If you’re wondering why you you shouldn’t eat dairy, here are the top reasons to avoid dairy and milk products altogether.
When I removed dairy from my diet and decided to go vegan instead, it made the biggest difference in how I felt. At twenty my joints hurt, and my knees, in particular, were so stiff some days that it hurt to sit and stand.
My digestion was sluggish, and my body felt ‘slow’. In my twenties. That’s pretty darn young to feel slow and uncomfortable.
When I got dairy out of my diet, I felt profoundly better.
It didn’t happen overnight for me, because some things were hard to ‘ditch’ (like cheese). As you will soon see, I later learned that was because of the highly addictive quality of cheese. But, once the dairy products were gone for good… my body felt renewed.
13 Reasons to Avoid Dairy and Milk Products
I talk about dairy far more than any other animal ‘food’. We consume so much of it without even realizing, and unlike meat products which we know we should reduce or eliminate… most of us truly believe that dairy is good for us. I want to change that.
I created these list of reasons to avoid dairy to show you that it’s more than just a personal preference. There are very concerning reasons that affect your overall health.
13. Dairy Alternatives
There have never been better dairy alternatives on the market.
I became vegan almost 20 years ago. Our alternatives for non-dairy milk were: bad-tasting soy milk and bad-tasting rice milk. That was it.
Vegan cheeses? Forget it! Vegan ice creams?
Uh, if you want to call a rice-based icy concoction with a weird oily aftertaste ‘ice cream’, I guess it counts – I just never ate it.
And, that was a big deal for this ice-cream-loving vegan!
Now?
You are spoiled, people! 😉 Have a look at just some of the dairy-free options available:
Milk: Coconut milk from So Delicious and Silk, almond milk from So Delicious and Almond Breeze, soy milk, rice milk, hemp milk, flax milk, oat milk, and blended milk like almond coconut.
Really—there isn’t ONE option in all of these that is at least as good as—or better than—cow milk?
Cheeses: Daiya shreds and Daiya wedges probably earn top spot here for commercial cheeses. But, there are many more recipes available too.
Try my two vegan parmesan alternatives, my ‘Truffled Cashew Cheese’ (pictured below, from LTEV, and recipe coming soon). And, have you seen Miyoko Schinner’s new Artisan Vegan Cheese cookbook? WOW!
Yogurts: Coconut yogurts and greek yogurts, Organic Soy, Almond.
Ice Creams: Oh, you guys are lucky! Coconut ice creams from Coconut Bliss (my FAVE!) and So Delicious, Rice ice creams by Good Karma, soy ice creams, and then many nut and seed based ice creams like almond creams, hemp, and cashew. Or, make your own with my “Dreena Dazs” recipes!
Seriously, I haven’t even exhausted all the brands and options here – we are lucky to have so many delicious options – no excuses.
12. Cancer Prevention
Prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers have been linked to dairy consumption. And, if you’ve read The China Study, you’re aware of the link between casein (the main protein in milk) and cancer. If not, READ it!
Dr. T. Colin Campbell, professor emeritus of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University and author of The China Study, says casein is one of the most significant cancer promoters ever discovered.
Think about how often children are pushed to eat milk, yogurt, and cheese. Childhood diets rich in dairy products are associated with cancer in adulthood.
For more, watch this video from Dr. Colin Campbell.
11. Cheese is addictive
That’s why it’s so darn hard to stop eating the stuff. But, as you’ll learn in Julieanna’s brief video (and through this list), it’s best to kick the cheese (and dairy) habit.
10. Osteoporosis
Seems counterintuitive. We’re supposed to drink milk to protect against osteoporosis, right? So why do the countries that guzzle the most dairy have the highest osteoporosis rates? We now know that it’s not just calcium intake, but absorption and loss.
When we eat diets high in animal protein (milk included), our bodies become acidic and calcium is drawn from our bones to neutralize that acidic environment – cheese is particularly acidic.
Ditch the dairy (and the meat) to help maintain a more alkaline state in your body.
9. Plant-Based Calcium
Last year, the “Healthy Eating Plate” food guide pushed dairy off the plate, based on Harvard’s assessment that high intake can increase the risk of prostate cancer and possibly ovarian cancer, and also suggesting that foods like collards, bok choy, and baked beans are safer choices than dairy for obtaining calcium.
Speaking of calcium sources and absorption, did you know that kale contains more calcium per calorie than milk (90 grams per serving) and is also better absorbed by the body than dairy?
And that’s just ONE plant food you can eat. Other plant-foods boosting calcium include: beans, nuts like almonds and seeds like sesame, broccoli, collards, whole-grains, and tofu. (And if you think eating leafy greens is hard, I have a leafy-greens post coming up, stay tuned!)
