I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. My nose was always stuffy and I never had any energy, and my moods were swinging left and right.

I decided to try an experiment. I gave up dairy for 1 week. I had mucus coming out of every place it could (sorry that's gross) had a major headache and extremely moody the first 3 days. On the 4th day I had sooo much more energy and my sinuses were at least 80% clear. The headache was gone and I was in a great happy mood!

Then I ate some ice cream on the 8th day.. The 9th day I woke up feeling like a truck ran over me. Sinuses were blocked, I had what felt like a hangover type headache. My mood turned sour.

This has convinced me to totally give up dairy. I have frozen all my cheese and butter.. I don't know what to do with it, since I won't eat it.

Has anyone else given up dairy? I read a lot online about how bad dairy is for you, it's scary and makes me wish I had given it up years ago instead of suffering.

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My dd is dairy free (due to food allergies) and actually ds too. They are very healthy, happy and full of energy. Sounds like you made a great choice!

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I haven't heard that dairy is bad for you in moderation. Then again, I am not a "health nut" so I wouldn't go searching for it. My doc wants me to have more dairy to get calcium. I can't swallow pills (well, not very easily so a supplement isn't a good choice for me and I can't stomach those *chocolate* chews...bleh!). I don't drink milk but I will out 1/3 cup in my cereal (about once a week) and I LOVE good cheese. I don't think I could give that up. I don't think I eat/drink enough of it to cause any harm. I've gone 2 weeks with no dairy at all and no changes (it wasn't by choice..just ending up happening that way during a vacation)

I'm glad that it's working out for you.

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I am glad you are feeling better.....my dd's and I have been almost dairy free for years--the lactose was rough on our stomachs, but my Mom continued to PUSH dairy "for strong bones and teeth" until I finally got it through her head that not ALL PEOPLE can eat dairy and we are FINE!!!! For us, it's like eating something that you ate just before getting the stomach flu and you can never eat that food again (sorry to be gross, just trying to explain...). Milk just tastes yucky....we can do some cheese and a bit of sour cream but thats it or we pay or rather....even the dog leaves the room, due to the gas!!

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I am wondering if this is my problem too. I have been dealing with a horrible on and off sinus issue since June. I also consume large amounts of dairy products: milk in my cereal, ice cream (had tons over the summer) and grated cheese on practically everything. I know its so unhealthy but Im hooked. I may give it up for a while and see how that goes.
Dairy does produce more mucus..hmm My daughter is going to give it up for a time to see if her acne will tone down. Since May or June she has been dealing with the same sinus issue as I have along with bad acne flair ups. Now I wonder if its all because of dairy products we consumed over the summer.

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for those of you who don't "do" dairy at all....what do you do to get calcium? I'm not a big OJ drinker (I know you can buy it with calcium added) and like I said, I'm not a supplement girl. I am afraid of weakened bones and teeth in the future. My teeth aren't gems already and my mom has some bone weakening as does my aunt and they aren't big into dairy either.

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Susiecat as you know already I do not eat any meat nor any fish, I also limit my dairy intake as well due to the fact that I also suffer with my stomach as well, I have been told by my doctors that since my son Tommy is lactose intolorent and both my dd's are some what . So for me and my dd's if we eat to much dairy we have stomach aches . I have been using Activa for about 2 months now and wow what a difference literally a big difference. Also I only have half and half in my hot tea in the morning, the rest of the day is with lemon and honey so much better. I also have been told by my doctors as we get older sometimes our digestive systems changes and all that diary intake is no good. I am glad you are feeling better. Continued good health and peace. Catherine

I have been drinking Chocolate Almond Milk. That stuff is so good! It has calcium in it. They also have Vanilla and Plain Almond Milk. It's much smoother tasting than soy. I also take a multivitamin daily.

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Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

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It could be your problem. If you do decide to try giving up dairy for a week or two, and you start feeling better it'll be easier to avoid it.

This may sound strange but my skin feels much smoother and softer since ditching the dairy. I have dry skin. I figured it was the mucous sucking up all the water I drank for my body... no mucous...then the skin can benefit from the water I drink

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Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

Well for me I take calcium supplment vitamins I take many vitamins each day. As far as my teeth no problem there I have all implants so I do not have to worry about my teeth . I practically lived in the dentist all my life I always ate good, brushed my teeth , took care of my teeth , went for regular visits, but was told by many dentist's that I was born with bad teeth and would always have dental issues and I honestly to this day still never had a sweet tooth. Now for my dh he has all his real teeth and in all the years we have been together he probably has had 2 cavities never a root canal , never had a tooth pulled nothing I have had everything and finally decided to take all my teeth out and have dental implants in and I am never ever happier. Btw I love drinking soymilk all I need is to add some fresh friut and I am good to go . Peace. Catherine

Yup, we've been dairy free for 17 years. (myself, DH and 5 kids)

Silk Soy Milk is the best!!

