OK girlfriend, it’s time to dump the dairy. I know what you’re thinking… “What? But milk does a body good!”. You have been told that if you have not “got milk” you are missing out on something. And you have seen a constellation of movie stars and celebrities smiling at you from beneath their milk mustaches in the pages of glossy magazines. Face it; you bought that nonsense like a line from a bad movie. When I decided to give up milk, which I was attached to and knew wasn’t good for me, I thought of it like a bad boyfriend. I love milk, but isn’t loving me back… in fact, it’s abusing me! Since I’d never tolerate someone abusing me, it became easy to dump the dairy.
Here are 3 reasons to give up dairy:
- Your Body Cannot Properly Digest Dairy Products : Did you know that no other species other than humans can digest milk? Even then, most adults cannot properly digest milk or any other dairy product. According to statistics, 65% of the human population cannot digest milk past infancy. Mammals are not designed to drink milk past infancy—and during infancy, they should be drinking milk from their own mother, not a lactating animal from another species. How so? Let me explain. The main sugar in milk is lactose. Typically, the enzyme that breaks down lactose—lactase—stops being produced when we reach 2-5 years old. If a person steadily consumes milk (or any other dairy product) after losing the ability to produce lactase, they will have digestive issues. The undigested lactose sits in your system and can cause issues such as bloating, cramping, nausea, flatulence and diarrhea. That, my Omni warrior, is the basis of being “lactose intolerant.” Even if you’re one of the few that can breakdown lactose (called lactase persistent), it is still bad news. The lactase is converted into galactose and glucose, which elevates blood sugar and causes inflammation.
- Casein In Milk Can Act As An Excitotoxin In The Brain : Substances that overstimulate and harm brain cells are referred to as excitotoxins. Casein, a protein found in milk, is a common excitotoxin. When it breaks down during digestion, the small particles that result (beta-casomorphine) can cross the blood brain barrier and bind to the same opiate receptors in the brain that morphine and cocaine bind to! Yes, you heard me correctly. It’s not only abusive, it’s addictive! For many people who are vulnerable, this may cause a slight euphoric effect. It may also trigger an inflammatory response, which is why many people experience achy joints, acne and allergy symptoms after drinking milk (stuffy nose, cough or wheezing). Left unchecked, excitotoxins can lead to brain inflammation and even neurodegenerative diseases. Casein has also been shown to bind to polyphenols in coffee, tea, berries and vegetables, rendering them impotent.
- Milk Is Not The Best Source Of Calcium : The most compelling argument the dairy industry makes for drinking milk is the need for calcium and vitamin D. As a mother, I certainly don’t want the guilt trip of knowing I didn’t help my daughter grow strong bones and a healthy immune system. It’s brilliant marketing, if only it were true. You do need calcium, but not from milk. You are way better off getting calcium from eating a lot of green leafy vegetables, nuts and fish (like kale and sardines). And many brands of almond milk contain more calcium than dairy does. It’s important to get vitamin D to help calcium absorb, which is why milk is fortified with vitamin D. unfortunately, the amount of vitamin D in a glass of milk is not nearly enough for the average person. Taking a vitamin D supplement, performing weight bearing exercise (to prevent osteoporosis), and consuming a lot of green leafy vegetables, almond milk, fish and nuts are far healthier and more effective ways to ensure that you get enough calcium.
Oh, by the way, when lactose circulates in your system undigested (the very definition of lactose intolerance); you have a sugar in your body that isn’t being broken down. Lactose is very acidic. Anytime you create an acidic environment in your body, your body must find a way to buffer it in order to keep your blood pH from changing (this would take your boyfriend from abusive to homicidal). The natural way for your body to buffer acids is with minerals… from your bones! So much for fighting osteoporosis. So now I guess your boyfriend is a liar too? How much of this nonsense are you going to tolerate?
Before I created the Omni Diet I used the USDA Food Pyramid. I adopted what we all thought at the time was the perfect diet: 6 to 11 servings a day of grains, rice, and pasta; 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables; 2 to 3 servings of meat; and 2 to 3 servings of milk. And I used fats, oils, and sweets sparingly. Before I knew it, I was back in the hospital to have my gallbladder removed. Blood tests showed I had become insulin-resistant and had high triglycerides, high cholesterol, and high testosterone. To make the long story short, I discovered the food pyramid was flawed and might have been more effective if it had been flipped upside down. To this day, that same food pyramid chart still recommends 2-3 servings of milk, yogurt and cheese groups. And what organization would ever recommend more glucose boosting breads and grains than vegetables and fruits? Don’t answer that!
So please do not let the USDA dictate your diet, any more than that bad boyfriend should. You must be your own health advocate. You must be a HEALTH WARRIOR! There is no need to give up your fond memories of drinking a glass of chocolate milk as a kid. Try real cocoa powder in warm almond milk with a few drops of chocolate stevia. The only thing you’ll be giving up is gas, bloating, a stuffy nose and acne.
I’ll leave you with benefits of kissing that carton of milk goodbye:
- Clearer Skin
- Healthy Digestion
- Increases Energy Levels
- Weight Loss
- Improves Joint Health
- Relieves Allergy Symptoms
- Eliminates Exposure to Antibiotics and Hormones in Milk
- Improves Cancer Prevention
Eliminating dairy illustrates a core principle of the Omni Diet and now also The Brain Warrior’s Way mealplan. Some foods have the power to move us closer to optimal health, while other foods have the power to move us away from optimal health. Once you understand how toxic certain foods can be to your health, it’s much easier to break up with them!