Sunset Chiropractic Clinic

Back Issues

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT OVER A LATTE?

Many of you know that I recommend avoiding dairy (milk) products if you are fighting a cold, have allergies or have bowel problems. Milk can increase mucus production (which you definitely don't want if you have a cold), is a common allergen, and can cause gastrointestinal distress if you lack the proper enzymes to digest it. The enzyme necessary for digestion of milk is lactase. Twenty percent of Caucasians and up to 90% of people of color have no lactase in their intestines, causing gas, cramps, bloating and diarrhea upon drinking milk. If you are one of these people who have intestinal discomfort with drinking milk, it may help you to take digestive enzymes such as those found in Similase (which we have available at the office) when you absolutely have to have dairy products.

Because of aggresive advertising by the dairy industry, many of us find it difficult to imagine a diet with less milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream, even though it is probably better for our health to limit dairy products or avoid them altogether. One of the dairy industry's advertising claims is "Milk is nature's most perfect food". But the reality is that milk is nature's most perfect food for a calf, who has four stomachs, will double it's weight in 47 days, and can weigh up to 1000 pounds within its first year of life!!