As far as calcium goes, you get more than enough from green veggies (plus other food, green veggies are just higher than others).

We have a friend who has daily migraines. He gave up dairy and the migraines completely went away. Came back as soon as he started eating dairy again.

Congrats on your healthy eating habit change.

Tums has calcium. I chew one every day. (Tums Ultra 1000)

I had no choice but to take these after I had my thyroid removed....I was on so many a day for a while....once I was okay, I was told I could stop, but also told that since I need calcium, I should continue to take one every day.

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Ya'll know we have life threatening milk allergies in this household too! We carry Epi Pens for anaphylaxis and two of my kids wear medical bracelets at ALL times because of it.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come over to the recipe boards and post your recipes ya'll.

I'm always on the lookout for a new recipe we can add to the old standards we use around here. My kids would thank you kindly for it!

Take care,
X

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Silk soy milk is fortified with calcium.

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

Digestive Advantage for lactose intolerance. Ganeden Biotech, Inc.

Had you ever been diagnosed as being lactose intolerant?

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Diagnosed by a doctor? No, but when I ate sour cream ...let's just say I could clear a room LOL! I stopped drinking milk years ago because it seemed to make my nose stuffy. The hard part was giving up the cheese. So this month I gave up Cheese, Butter, Yogurt and Ice Cream.

I am slowly trying to make my self healthier. No caffeine, no soda pop, no pork, no dairy. If I give up something unhealthy once a year, it becomes natural, instead of giving up all unhealthy things at once.
I also add something healthy as well.. like drinking only water. Using only olive oil.

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Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

A lot of people have dairy allergies/sensitivities, so good for you for figuring out that you have one and solving the problem.

I think that dairy, like most other things, is fine in moderation(as long as you don't have allergies).

I don't have allergies and I could never willingly go dairy free. I love a glass of skim milk with ice in it, a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup on a cold day and an ice cream cone as an occasional treat.

For those that have given up dairy due to lactose intolerance, my sister reports that the Breyers Lactose Free ice cream is quite good and soy cheese is almost as good as the real thing. I quote: "It melted on the pizza and was even stretchy!" She's a dairy lover so that's a big complement on the soy cheese!

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Some people don't ever figure it out or don't want to accept it I'm so glad you discovered it and listened to your body.

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I would be a VERY unhappy camper if I couldn't have butter

I think it's been proven once and for all that cow's milk is not healthy for humans -- it's meant for baby cows

Susiecat you seem like your doing all the right things. Again for me its been well over a 14 months no more soda in the house at all ever ever . We started for my son and then after we all tried to go back and boy was it so nasty so sweet yuck yuck yuck , when I think back to all those years of drinking soda ... So its only homemade icetea, water, juices ,homemade juices from my juicer which I also use all types of veggies and friuts its the best all 100 natural nothing added at all. I gave up butter also only a tiny bit of lite creme cheese spread but mostly spreadable fruit. Of course me and dd;s do not eat not meat or any fish I have not wow since I was 22 years old dd 24 since she was 14 and dd 17 since she was 8. Husband and Son only eat turkey, chicken and fish . Once in a blue moon they will bbq and have a steak my son more then my husband. We all consume alot of vitamins and eat alot of fruit. No milk here only 1 percent for dh for the me and my dd;s only soymilk for my son none at all and even with soymilk we limit it. The biggest thing is there is no smoking yuck yuck yuck yuck and no alcohol which I am soooooo happy about I preached about that to I was blue in the face. For my son he cannot and honestly since they all have some stomach issues alcohol bothered my older dd when she did drink . So to all here is to more healthy eating and please please try activa it is wonderful it really works for your digestive system and if anything keep up the soda its no good and if you smoke or drink try to cut down it truly will add to you life . Peace. Catherine

Hi Catherine. Sounds like you and your family and very healthy! I've never smoked or drank, so I don't even think about those things. I take a probiotic pill at least once a week so I don't have to eat the activa yogurt. I drink about 90% water, the other 10% is split between tea and almond milk. I used to only drink sodas, now they rarely interest me. I sometimes miss the bubbles though LOL!

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

Most soy cheeses do contain some milk. Something to avoid if you have milk allergies.

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.