Kathy Chat: Dairy Free?

About ten years ago I first discovered the DAIRY FREE REVOLUTION. I was reading Marilu Henner's book, Total Health Makeover and was shocked to read her chapter regarding DAIRY as a dietary evil. I pondered my frozen yogurt, my cereal bowl milk and even my hot creamy cocoa with winter white whipped cream on top. Milk is BAD for me? It just didn't make sense. But as I continued to study health and nutrition in college, and majored in health promotion at American University, I began to realize that the consumption of DAIRY products in indeed a highly controversial and complex topic. Read on for a few basic points to consider in this debate.
In an interview Marilu Henner said this:
M: "Dairy makes me sick. Literally. The whole idea. The way it owns our school lunch programs and our health."

J: That's terrible

M: It's terrible. And they jump on the band wagon that says "calcium is good for the body." They jump on it. But not saying that milk is the worst calcium carrier.

J: Well, at best, the body might equalize with the amount of calcium it gets and loses by consuming dairy products.

M: Right. Exactly.

DAIRY IS BAD!? Say most people....

Marilu says this about dairy:
There are studies that link health problems to dairy. We are simply not designed to digest this breast milk from another species. Cows have four stomachs – we have one. Cows have nine feet of digestive tract – we have twenty-seven. Here is some basic information from Marilu about going dairy-free.

Dairy Diets can cause respiratory problems, skin conditions, including severe and painful eczema, kidney stones, allergies, mood swings, and digestive problems. Dairy can cause more serious complications, such as heart disease, arthritis, childhood diabetes, cell mutations, deformed cell growth, premature menses, increased risk of cancer. Dairy produces mucus in the human body, and mucus cells feed cancer cells. Milk is linked to so many diseases and skin problems.

You can read more on her website at marilu.com

Want some hard-core scientific research in this discussion? Read these articles here:

http://media.www.studentprintz.com/media/storage/paper974/news/2006/02/16/News/Not-Milk.New.Research.Questions.Value.Of.Dairy-1994949.shtml

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,158855,00.html

http://www.rense.com/general26/milk.htm

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-11666958_ITM

But overall when I am discussing dairy with a PRO-DAIRY person. I usually bring up the issue regarding the QUALITY of dairy. If the dairy is not organic, it may be pumped with hormones and chemicals. Not good for your body.
So if you simply can't live without dairy--always buy organic. And research the companies that you buy from to make sure they have healthy cows and treat them with care and respect. Healthy cows, healthy milk.

If you want to try living DAIRY-FREE there is GOOD NEWS! It's pretty easy and the health benefits could be significant.

DRINK....soy milk, soy in your coffee/tea--Starbucks and MOST coffee places make it VERY easy. (and delicious...Venti Pumpkin Spice soy latte anyone?)
YOGURT: Soy and Rice brands are quite tasty--large selection at Whole Foods. Soy Delicious brand is my favorite. Apricot mango flavor, or the plain yogurt, and I add my own nuts and honey.
CHEESE.....Make sure it is CASEIN FREE....but there are a few great brands out there.
ICE CREAM.....My goodness there is a plethora of DAIRY-FREE soy cream options...good luck choosing a flavor and brand combo,. Lots of options. My favorite is the Soy Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Yum. Or the rice dream cookie sandwiches..mint and mocha flavors are yummy.
WHIP CREAM: SOY CREAM--divinely delicious--and thicker than most canned dairy creams!
COCOA MIX: Just add 100% real cocoa powder to soy milk...add your own sugar and enjoy!