I have always been health conscious but I have not always made healthy
choices. Growing up I ate pretty healthy – always had breakfast (oatmeal or
non-sugary cereal), had wheat instead of white bread, healthier snacks (fruit,
veggies, yogurt or cheese), and my parents didn’t buy many processed foods or
soda.
I grew up loving dairy! I typically would have milk in my cereal for
breakfast, a sandwich with cheese as part of my lunch, yogurt for a snack, a
glass of milk with dinner, and an occasional scoop or two of ice cream for
dessert.
It wasn’t until my junior year in college that I began experiencing mild
to severe digestive issues – ie stomach cramps, pain, bloating, etc. I decided
to start a food journal and make notes of when I experienced symptoms. After a
few weeks it became clear that I was having a reaction to dairy. Family history
and a visit with my family doctor confirmed I was allergic to milk.
Milk does the body good, right?
Some studies actually suggest that milk not only doesn’t strengthen
your bones but actually weakens them. There is still controversy over whether milk
is beneficial or harmful to bones. However, the countries with the highest
dairy consumption have the highest rates of osteoporosis.
But where do you get calcium?
Below is the nutrition label for 1% milk
Here is the nutritional label from the unsweetened almond milk I drink
regularly today
The almond milk actually has more calcium, less sugar, less carbs and
fewer calories!
Here are just a few other dairy free ways to get calcium -
- dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, turnips, and
collard greens
- soybeans
- tofu, set with calcium
- figs
- sesame seeds
- quinoa
-
Here is the first cookbook I turned to help make the transition
Please note I am not a registered dietitian or doctor. The information
shared in this post and on this blog is from my own experiences and personal
knowledge.
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