The benefits of a dairy-free diet and my favorite dairy-free products

I haven’t had cow dairy for some 20 years. The signs that dairy wasn’t right for me were there from when I was a kid. I had recurrent tonsillitis and ear infections and major constipation issues. This inflammatory response was caused by my body’s inability to breakdown the A1 casein in the regular dairy that I was consuming through the cheesy and buttery Italian fare that was the daily diet of my whole family. When I developed the FLO Living protocol, I was able to understand that dairy in my diet was a trigger for my PCOS symptoms - the acne, depression, and weight gain. Since then more and more research has revealed the problems with the A1 casein that is in the majority of dairy we consume here in the US (and many other countries). Now I recommend that my clients - whether they have fibroids, or endometriosis, or PMS, or heavy periods - go dairy-free as an essential step in managing and eliminating their health issues.

How dairy is hurting your hormonal health

1. Dairy creates inflammation in the intestinal tract which can hinder your fertility, disrupt ovulation and create irregular cycles and missing periods.
2. Dairy can throw off your body’s own estrogen production by introducing artificial growth hormones. Most dairy cows are injected with genetically modified growth hormone to produce more milk than they would naturally.
3. Dairy containing antibiotics will negatively impact your microbiome to prevent effective estrogen metabolism. It will also negatively impact your own immunity.
4. Dairy cows are invariably fed with GMO corn and soy which sets you up for estrogen overload. GMOs are endocrine disruptors, as is processed soy.
5. Dairy depletes your magnesium stores which throws off your pituitary and adrenal glands.

How to make the transition to dairy-free and my favorite dairy-free alternatives

Dairy isn’t just bad news for women, it’s bad news for everyone, which is why neither my daughter nor my husband have cow dairy. I feed my daughter a little dairy and only the kinds which do not contain the problematic A1 casein. Dairy isn’t her main source of calcium, however, as there are many other better sources, including sardines, figs and greens. We needn’t feel reliant on dairy for our calcium needs. Although during my pregnancy and early months of breastfeeding I enjoyed goat’s milk yogurt a couple of days a week, I am back to being dairy-free completely. At the time, my body signalled to me that it wanted and needed a little dairy and I listened. But I know that even a little dairy, of any kind, for me can trigger sneezing and congestion in my sinuses. A 2014 study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that the inflammatory impact is not found with dairy that contains A2 casein rather than A1. A1 casein is found in the milk of the Holstein Friesian cows used for the majority of industrial dairy farming. A2 casein is found in the milk of Jersey and Guernsey cows, Asian and African cow breeds, sheep and goats.You can purchase milk, cheese and yogurt from Jersey or Guernsey cows here in the US. My favorite brand is St Benoit, which is an organic range including milk, yogurt and cheese, produced in Sonoma County, California. But in my household the dairy that is mostly on offer is goat’s, partly because it’s much easier to get a hold of and you can be certain is does not contain A1 casein. Organic and grass-fed goats is a perfect dairy alternative for children and it’s what I give my daughter in addition to a rotation of home-made nutmilks. Despite being a cow dairy-free household we still have ice-cream in the freezer - my husband’s favorite brand is LaLoo’s Goat Milk Ice Cream, but I love Coconut Bliss. My husband enjoys cheese occasionally and so we keep on hand a sheep’s milk manchego. When it comes to milk alternatives for cooking and drinking - I like to get nut varieties because you get a higher nutrient content with those than you’ll find with grain-based varieties. It’s ideal to make your own nut milk at home as you’ll avoid the acidic acid found in most store-bought kinds. I personally like to rotate with almond, cashew and coconut. My personal favorite is the Native Forest coconut milk. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaGood things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First, are you already dairy-free? Second, do you have PCOS? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Is Your Period Healthy?

How do you know if your hormones are healthy? The answer is in your 5th vital sign - your period. The color of your flow, frequency of your period, and symptoms you have each month can tell you a lot about your health. There are 5 different V-SIGN TYPES, and knowing which one you have will help you get healthy now and prevent disease in the future. Click here to take The V-SIGN TYPE™ Quiz NOW