Dairy Question

[YankeyMCC]

Hello all, I thought there may be several here with similar diet habits that I might find someone who could relate similar experience or have some facts or hints on where to find fact.

I follow a vegetarian diet, I don't really try to be vegan however I don't typically purchase dairy for myself, I've even cut way back on the yoghurt in recent months. Growing up and early adulthood I ate copious amounts of cheese, I really enjoy it when I have it, but last few years I have it only rarely now.

I have found that when I go long stretches without dairy and then have some cheese or ice cream or something the next day my stomach is a little upset, nothing to bad but noticeable. And in particular the last example, it's been possibly more than 6 months since I've had any dairy, longest period yet, and yesterday I had a large slice of pizza that was very cheesy and this morning the discomfort is very pronounced.

There's no history to my knowledge of lactose intolerance in my family. Is there any truth to the idea that if you don't eat dairy a sort of lactose intolerance can develop?

[Voice for Peace]

1. I've cut waaaaay back on dairy, over time

because I can't digest it easily any more, especially cheese.

Look into the medicinal properties of cayenne, it's what
works for me when I have intestinal distress. I only
discovered it this year, am amazed by how it's helped.

Also I've read dairy is one food to buy organic if you
are able because of gmo feed, and other reasons
which I don't remember.

I think a lot of lactose intolerance is coming from the
milk, not the people, nowadays. Our digestive systems
are also under such assault. Try the cayenne, like a
quarter tsp in 8oz water next time you have that
distress, see if it helps.

[YankeyMCC]

2. Now that you mention it I've

heard or read somewhere about cayenne being of help. Thanks I'll look into it.

[ginnyinWI]

3. Yes I think so

But turn it around, and assume that all of us are naturally lactose intolerant--meaning that we are not meant to consume cow's milk, really, and that our eating it is an adaptation for survival in cold climates back in history. Not our natural food, in other words. We get used to it, but we do better without it. And when we eat some once in a while after not having it, we notice the effects.

Same thing with meat--a meal heavy with meat will make a person feel sluggish and slow, compared to a plant-based meal. But when people have it every day, three times a day, they think how they feel is normal. They don't know how good they could be feeling.

[flvegan]

4. Quite possible.

Your gut needs to make lactase to digest dairy products. If you don't eat dairy (or very little) for some time and then eat a big portion, you can have problems. Your body may over time decrease the creation of lactase if it goes largely unneeded.

[Doremus]

5. I had a very similar reaction recently.

I had been vegetarian and decided to give up all animal protein last February. There was an art show in town and they brought in several gourmet food trucks, one of which served cupcakes. I indulged in one, much to my later chagrin. It traversed my digestive system in record time leaving a trail of wrack and ruin, lol.

I was never lactose intolerant before, but I won't be making that mistake again.

[ginnyinWI]

6. reminds me of what happened when

my daughter went to a raw foods diet for one month prior to her wedding to lose a few extra pounds (she wasn't fat in the first place though). At her wedding reception, she went back to her normal vegetarian diet, and did experience a tummy upset. She said she felt like her stomach was full of lead. I think the same thing happened: her digestive enzymes were all adapted to the raw, dairy free diet, and when other food arrived in her stomach it just sat there. She was just fine in a day or two.

[LaurenG]

7. It happened to me. After nearly a year without dairy

I started noticing some discomfort when I drank milk, then it included ice cream and the last to go was cheese. It went from discomfort to acute distress. I can't do dairy in any form at all anymore