Dairy free since Monday 2nd June :)

[vixthenomad]

Hello everybody!

I'm really excited to have found this community! I decided to go dairy free for 2 weeks following a bout of IBS-type symptoms, and having read that dairy was a big culprit (and knowing that I did eat a lot of it). And you know what, I'm loving it! I'm not missing cheese, milk etc at all. I always loved Alpro soya products anyway, so I'm using those to replace some things, and since I'm not buying milk chocolate all the time anymore (a big weakness of mine), I'm spending more money on good-quality food like fruits, salads, veggie cuisine, etc (I can heartily recommend Cauldron falafel bites). So I can wholeheartedly say that I can see myself adopting this lifestyle indefinitely - I've even contemplated how viable it would be to go vegan!! I'm now nice and regular in the bowel department, no more abdominal pain & bloating, and as an additional bonus I've lost 2lb on the scales. My family are really supportive of the changes I've made, so I'm very lucky.

I think I must be detoxing a bit though, as after a couple of days dairy-free, I started feeling really crappy - tired and irritable, and sleeping loads. I'm thinking this could be a sign of backed-up dairy badness exiting my system. Has anyone else experienced the same? All replies welcome and I look forward to getting to know everyone.

Vix the Nomad
xxx

[Copper]

Welcome to the site.

I did not have any problems when I cut dairy out of my diet. I know that others have experienced problems. I think that you should feel much better within a couple of weeks or so.

Despite trying hard not to replace all of my dairy with soya I have now developed an intolerance to soya :(

I do have everything under control though so I feel fine.

[rebecca c]

It would be normal to expect detox symptoms, the other improvements are very good news. I am glad you are not missing dairy. I tend to find I dont miss stuff I have cut out after about 2 weeks.

As Copper says watch out for soya intolerance developing. If you rotate it in and dont rely on it heavily it is less likely to be a problem.

I have to make my own falafal as I am gluten intolerant or possibly coeliac too, but I do love falafel.

[cnc]

Glad that it's helping. Just be careful with some of the veggie stuff they have a tendency to hide milk products in their products.

It was about 6 weeks afterwards when I really started missing things, still miss the odd thing now, but it does get much easier.

[jill]

Hi, Glad to hear you are feeling better without dairy. I can't remember having any detox symptoms but it was quite a while ago when I gave milk products up - i'm lactose intolerant. I know about it if I do have anything with it in, so it is far better to go without. Pleased to hear you are enjoying the experience. Eating out is the hardest thing, as you will find most things are smothered in either cream, cheese or custard or ice cream. I would say if you can tolerate a little bit of dairy without being ill then carry on having a bit as you may find that if you don't have any for a while, then have some you may suffer. Good luck if you decide to go vegan. Going without Milk products is hard enough sometimes, to give up meat, fish and eggs must take some willpower.