I grew up having a love affair with dairy.
I knew this was comingmy mom had the same trajectory.
I could still easily handle cheese, but butter and cream-based products were increasingly becoming an issue.
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This is common, as research shows thatmany people develop increasing issues with lactose as they age.
The next day, I enjoyed creamed spinach and birthday cake.
So, I pledged to take a break from dairy for one week.
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Here’s exactly how I cut dairy out of my diet and the effects I felt.
I know there’s still some dairy I can digest pretty well.
I’ve been using oat milk creamer in my morning coffee for years now.
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This week, I subbed that out for avocado on some days and air fryer salmon on others.
As for dinner, I leaned heavily into my love of sushi and poke bowls.
It was the ideal elimination diet in that sense.
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I didn’t try plant-based, non-dairy substitutes.
An important part of a long-term plant-based diet is to find plant-based alternatives to those dairy choices.
There’s some great non-dairy butters, cheeses, and milks out there.
And, yes, dairy will be involved!
I felt more energized.
But I did notice some improvements.
During the holiday season, with nonstop activity and eating out, I had been feeling a bit sluggish.
I feel a lot more energized now.
But, I also had been taking it easy over the holidays and not over-exerting myself.
Was it due to R&R, or eating a healthier dairy-free diet that I feel this way?
I didn’t notice much of a change in my skin.
I’ve read in the past that dairy can make Rosacea and other skin issues worse.
Maybe I’d see more difference if I had given up dairy for longer.
In any event, the dairy-related skin aspect of this experiment came out pretty neutral.
I felt less bloated.
This was a big one.
After my weekend of dairy for my birthday, I felt so uncomfortably gassy and bloated for days.
After a week without dairy, I don’t feel bloated at all.
My body absolutely was feeling uncomfortable with the dairy, but better without it.
I think, in a large way, food intolerances are exactly the same.
I was more creative in the kitchen.
Giving up dairy was also an opportunity to be creative and try new ingredients in recipes.
I discovered it was just as creamy and delicious and was missing nothing!
It was like my life was a living, breathing basket on an episode ofChopped.
I learned more about what foods have dairy ingredients in them.
Dairy is in a lot more things than we all realize.
Some things may surprise youthey did for me!
Luckily, cheese doesn’t seem to be a trigger for me right now.
In moderation, eating some sort of dairy remains fine for me.
But do I need to do other types of dairy?
Or dairy at every meal?
It is a source of calcium after all!
