn't changed all that much in the last 40 years. Other than heart meds and antibiotics nothing we've done fixed any of our health problems.

So eliminating dairy or eating it every day isn't going to do much in the long term.

Do you like dairy products? If so then have some, if not then don't eat it.