Again just reminding you that this was part of some posts that I did on my neighborhood Biggest Loser Contest blog. Just in case you were a little confused. I hope you are enjoying them and finding them helpful.
So how is everyone doing!?!?!?!?!? Are there any success stories? Are you losing or gaining? Has ANYONE even tried my suggestions? I hope everyone is accomplishing their goals and seeing success! Please let me know if I can help!
I have heard from some of you and I'm thrilled to hear that you are drinking green smoothies and eating whole grains! Way to go!!! Sorry I am so late this week posting! I really don't have an excuse just that I have been putting it off because if you haven't banished me already (ie. started another blog and didn't inform me of the change ;-) You may be more inclined to after this! But after much procrastination I decided that it is only fair to be straight forward and honest with you in sharing what I know and my experiences.
So here goes. I won't sugar coat and I will tell you exactly what I think. If I were in your shoes I would hope you would do the same for me! This weeks challenge that you will hopefully try for at least 4 weeks is to have no, meaning not ANY, none, nada, zip, zilch, absolutely
NO DAIRY!
Alright now I said it! Before you throw your mouse at the computer and curse my name please hear me out! And don't worry remember this isn't permanent (just 4 weeks although I highly recommend 6 but that's up to you) then you can decide! Giving it up for at least 4 weeks will give you an idea of how much better you may feel without it! Does it mean you can NEVER have ANY dairy again!? Well of course not that all depends on what you want and what works for you. Just hear me out I want to share my experience and quote from some others experiences. It's a little different for everyone some people give it up entirely some choose to have it only once a week. Some choose certain forms of dairy that seem to agree with them and have it every day. But you really need to let it go for at least 4 weeks before you are able to judge properly.
Since someone asked me about my dairy stance recently on my blog I am just going to share my answer with you here!
I have not really "preached" a lot on my blog about my stance on dairy because I have seen many people with very different opinions. I'm not necessarily "anti-dairy" I am open to using it if I feel it would help my family and get some things that we are lacking. Lately I have thought a lot about making kefir out of raw goats milk but then found out you could use Young coconut milk also. I think I would like to try that first. Mostly I want that because I feel we need to get more live active good bacteria also known as friendly flora in our diet.
Here has been my opinion on dairy. Aside from all the propaganda, big dairy business stuff, hormones and antibiotics given to cows. I have for a very long time felt that milk from another animal was meant for that animals baby. I like to think how did "Nature" or God intend for things to be? I especially have looked at a cow! A calf is born usually at about 80 pounds and grows to be over 600 pounds in the first year topping up to over 1000 in the second year! They also have 4 stomachs that is very different from humans. I just did not feel that it was meant to feed humans ESPECIALLY baby humans. The protein is much too concentrated and can be very hard on a little ones system. I think that is part of the reason so many people are lactose intolerant and/or allergic to dairy.
Well there you have it that is my opinion. I'm sure others would disagree with me but I always come back to wondering what Nature may have intended. I do think in it's raw form it is better because it still has some enzymes and is easier to digest. And definitely goats milk just because they are so much smaller would be better than cows milk for humans. That's where I'm at right now it doesn't mean that I won't learn more and find I would like to add some animal products back into our diet if we find we are lacking. But so far my family and I have had this similar diet for about 8 years and have been very pleased with our health!
Here has been my opinion on dairy. Aside from all the propaganda, big dairy business stuff, hormones and antibiotics given to cows. I have for a very long time felt that milk from another animal was meant for that animals baby. I like to think how did "Nature" or God intend for things to be? I especially have looked at a cow! A calf is born usually at about 80 pounds and grows to be over 600 pounds in the first year topping up to over 1000 in the second year! They also have 4 stomachs that is very different from humans. I just did not feel that it was meant to feed humans ESPECIALLY baby humans. The protein is much too concentrated and can be very hard on a little ones system. I think that is part of the reason so many people are lactose intolerant and/or allergic to dairy.
Well there you have it that is my opinion. I'm sure others would disagree with me but I always come back to wondering what Nature may have intended. I do think in it's raw form it is better because it still has some enzymes and is easier to digest. And definitely goats milk just because they are so much smaller would be better than cows milk for humans. That's where I'm at right now it doesn't mean that I won't learn more and find I would like to add some animal products back into our diet if we find we are lacking. But so far my family and I have had this similar diet for about 8 years and have been very pleased with our health!
Here is how someone else responded to my comment:
I just wanted to agree with your anti-dairy stance. I have read research about all of the reasons you've listed. For me personally, I'm so much healthier without dairy. Joint pain went away when I quit using it and my kids quit getting ear infections. My face also slimmed down, which was great! I've just discovered coconut milk and I'm in heaven. I love it! Most people don't realize all of the great sources of calcium out there, like broccoli. Anyway, thanks for all your effort and for sharing this with us.
