Simla Somturk Wickless
Delicious Health LLC - Founder & Principal CoachBoulder, CO
http://www.enjoydelicioushealth.com
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"I'm lactose intolerant."
I hear it a lot. But here's a news flash: you may be one of the 80+ % of people who think they're lactose intolerant but in fact have a more significant issue going on with dairy. Here's the scoop:
Lactose intolerance is due to an inability to digest the sugar (lactose) in milk. It is an enzyme deficiency which may be alleviated just by taking extra enzymes (lactase) if you choose to continue including dairy products in your diet. And, sometimes, your body can correct itself after a period of eating and being exposed to dairy again, ideally starting with the highest quality version available (e.g. raw grass-fed dairy products or organic, at a minimum). As with any disruption-causing food going into your body, it's important not to push it too far, however, so that you don't overly distress your body.
Allergies or general intolerances/sensitivities (which differ from one another in how they manifest and in how they are identified) are inflammatory reactions triggered by the immune system to the protein(s) in a particular food. In the case of milk, the proteins to which you could be reacting are casein (more likely) and/or whey (less likely).With allergies or intolerances/sensitivities, you may or may not become more tolerant to the food ~ in this case, dairy ~ over time. It's very important, however, to begin by removing the food for a length of time to give your body relief from the inflammation caused by this allergy or intolerance/sensitivity and prevent any further damage from happening. Ignoring these types of reactions can have a negative ripple effect throughout your body over the long-term and can be a significant contributor to other chronic health conditions such as autoimmune conditions (e.g. arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia), migraines, chronic upper respiratory infections, skin problems such as adult acne, and more.
You may be able to reintroduce these foods back into your diet some time in the future, after you have taken steps to remove, restore, and repair any damage done.
Note: I'm being vague about the removal and reintroduction timeframes on purpose because it really depends on the individual what those ideal timeframes are.
So... the next time you react to dairy, don't assume.
Moooo? I mean, ok?
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Simla Somturk Wickless, MBA, CHC, CNE, is the founder of Delicious Health LLC. Simla is a health, nutrition, and balanced living coach whose mission is to transform Busy Bodies into healthy, Balanced beings TM. Simla loves working with women entrepreneurs, professionals, and autoimmune clients to help them increase their energy, tame their stress, get to their natural weight without dieting, and take back control of their health to live intensely pleasurable and impactful lives. Contact Simla via http://www.EnjoyDeliciousHealth.com to schedule your complimentary Delicious Discovery Session.
