For a lot of people, going dairy-free is a way to avoid an allergic reaction, reduce inflammation, or improve digestion, which means it’s an easier decision to make. For everyone else, we know that removing all trace of dairy may present a considerable challenge, after all, cheese is highly addictive due to the chemical compound – Casomorphins, which released Dopamine (a neurotransmitter related to feelings of pleasure and reward). We thought we would make it a little easier by providing these 5 Compelling Reasons to Cut Out Dairy from Your Diet for good.
Here are the 5 Reasons to cut out dairy from your diet:
- Improve your digestive system
- Help with weight loss
- Help your body absorb more nutrients from regular food
- Reduce inflammation
- Prevent fungal infections
Reason to Cut Out Dairy from Your Diet #1: Improve your digestive system
Millions of people develop digestive symptoms when they consume dairy. For some, the consequences of milk on the cereal in the morning may be quite mild, while others will experience a severe and uncomfortable churning in their stomach region.
Most people – around 70% of the population – have some level of lactose intolerance. After babies are weaned off their mother’s milk, the supply of lactase dries up.
Lactase is an enzyme needed to digest dairy, and lactase persistence – or the ability to continue to digest milk as we age – is a relatively new development in our biology many of us grow out of when we get older.
Without lactase, the lactose from dairy is free to move directly into the colon without getting processed by the digestive system. It’s for this reason that lactose-intolerant people will experience bloating, diarrhea, cramps, and flatulence.
The supply of lactase often depletes rapidly, but in some individuals, it may last until late childhood. In the U.S. alone almost 5 million people are allergic to milk, and 2 million are allergic to eggs. Symptoms can be an upset stomach, hives, bloody stools, and vomiting.
Reason to Cut Out Dairy from Your Diet #2: Help with weight loss
Plain milk, yogurt, and cheese may not have any added sugar, but they can supply an excess of calories through their high content of lactase, a natural sugar. The calorie load is even higher if you regularly enjoy a sweetened version of milk or yogurt products.
Reason to Cut Out Dairy from Your Diet #3: Absorb More Nutrients
Because dairy can have such a negative impact on the gut biome, people who go off it will be able to absorb more nutrients from their food. If you consume a lot of dairy products but have low body weight, removing dairy from your diet may help you return to a healthier weight, while also get you through your day with a lot more energy.
Reason to Cut Out Dairy from Your Diet #4: Reduce Inflammation of Vital Bodily Systems
Dairy products can be mucus-forming, and the protein in dairy is often the cause behind an inflamed thyroid gland or digestive tract.
If you have bouts of fatigue and low metabolism, cutting out dairy may improve your thyroid function and give you back your energy.
Reason to Cut Out Dairy from Your Diet #5: Control Your Levels of Candida
Candida is a type of yeast that lives in the human body, mostly in the mouth and intestines. The body’s bacteria population can control the growth of candida in normal circumstances. Dairy products have been linked to out-of-control candida populations because of the high content of lactose – a natural sugar – which the candida thrives on.
If the candida population gets out of control, it can lead to fungal infections, such as oral thrush (white bumpy patches on the tongue). In severe cases, the candida can spread to the esophagus, making it painful and difficult to swallow.
Large candida populations are also known to cause fatigue and intestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
As you can see, there are quite a few reasons why giving up dairy can be better for your health. If you’ve been wondering why you are experiencing a funny tummy, are often fatigued for no reason, or would like to lose weight without going on a diet, have a look at your dairy intake and make some adjustments.