Dairy Free Me

I'm Going Dairy Free!

This year I have made several changes in my lifestyle so that I might feel healthier and just better in my body. My New Year's Resolution was to stop drinking sodas. I drank sodas A LOT and knew that it was not good for me. So as of yesterday, it has been 5 months since I've had a soda. I'm really excited about it and I can honestly say that I feel better and have actually experienced less migraines and sluggish feelings. I have also been trying to make a switch to whole grain pastas and breads which is a little bit harder to get on campus. The most recent decision I have made is to give up dairy. There are so many benefits to having a dairy free diet!

One of the biggest risks of dairy products is the amount of added antibiotics and growth hormones in cows and other animals that provide dairy. The hormones and antibiotics that are often added into dairy products significantly increase the risk of ovarian and prostate cancers. Though I don't suffer from a milk allergy or a particular lactose intolerance, it's extremely common. Milk is not supposed to be consumed by any other species except calves themselves. We are the only species who drink milk into adulthood. It's actually pretty weird if you think about it. 

The biggest problem that AA (my roommate) suffers from her lactose intolerance, aside from an upset stomach, is acne. Within 24 hours of eating a couple slices of pizza, she will have pimples all along her jawline and chin. It's so strange how quickly it happens and that she knows exactly what causes it, but it just further explains why we shouldn't eat dairy. Today there are many food alternatives for milk like soy milk and almond milk, butters, and there are even cheese substitutes. I'm just going to have to become familiar with and try. I will also have to take up eating more green veggies and eating more nuts and seeds. 

I'm excited to see how this change impacts my body and how it makes me feel! I'm hoping that I see good results and that I will benefit from this change! ~Em