5 Can’t Miss Signs That You Are Dairy Sensitive

People are becoming more and more aware that their bodies just aren’t able to digest and eliminate certain types of food and food ingredients. It’s not really appropriate to label individuals as allergic or not. There are degrees of intolerance or sensitivity that cover a wide spectrum. Some of the main sensitivities that are affecting people today include: gluten, eggs, soy, nuts, shellfish, some chemicals in food (preservatives, coloring, etc.), and of course DAIRY.

The two main culprits in most dairy products are lactose and the protein, casein. In the case of lactose intolerance, or lactose sensitivity, those people are lacking an enzyme called lactase which is in charge of breaking down lactose. Casein is a very slow digesting protein and can cause digestive issues and irritation for many people. It is estimated that up to 65% of people have some degree of lactose intolerance.

So how would you know if you have trouble with dairy products? Check out these 5 can’t-miss signs that you are dairy sensitive:

1. Skin conditions and irritations
   • Acne
   • Redness
   • Eczema
   • Rashes
   • Hives
2. Abdominal pain
   • Generalized or local
   • Cramping
3. Bloating
   • Constantly feeling distended
   • Uncomfortable
4. Loose stools
   • Diarrhea 
   • Watery
   • Associated with gas
5. Lowered immune system (especially in kids) 
   • Tends to get sick more often
   • Ear infections

If you are having these types of symptoms, the best way to find out if they are coming from dairy products or not, is to do an elimination diet. Essentially, removing all dairy products from your diet and monitoring your symptoms for improvement. This should be done for at least 3-4 weeks to let your body re-establish a normal baseline.

Watch out for hidden dairy. Most of your protein supplements like shakes, bars, and others have whey protein which is a milk derivative. The good news is that there are a lot of dairy free options for your vices that are hard to give up. Ice cream, cheese, milk, whipped cream, all have dairy free alternatives made with either coconut or almond milk.

Contrary to former beliefs, we don’t need to drink milk. You can get calcium, vitamin D, and other great nutrients from other foods and supplements without all of the detrimental effects of dairy. Milk is a substance produced by mammals to nourish babies until they are able to eat food. So as adults, we certainly don’t need milk and especially not from cows.

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Yours in health.

Dr. Glenn Ezell