8. Heart Disease
All that cheese and milk (and other dairy products) pack a wallop of cholesterol and saturated fat to one’s diet. A low-fat plant-based diet has been shown not only to prevent heart disease, but also reverse it.
And, before you think low-fat dairy is okay, it has been linked not only to increases in allergies, but also type 1 (childhood-onset) diabetes.
7. Constipation
Milk and cheese have no fiber. Neither does meat.
Dairy is constipating for children. Our children have never been constipated, yet I have heard parents talk about poo problems over and over.
And, grownups, if the kiddos get constipated from dairy, you will too (maybe you are right now).
There’s no need for laxatives. Eat a plant-based diet (rich in whole foods), and you’ll poop easy. There, I said it.
6. Milk Stinks
Okay, there is nothing scientifically or even ethically sound about this argument. But, have you ever just smelled milk? Put aside the fact that you’ve been drinking it since your wee years.
Take a glass and smell it. It has a stink.
I guarantee that if you grew up drinking almond or coconut milk and you tasted COW milk, you would immediately say “peeU”!
It is what we are conditioned to drink, and cow milk is – well – stinky… and, that’s even before it goes sour.
5. Antibiotics and Hormones
The mass production of milk requires cows being stressed to unnatural levels. This stress results in mastitis in the cows, which requires antibiotics, which make their way into the milk in our markets.
Do you want to drink growth hormones and antibiotics? Do you want your children to? You may bypass this one point by choosing organic milk products – but that doesn’t change the composition of milk…
4. Saturated Fats, Cholesterol, and Hormones
Skim milk is marketed for lower fat content, yet a 2011 Harvard study of 12,829 children showed that the milk sugar in skim milk may make you fatter than whole milk.
And, all milk products (as with ALL animal products) contain cholesterol. And, we have been sold the line that “organic” milk is the solution.
But as explained in The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
“Just because you pay more for the ‘organic’ label doesn’t mean you’re getting a safe, toin-free product. Milk products are inundated with steroids and hormones (both naturally occurring and production-induced… and microbiological contaminants (think bacteria, viruses, parasites and mycotoxins) can also find their way into your dairy products.“
3. Animal cruelty
Dairy production might be the most offensive and heinous of all animal farming. Baby calves are pulled from their mothers at birth. Mother cows will bellow and search after being separated from their young. While female calves are slaughtered or kept alive to produce milk, male calves are taken, chained in tiny stalls and raised for veal.
And, since is unprofitable to keep dairy cows alive once their milk production declines, they are usually killed at 5 to 6 years of age (though their normal life span exceeds 20).
2. Lactose Intolerance
I would guess that if any of us were tested, we would be deemed ‘lactose intolerant. It is estimated that about 75 percent of the world’s population are ‘lactose intolerant’, and those that aren’t (primarily Caucasians) tolerate milk sugar because of an inherited genetic mutation. That’s because the milk is meant for cows, not people…
1. Dairy Products Come from Cows
Why are we all drinking milk from a cow when we wouldn’t drink the milk from our lactating dog or cat… or milk from a horse, pig, or raccoon?!
We are the ONLY species that drinks the milk of another species, consuming it long after weaning. Would you go out into a field and suckle from a cow?! I don’t think so. Think about that connection. Just think about it.
As you can see, there are many health reasons to avoid dairy. I know it’s not easy to make a lifestyle change like this but I promise you that it’s worth it!
Have you already given up dairy? If so, what have you noticed? What were your reasons to avoid dairy?
Ruth says
Removing dairy and wheat over four years ago completely cleared up over 20 years of chronic sinus problems for me! My husband has much less congestion too… and his snoring disappeared!
Dreena says
That’s wonderful, Ruth, that’s a long time to have had chronic sinus issues. And, snore-free hubbies, total bonus. 😉
Ed Asmono says
Its been almost 6 years since I have eliminated Dairy completely out of my diet. I’ve lost 30 pounds and feel better than ever. No more sluggish digestive system and crazy bowel movements.
Dreena says
Wonderful – good for you Ed! Dairy wreaks havoc on digestive system. Thanks for commenting.
Sam says
I feel so helpless because i read all of these stories about people feeling so much better and never getting sick after becoming vegan but i’ve been vegan for 6 months now, have not lost any weight, and feel no different. I still get sick, i still have stomach problems, and i still get migraines. My skin is also no better. I don’t know why it’s not having these positive effects it has on everyone else. Am i just doomed to be uncomfortable forever?