This one is from a book review from Moooove Over Milk:
This one is from a book review from Moooove Over Milk:
What many people don't know about dairy is revealed in this book. And not many people will believe it til they try first hand going with out it for a while. I tried it and it changed my life! I used to get sick all the time as did my daughter. We are now non dairy and never sick! Our doctors are amazed and applaud me on this decision. I urge everyone to please read this book and at least try going without it for a while. I used to have skin problems, sinus infections, bronchitis and other problems. I no longer suffer from this! My daughter used to have ear infections and colds a lot and no longer gets those either. She also had a behavioral problem, and the doc said he could not figure it out. She no longer has this problem and HE AGREES it had to have been the dairy. The book discusses this as well.So please read this book. If you are worried about calcium, you will be amazed at what this book says about that too. Milk actually DAMAGES your body! Stop being lied to. Read about the "udder side of dairy" Take care and be healthy.
Here is what someone else said in a email I received recently:
I just wanted to mention, as some of you know we cut dairy out about a month ago hoping to see my baby's eczema get better (it is better but not sure if that's just the dairy to blame)but I will say, over the last month I have lost almost FIVE pounds. I am not eating any different at all except for the dairy being cut out. I do workout at the gym but I have done that for a very long time and have been maintaining my same weight almost the entire time. I haven't been trying to lose weight at all just trying to stay exercised and fit. So I can definitely say with confidence that getting rid of the dairy made me lose weight! It is so weird. I am under 120 now and that is the weight I was before I was pg with baby #2. Though I can't hope to be much smaller, it was a fun surprise to see the scale. I have had a few people ask me if I have lost weight too and I just laughed at them, until this morning when I saw the scale for the second time this month. So what my point is, is if you have considered cutting dairy, it has some big benefits!!! I feel so much better and have so much more energy. And when I'm cooking with rice milk instead I am having people ask me "mmm what is this pleasant sweetness in this?" And its the sweet rice milk. Its been great in everything and besides occasional butter or mozzarella we will definitely be keeping the dairy at a major minimum. I have so much energy and less tummy ache complaints from my 2 year old. High five for dairy free! Just wanted to share.... I no longer consider dairy free a sad thing!
I also found I lost those extra pounds when I gave up dairy and have not had to worry about my weight since! I think dairy just tends to make some people fat! (if that was just the worst it did) Again you need to find what works for you and your family but I have seen many benefits! A big one has been that one of my sons was born six weeks early he ended up having asthma since lungs are the last to develop. We were able to use diet and herbs he has never needed steroids or other drugs for his asthma. We had given up dairy just before he was born. He is now almost 7 and he has very few if ANY symptoms of asthma. He can run and not get wheezy he sleeps well at night! He only gets "the cough" when he has a cold but it goes away quickly now and it's maybe twice a year! It has been nothing short of a miracle for us! I thank the Lord every day for that blessing! I think a huge contributing factor was not having dairy!
If you want to do a little research I highly recommend the books MOOOOve Over Milk
and
The China Study
! I hope at least some of you will take the challenge I mean really what have you got to lose? I personally have seen great benefits! Are you afraid you will too?!?!? My only regret was NOT doing it SOONER! Just try it 4-6 weeks and just see how you feel! Common
If you want to do a little research I highly recommend the books MOOOOve Over Milk
andThe China Study
! I hope at least some of you will take the challenge I mean really what have you got to lose? I personally have seen great benefits! Are you afraid you will too?!?!? My only regret was NOT doing it SOONER! Just try it 4-6 weeks and just see how you feel! CommonNO DAIRY!
And that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
And that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
If you are wondering what you are going to eat go to my blog! There are lots of creamy, comforting, dairy tasting recipes on there that are ALL dairy free! Even super tasty dairy free ice creams! In fact if you decide to do this let me know I'll make you up a batch! My favorite is the Pumpkin Pie kind!
P.S. A friend of mine said she gained 12 pounds since the end of last Summer! She said the only thing she did different was she started eating dairy again! Hmmmm interesting don't you think?
15 comments:
I never understood the rationale for substituting goat for cows milk, now I do.
I don't want to be as fat as a cow.
I found your blog when I had to go off of dairy because of my third baby's milk protein allergy. At first I thought it would be super hard. It hasn't been. And people always ask me how I do it, and that it must be SO hard. But it isn't. There are a lot of alternatives out there. I miss cheese, that's about it. And my friends have asked once I stop nursing if I will go back to milk. Probably not, maybe some cheese, because I miss cheese on my sandwiches. But going dairy free isn't hard, and yes, I too have lost the extra weight.
You've gotta be kiddin' me...no dairy?? Oh alright...but only since it is mucous forming, addictive, hormone enhanced, fat forming and so bad for me. Sad that the darn stuff tastes so good.
Mooooooo!
I thought going dairy free was stupid until I read this post. I don't know how to cook without cheese. I don't want to do a lot of research - can you please tell me what I need to include in my diet to ensure I have what I need if I go off dairy?
