I just love that people are becoming more aware of their food choices (for the most part).
It is such an empowering thing we can do for ourselves.
Taking control of our health through our food, and thus through our wallets, will be the smartest thing you will ever do. Not to mention it is quite satisfying giving your dollars to a hard working farmer, rather than a large faceless pharmaceutical corporation, that's for sure!
I have noticed over the past few years, the most common food items that are purchased organically are dairy products. If you are going to start somewhere with organics, it may as well be in the dairy department (along with fruits and veggies of course!).
It is such an empowering thing we can do for ourselves.
Taking control of our health through our food, and thus through our wallets, will be the smartest thing you will ever do. Not to mention it is quite satisfying giving your dollars to a hard working farmer, rather than a large faceless pharmaceutical corporation, that's for sure!
I have noticed over the past few years, the most common food items that are purchased organically are dairy products. If you are going to start somewhere with organics, it may as well be in the dairy department (along with fruits and veggies of course!).
But the moment I began to live a more mindful life, and really took charge of my health through food, everything changed!
I am sure most people have heard of lactose intolerance, the body's inability to breakdown lactose, a prevalent sugar found in milk. A less often talked about part of diary that can cause gastrointestinal problems and more, is a protein called casein. Casein can also be used as an additive in certain foods, so be sure to read your labels.
Some symptoms to look out for if lactose might be a problem for you...
abdominal pain/cramping, bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, or vomiting.
Symptoms if you may have a casein allergy or sensitivity might be...
swollen skin wherever contact has occurred, stomach bloating, rashes, hives,
generally irritated skin, nasal or sinus
congestion, sneezing, coughing, watery or irritated eyes, and coughing
or wheezing.
*Be sure to consult with your physician if you think you may have a casein allergy
Eating too much dairy for all people can also show up in ways you might not expect like...
mental fog, headaches, joint pain/stiffness, chronic sinus infection or post nasal drip, sluggishness, acne
To find out if dairy is causing problems for you simply eliminate it from your diet for a few weeks and note any changes that may occur in your mental or physical state.
Goat vs. Cow
Some say that cheese from goat milk is easier to digest, but I still believe that this is such an individual thing. It is certainly not a hard and fast rule that a goat cheese will not affect you the same way a cow's milk cheese will. If you are interested in experimenting with this yourself, I highly suggest using very small quantities. Also making sure that you wait at least 3 days before trying it again to see how your body reacts and how you feel.
*Aged cheeses tend to have less lactose & casein vs. soft cheeses.
Try a cheese like a Spanish Raw Naked Goat Cheese, or an aged Raw Parmigiano Reggiano
Raw vs. Pasteurized
It has been said by some raw milk advocates that raw milk does not react the same as pasteurized milk in people with lactose intolerance. Now, I am definitely an advocate for raw dairy, from a purely nutritional aspect. But, in my personal experience I can not drink milk or have most milk based items, raw or not. There is no arguing that raw dairy has all of the great nutrients that are supposed to be there, and that pasteurization kills pretty much everything good in dairy.
Even though milk, ice creams, yogurts and butter are out of my diet, the world of raw cheeses makes my body a happy one. Not every raw cheese will be okay for everyone. There are only a small number of cheeses that have proven to be okay with my body. Some are from goat, some from cow, and some from a mix of both, but all are aged and raw.
Again, I just have to repeat how dairy affects someone is a very individual thing.
I will quote the age old proverb on food,
"One person's medicine, is another person's poison"
So, just because someone else said it worked or did not work for them and their digestive disorder, that certainly does NOT mean it will work for all people with the same condition.
Happily there are many options for those with sensitivities to the
lactose and casein in dairy!
A few years ago I discovered a product that revolutionized how we ate in our home.
GHEE
What is ghee?
Commonly known as clarified butter. From grass fed organic cows is best.
This is simply butter that is heated, it will separate, and the portion that is removed contains all of the lactose and casein that was in the butter. And you are left with a delicious buttery ghee that can be used in any way one would use butter.
What is better than Ghee?
Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil Ghee (made from grass fed cows)
Basically a wonderful company decided to mix together two amazingly nutritious fats, and what you get is simply fantastic. It contains a 75% / 25% ratio of Coconut Oil and Grass Fed Ghee.
Can be used anywhere in place of butter or oil in most recipes.
The most nutritional oil you can use. The thing that makes it so fantastic is, it is perfect for high temperature cooking. It has a high smoke point which means the oil's molecular structure wont change as you heat it. Oils like extra virgin olive oil and flaxseed oil are wonderful, but don't have a high smoke point, so are better if you eat it in its natural state, unheated.
Use coconut oil to replace butter or ghee in most recipes for a delightful dish.
Dairy-Free 'Milk' Choices
Organic Almond milk is our favorite, next to coconut milk.
The beauty of both these milks is, you can make them yourself in a blender!
Of course you can always purchase these in your grocery store in a carton. I suggest using the unsweetened versions. I don't like having 'hidden' sugars in my foods, if I want something sweet, I want to sweeten it myself.
There are also rice milks, but they tend to have a much higher sugar content due to the process of making the milk from rice syrup. So, I don't really love rice milk for that reason. Nor am I a big supporter of soy milks. They have been known to interfere with hormone production in people if consumed on a regular basis. And if it is not made from organic soy, the process they use to grow and extract it is super scary. Find out more on the dangers of GMO, non-organic soy here.
Canned Organic Coconut Milk
Great to replace heavy cream in almost any recipe.
This milk is often called coconut cream, since it is much thicker than the thin coconut milks from the carton.
So, if you think living a lactose, casein or dairy free life is impossible, think again!
These days it could not be easier, or more delicious.
There is a replacement for pretty much anything, and doesn't that feel good!
Happy eating everyone!
Use coconut oil to replace butter or ghee in most recipes for a delightful dish.
Dairy-Free 'Milk' Choices
Organic Almond milk is our favorite, next to coconut milk.
The beauty of both these milks is, you can make them yourself in a blender!
Of course you can always purchase these in your grocery store in a carton. I suggest using the unsweetened versions. I don't like having 'hidden' sugars in my foods, if I want something sweet, I want to sweeten it myself.
There are also rice milks, but they tend to have a much higher sugar content due to the process of making the milk from rice syrup. So, I don't really love rice milk for that reason. Nor am I a big supporter of soy milks. They have been known to interfere with hormone production in people if consumed on a regular basis. And if it is not made from organic soy, the process they use to grow and extract it is super scary. Find out more on the dangers of GMO, non-organic soy here.
Canned Organic Coconut Milk
Great to replace heavy cream in almost any recipe.
This milk is often called coconut cream, since it is much thicker than the thin coconut milks from the carton.
So, if you think living a lactose, casein or dairy free life is impossible, think again!
These days it could not be easier, or more delicious.
There is a replacement for pretty much anything, and doesn't that feel good!
Happy eating everyone!
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