Ask the Paleosphere – Dairy
It’s all very well reading the Paleo theory about why we should and shouldn't consume certain foods, but what I find most valuable is finding out how people actually eat – and how different foods affect them.
With over 79,000 followers on the Paleo Network’s Facebook page, it’s become a great place to ask questions. A lot of the questions I've been asking seem to resonate with a lot of people, so I thought it would be useful to share some of the questions here.
Dairy seems to be a source of a lot of controversy in the Paleo-sphere. Whenever I post about dairy, I get equally large numbers of people condemning me for mentioning it, as I do people who comment that they enjoy it regularly in their diet. I don’t agree with taking a dogmatic approach to “Paleo” – surely it’s more important to learn how you tolerate things like dairy and eat accordingly?
So when I asked my Facebook followers for their thoughts on dairy – what did they say?
Out of 218 people who left a comment, I counted 48% of people avoid dairy – and 52% of people do consume it. However, in almost all cases those who consume dairy seem to do so with quite limited constraints.
Limiting dairy
Of those who eat dairy, almost everyone said that they do so “in moderation”, with most people only eating a certain type of dairy, and avoiding others. Some of the responses included:
- Fermented
- Only cheese
- Fermented
- Yoghurt only
- Raw & organic
- Kerrygold butter only
- Fermented full fat only
- Butter & cheese minimal
- Can’t do milk but eat cheese
- I use cheese as a condiment on occasion
- Only sour cream, aged cheese and buttah
- Only raw dairy from grass-fed Jersey cattle
- I can never give up fine cheese and ice cream!
- Yes but only pure grass fed! Bio dynamic etc!
- Only a bit in my Coffee, and only goat's milk
- I love my cheese so allow a little as a treat and kefir
- Butter and a very limited amount of special cheeses
- Only organic butter and a tiny smidge of occasional cheese
- Grassfed always – raw and local when possible. One serving a day.
- I'll only ever have a tiny bit of white cheese that hasn't been processed a lot.
Why avoid it?
It seems that most of the people who avoid dairy, do so being aware that their bodies do not tolerate it well. Here are some of the reasons people gave as to why they don’t consume dairy:
- No, it makes me sick
- Cannot handle the casein.
- My tummy doesn't tolerate it
- Gives me pimples but I love it.
- Gives me bloating & bad skin.
- I break out with eczema and asthma.
- It gives me Brain fog and belly aches!
- My heart says yay, but my tummy says nay
- Hot flashes stopped when dairy was eliminated!
- My body does not like and it causes inflammation
- Never did work well with me – since childhood.
- I may love dairy, but it definitely sets off my auto immune disorders.
- I dream of cheese but unfortunately the casein protein in it burns my GI tract
- In very small amounts. It causes acne for me. I'm 40 and just figured this out!
- Yay for me but nay for my 20 months old. Makes him as constipated as anything.
- Allowed it to creep back in last year, felt crap and body composition/weight plateued.
- Quitting dairy is the only thing that cured my skin condition I've had since childhood (keratosis pilarus)
- I've learned the hard way after a dose of post surgery pancreatitis. It's extremely alarming that people would suffer like I have at their own hand.
- I didn't worry about my normal no-dairy or no-grain for about ten days over Christmas and now my forehead and chin have lots of pimples. Yuck!
Alternatives?
Quite a few people commented on alternatives that they use instead of dairy, with the most common being:
- Almond milk
- Coconut milk/ cream
- Coconut Yoghurt
- Hazlenut milk
- And, er, Soy (I think this person maybe didn't realise they were on a Paleo page?)
It’s not dairy…
There were also quite a few comments from people who only have almond milk, or eggs – and others pointing out that eggs aren't dairy – and that almonds don’t have udders…
I’d love to hear your perspective on dairy. Do you consume it – and why? Please share in the comments below. Also, if you have a question that you’d like a broader perspective on, please let me know and I’ll post it on Facebook.
Share this:
Do you do this health & beauty ritual?
The ancient concept of Oil Pulling is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance in the modern health movement. The concept is a simple enough; you use a high quality, plant based oil (i.e. coconut oil) as a ‘mouthwash’ for between 15 and 20 minutes. But are there more benefits to this tradition than you might expect?
The practice of Oil Pulling originated in India thousands of years ago. It is mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts, first referred to as Kavala Gandoosha or Kavala Graha. It is used mainly for improving oral health; it has been proven to cut through plaque and toxins in the mouth very effectively. It is also a natural teeth whitener, and has a profound impact on halitosis – whilst more serious conditions such as mouth ulcers, bleeding gums and even gingivitis have been treated using Oil Pulling.
However, research a little further, and you will find that Oil Pulling can be used as a detoxifier not just for the mouth, but for the whole body. Oil Pulling has been shown to benefit troublesome skin conditions, such as eczema and acne, as well as hormonal imbalances – particularly those associated with the thyroid gland. Look a little further again, and you’ll find people who have used Oil Pulling to treat bacterial infections, breathing difficulties and to improve their kidney function. The practice is now attracting plenty of attention, especially from Holistic Practitioners, due to the wide range of conditions it has been shown to improve.
How to Oil Pull
If you’re interested in trying out Oil Pulling for yourself, it’s a very simple (albeit relatively time consuming) practice to follow. Select a high quality, cold pressed oil; extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil and sesame oil are all great choices, but personally, I opt for melted coconut oil. Its antimicrobial powers are already proven, there’s always some in my cupboard, and I love the taste!
Take 1 – 2 tbsp of the oil in your mouth, and swish for 20 minutes. According to research, this time period is crucial. Any shorter, and there is not adequate time to break down the toxins and bacteria. Any longer, and these toxins may be reabsorbed into the body. 20 minutes may seem like a fairly long time, but it goes pretty quickly if you incorporate it with other tasks, such as a leisurely morning walk. Just try not to bump into anyone who wants to chat along the way! Once the 20 minutes are up, rinse well with warm water before brushing as normal.
Ideally, this process should be repeated at least three times per week for best results. Due to the powerful detoxing effects oil pulling has on the body, some people have reported symptoms of a detox reaction during their first few days of Oil Pulling. These symptoms are pretty rare however, and don’t seem to reach any further than sinus problems (such as congestion) and minor headaches.
I’d love to hear your opinions on Oil Pulling. Have you tried it? Have you had any success? Let me know below!