Twinlinebackers: The easiest thing to do is get lots of fresh leafy greens. They seem to have good stuff dairy has without the bad! I have found green smoothies the best way to be sure you are getting plenty. A spinach base but being sure to add some Kale, Collards, Alfalfa, etc. On a regular basis. Is a great way to get lots of the nutrients you need most people don't know this but they are full of protein and calcium. Also good fats is a great thing but that's a challenge for another week! ;)
Hi Tammie!
I know I'm a little behind...we lost internet connection for a couple weeks! :)
We are still eating quite processed foods, but compared to what we were consuming...it's a tad better!
We have subsituted vegan butter for our butter, rice milk for our milk, but cheese....oh how we love the taste of cheese. This has got to be the only thing that has made it near impossible to give up dairy. I've tried raw dairy and nut cheeses, but they just don't compare and can be quite pricey....do you have any suggestions?
I'm enjoying doing these challenges (even if I am a few weeks behind!)
Thank you for all the information!
We've been using rice milk b/c my younger child has milk soy protein intolerance (MSPI). But I recently found that that rice milk may contain arsenic and it's recommended in Europe to not give rice milk to toddlers and young children (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1186722/Rice-milk-arsenic-contamination-prompts-food-watchdog-warning-children-stop-drinking-it.html). What is another good alternative, besides soy milk? Goat's milk isn't readily available around here.
Cindy
Cindy: Thanks for the info I will have to study up on that. I use rice milk quite a bit because of the convience and cost not because I think it is super healthy I just think it's a better then the alternative (hormone and disease laden dairy) If money was no object I would not use rice milk but only almond/nut milks and coconut milk. I use them some now and I really, really like them and they are very good for you.
Cindy, have you tried making your own? It's just rice and water and a teeny bit of sugar. It's a snap to make. No arsenic needed. =)
Tammie, I haven't made the plunge into almond milk yet but I complained to a friend that it was too expensive and when she told me the amounts, it seems about the same as store bought milk if you make your own.
Twinlinebackers: Thanks a bunch I forgot to mention that. You can make you own and brown rice is pretty sweet on it's own but a little agave, honey, or Sucanat works great to sweeten a bit more if wanted. No "sugar" or arsenic needed ;)
Also I have made my own almond milk a couple of times but I need to come up with some creative ways to use the pulp because I didn't like wasting it. Just need to be a bit more on the ball and organized. I hope to get there, someday!
Hello, My name is Staci. I have my eyes wide open after the claims milk coming from diseased cows and hormoned filled milk (even though the labels say there aren't any). I am torn on my own opinion of this topic. I am still learning. Of course my pediatrician says all these view haven't been proved harmful by the FDA. Are you saying the milk says it's hormone free at the store but still IS hormone free. What about the Horizon Organic brand of milk? OH and one of my family members drinks raw milk from a farm that swears not hormones or diseases. What is your opinion? I bet you'd better safe than sorry but just wondering. This is my first time on your blog by the way. Very though provoking information.
Staci: I typically don't trust the FDA I feel they see too much of the Lobbiest and their interests and not the peoples.
Is what I'm saying is that all animal products will have some hormornes in them. It is hormones that triggers the production of milk in the first place. Just like a nursing mother. It's hormones that play a major role in her milk production. So yes all animal milk will have some hormones. Getting milk withouth added hormones is probably better because those companies are usually claiming that they don't give their animals added hormones and/or antibiotics.
I would say that raw milk is much better because it still has live enzymes and is much easier to digest. And if the animals are well taken care of and fed properly all the better. But yes I still feel that cow's milk really was just meant for a calf. If you really want to have animal milk I think raw goats milk is a much better option then cows. Much less of a concentrated protien and easier on our systems.
Again just my opinion but I hope that helps you!
Tammie,
What would you feed a one-year old who just got off formula? My friend's milk dried up (because she is pregnant again :) She knows she needs to not give her dairy, but doesn't know what to do. I told her nut milks would be the best and green smoothies, but it is sort of pricey. So I told her my next option would be rice milk if she needs a drink, but to make sure she ate avacados, coconut milk, coconut oil, flax seed oil.. to get healthy fats. What do you think? What would you do? I was lucky enough to have raw goat's milk but I don't think she's going to find that.
P.S. I am writing a paper for my 2010 class entitled "Cow milk is for baby cows, not baby humans" or something like that (don't have an exact title yet). Very interesting. I'm basically taking the stance that I'm not completely opposed to dairy (even though I am), but I don't think it should be included in the food pyramid as our source of calcium.
Tiffany: Honestly if she is a year she will probably do just fine with water to drink. ;) If it were me I would for sure give her green smoothies to drink and maybe Young Coconut water (has very similar DNA to mother's milk) if she isn't a real good eater. But for the most part I would just give her plenty of good healthy food. I wouldn't worry about bottles etc. She should be just fine. Being able to nurse longer is great but sometimes (especially with another one on the way) our bodies just can't keep up. Mom would probably do well to drink some green smothies too if she isn't already as she is more then likely somewhat drained of nutrients if she tried nursing while pregnant. I know it can be done but does take so much consisitant nutrition on the mother's part.
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