As I clear the way to make room for the valuable food that fuels my mind & body, sometimes it can be tricky knowing what to clear out of my diet and what to keep. The process may encompass more than just clearing out the obvious "junk food".
Part of the challenge in knowing what to clear out is that diet/nutrition is a hotly debated subject with strong-held opinions & recommendations. The deeper I dig into the information, the more I get bombarded with mixed messages about what to eat. I feel caught in the middle of a war between the government agencies, renowned researchers, film producers, and professional & lay "experts" in the field. It can be very confusing. Plant-based? wheat-free? dairy-free? Mediterranean? low fat?
My gluten-free month that I did a few summers ago reminded me of how important it is to experiment with food and be the expert of my own body. That experiment led me to transition over to more of a gluten-free eating style. This was a valuable experience. It seems there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to diet recommendations. So, I decided it's time to experiment with going dairy-free to find out what's best for me.
Why dairy-free? I have this growing, gnawing sense that maybe the dairy I consume isn't really necessary, and furthermore may not even be all that good for me. A few of the sources that support "the other side" of the dairy debate shed light on the potential negative effects of dairy.
- http://thepaleodiet.com/paleo-diet-faq/
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/dairy-free-dairy-6-reason_b_558876.html
- http://www.thepaleomom.com/2012/10/the-great-dairy-debate.html
I'm feeling torn. The pro-dairy message from government agencies has a stronghold on me. It's so...well, American- to have a milk mustache. Plus, I was born and raised in the Dairy State. I'm a "cheese head". Could I break path? Should I break path?
Up to this point, I haven't been able to get myself to give up the dairy products that I eat daily and love so much- cheese, milk and yogurt. But this year as Lent approached, I felt ready to sacrifice and give dairy-free a try. It won't be easy.
Here are the dairy products I'm really hooked on:
- my 1/4 cup cottage cheese as part of my morning ritual along with 1/2 cup of cranberry juice, before I enjoy my morning cup of coffee
- my post work-out 12 oz of 1% lactose-free milk mixed with a scoop of chocolate whey protein powder
- cheese - all shapes, types, flavors- are a daily part of either lunch and/or dinner meal
- a splash of whole lactose-free milk to lighten my coffee
- our Sunday family dessert night (ice cream)
Questions looming in my mind
- What will I use in place of these dairy "anchors" in my diet?
- How will my choice to go dairy-free impact my family?
- Will I get adequate nutrients, especially calcium & Vitamin D for preventing osteoporosis?
- Will I have to drink my coffee black?!
Obviously, I have some things to explore, figure out, and questions to answer. All I know right now is that I'm off all dairy for the 40 days of Lent until Easter Sunday. This experiment will be my way of helping to determine if dairy is best for me, or not. I'll never really know until I live without it and then try living with it. Here we go...
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