The gurgles, the bubbles, loose stools and then looking down to notice that your stomach resembles a balloon.

Sound familiar? Those are some of the symptoms of Lactose Intolerance.

So why remove dairy (& specifically cow's milk) from your diet?

One of the things that frustrates me is how, as humans, we have somehow evolved in a way that we no longer realise we are like every other species on the planet. Yes of course, a little bit more advanced in our ability to survive, procreate and dominate but we are still part of mother nature’s planet.

This also means we need to question why are we the only species that continues to drink milk after infancy? All other species understand that milk is required to fuel us when our bodies are not formed to fully digest whole foods. They also don’t go around drinking other mammals milk either!

What does it take to keep a cow producing that much milk for the demands of human consumption? I’m afraid a whole lot of hormones & mastitis or inflammation of the mammary glands, leading to the shedding of white blood cells or ‘pus’. All of which finds its way in small amounts into our commercial milk.

If you’re ok with this, then do remember that being a species of mother nature, your body was designed to tolerate just what it needs, so over 70% of the population no longer have the enzyme lactase that’s required to break down the proteins inside dairy. If your ancestors came from grain farming areas such as Asia, as opposed to dairy farming areas in places like France, then it’s more likely you reach the 90% statistic given for areas in Asia.

So what are the alternatives?

• Soy milk is a great alternative, traditionally grown in Asia too, it can be a great alternative for descendants of grain farmers. Do be careful to source an organic brand as soybean crops can frequently be found to contain GMO and cheaper brands of soy milk have large amounts of added sugar.
• Coconut milk, I find coming from a tropical climate that this is a great option for me, my body literally sings when I add coconut in any form to my food
• Finally, Nut Milks. Almond milk is a very popular choice. Almonds can be soaked for 8 hours or overnight, then rinsed and blended with water for a fast & simple plant based alternative to cow’s milk.

Controlling your nutrition in a way that works to your genetics & body requirements is a sure way to reach your health goals by getting your body operating in its optimal state!