Studies of more than 660,000 people suggest that not all dairy is created equal when it comes to effects on our health. People who eat cheese tend to live longer, but drinking a lot of milk can lead to slightly higher rates of coronary heart disease and death.
Cheese may be better tolerated than milk in some people because it is lower in lactose, a type of sugar that is not easily digested if people lack the enzyme to break it down.
There are actually two reasons why cheese is safe for the lactose intolerant: The process of cheesemaking converts lactose into lactic acid. Once a cheese is cultured, the curds (milk solids) are drained of their whey milk liquid). The whey is what contains the lactose.
Cheese is actually quite low in lactose compared to dairy products like milk, cream, and yogurt. Most contain less than 2 grams per serving (1 ounce), which is far less than the 12 to 13 grams of lactose you get in one serving (1 cup) of milk.
Even fresh cheeses contain only a fraction of the lactose that's present in milk. But cow's milk does have large, difficult-to-digest fat globules that remain in the cheese, which some have suggested are the real source of stomach discomfort.
You may improve your overall gut health.
Those artificial ingredients can cause various sensitivities, as well as overgrowth of yeast and inflammation of the GI tract—which can lead to fatigue, an upset stomach, and nausea. But removing dairy can help to heal your gut and replenish its healthy bacteria over time.
Fatty foods, such as chips, burgers and fried foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn. Cut back on greasy fried foods to ease your stomach's workload. Try to eat more lean meat and fish, drink skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, and grill rather than fry foods.
Milk and other dairy products are the top source of saturated fat in the American diet, contributing to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Studies have also linked dairy to an increased risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
Products made with milk, such as cream, cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and butter, also contain lactose and may need to be avoided if you're lactose intolerant. But the level of lactose in these products varies and is sometimes quite low, so you may still be able to have some of them without experiencing any problems.
Eggs are still a part of a dairy-free diet. Even though they are found in the dairy section of the grocery store, eggs do not contain milk sugar and milk proteins. Eggs are safe to eat in a milk-free diet.
However, dairy isn't meat, so why don't vegans drink animal's milk? Vegans believe that you should never consume animal products in any of their forms for the same ethical reasons. While no cows are killed to produce cow milk, the modern industrial complex ensures that cows are kept against their will to produce milk.
In general, cheese is a healthy and delicious source of many nutrients. For most people, a balanced diet can include cheese. Occasionally snacking on cheese or having a few crumbles with your salad or sprinkled over vegetables isn't likely to cause problems, unless you're lactose intolerant or allergic to milk.
And it provides other nutrients such as iodine, vitamins D, B2 and B12, and zinc. But yoghurt is actually more nutritious than milk. The main reason is that the fermentation process makes it easier to digest, so the nutrients can be absorbed more easily into the body.
Dairy products are mucus-forming and the protein in dairy has been found to increase inflammation in vital parts of the body such as the thyroid gland and digestive tract. Since cutting dairy, I've noticed improvements in my metabolism and energy levels — which can both be linked to thyroid health.
Is It Healthy to Eat Cheese Every Day? As long as you don't have a sensitivity to lactose or dairy, eating cheese every day can be part of your healthy eating plan. In addition to the protein and calcium benefits, cheese is a fermented food and can supply a good source of probiotics for a healthy gut.
The bottom line is no, dairy products are not a nutritional requirement for humans. We can get all of the nutrients for optimal health from a high-quality diet that limits or contains no dairy.
You may feel less bloated
Cutting dairy out of the loop means less digestive stress on your body, i.e., less bloating. But take note that as your body adjust to less dairy (then no dairy!) and more plants, you might feel some digestive discomfort.
Unfortunately, yes. Cutting out high-lactose foods really can give you lactose intolerance symptoms when you re-introduce them—at least, temporarily. But you can retrain your body to digest this tricky sugar, which is excellent news if you decide you just can't do life without milkshakes.
It can take up to 21 days for all traces of cow's milk protein to leave your system so it's best to wait for two to three weeks to evaluate the results.
Studies have shown that milk is linked to a number of other cancers and diseases, such as breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. Saturated fat in milk and other dairy products is also the number one source of saturated fat in the U.S., which contributes to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
Processed foods, as well as alcohol, can also negatively impact gut health. Prebiotic and probiotic foods like whole grains, onions, garlic, fermented foods, miso and yogurt feed the good bacteria in your gut.
Probiotic yogurt
People with lactose intolerance often find yogurt much easier to digest than milk. This is because most yogurts contain live bacteria that can help break down lactose, so your body has less to process on its own.