Dreena says
Hi Sam, sorry you are struggling and feeling frustrated. Are you eating mostly whole foods? Vegan is not necessarily healthy, because there are a lot of processed and convenience vegan products available now. I sincerely do not believe that you are meant to feel uncomfortable forever, no. Maybe need a little dietary evaluation and tweaking here and there. I have two people I can recommend for dietary consults if you are interested, you can let me know, email if you’d like the links/info: [email protected] 🙂
faye says
Hello Sam,
If going vegan is not the answer, you have to look elsewhere. Eating whole grains, fresh vegetables, is way better than anything from a box.
The other culprit that makes us sick could be sugar, they are in everything that comes in a box or packaged. It comes in many forms, basically anything that ends with ..ose.. is some form of sugar.
Is your stomach over acidic?
How do you eat? Are you always in a rush? Sometimes we are born with ‘bad stomach’ or poor digestion. You have to chew very well before swallowing, this activates your saliva glands and our saliva is highly alkaline which when mix with the food you are chewing will greatly help with digestion.
If you are huffing and puffing, do not eat until you are rested, do not take a bath or shower immediately after a meal. Sit when you are eating and try not to occupy your mind with work or other stressful things. Massage your stomach, in clockwise fashion after food or even when you wake up in the morning, lying flat on your bed. Massage for 10 minutes.
Drink as little liquid (preferably warm water) with your meal. Drink later, but just sip,not pour down in one go. Half hour after a meal, go for a slow walk.
Try to be happy. Study the energy of food.
Some people have ‘cold stomach’ therefore should avoid things from the sea, specially seaweed (nori, wakame, konbu, dulse). Yogurt, ice-cream, mint tea, peppermint tea, watermelon)
Foods with warm energies usually are autumn foods, with orange, red colour. Try pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, black rice, brown rice, chestnuts. All nuts are autumn foods. They are intended to keep you warm for the winter.
Tea and coffee are usually not so good. So make your own tea, try red dates, gogi berries, a little cinnamon stick, a slice of ginger (these have warm energies) and will soothe your tummy.
Good luck.
Faye
Nardos says
Don’t give up Sam!! I have been plant-based for over a year now and I feel better than ever!! I think the key is to focus on whole plant foods as close to their natural state as possible. Use starches and whole grains as your source of energy and as your source of vitamins and minerals eat lots of vegetables (especially green ones!!) and fruit. Small portions of nuts, seeds, and avocados will give you healthy fat-soluble vitamins. Do you consume a lot of fat? Like lots of olive oil or nut butters? High-fat diets don’t really agree with most people so maybe that could be some of the problem. going oil-free has helped me alot with my skin and overall energy. Maybe a consult with a dietician or physician who is supportive of a plant based diet could really help. Just don’t give up!! Scientific and epidemiological evidence has shown that going plant based is the best thing for our bodies and for our health. Keep at it, I hope you find the problem quickly!!!
Annelies says
I quit using dairy because I had stomach aches every dag. Sometimes it was so bad I couldn’t even walk from the cramps. In an attempt to eat healty at my work, I ate a lot of yogurt. I also liked cheese a lot. But I was so sick of it,it had gone on for years now, and I had to find out wat was causing this much pain.My friend who is an dietitian said that if I wanted to find out if I had lactose intolerance, I really needend to cut everything off, cookies, cheese, milk, choclate with milk… It soundend hard to do, but I wanted to do everything to get rid of that pain every day. It took less then a month to feel the difference!! I use soymilk or rice milk and soy yogurt now. It’s so amazing I can’t understand no one had told me this before… A few weeks ago I got a gift wich was coffee with sweets. I tought ‘a few bites won’t hurt’ (desserts with cream), and again I sufferd all night long… Not long after I gave up dairy, I quit using any animal products (exept some honey now and then, and eggs from our own chickens) and I never felt better! I am enjoying cooking so much now, exiting about trying out new recipies (thank you Dreena!) I never believed I could live without cheese, but I don’t miss it for a bit. The hard things for me are now the family events as birthdays and such… They know, but not as well as I wished. Nothing but big cakes with lots of cream and milk. And even a cake for me! Frosted with choclate… It’s almost a sin to refuse to eat… But hey, they do there best and I will amaze them at my home with my delicious vegan cakes and pies!
Herbivore Triathlete says
I’ve eating vegan for about 7 months now and living in a small town I haven’t had access to any cheese alternatives. Once I gave up dairy there was no going back for me. I’ve accidentally had dairy from time to time over the past 7 months and each time I felt awful for a couple days afterwards; congested, upset stomach, etc. I feel lighter and healthier without dairy.
Thanks for the great article, I wish more people would give up dairy and realize that people don’t NEED dairy to meet nutritional needs.