Dairy allergy, anyone else?

[Atlas]

I don't consume dairy for ethical reasons. I get enough calcium with a balanced diet including lots of greens. Plus we eat a fair amount of calcium fortified soy foods (milk and tofu). You mentioned you don't eat a lot of soy so most of my favorite substitutes are out but you can certainly do a lot with raw cashews; they make an excellent cream. I make a ricotta-like spread with them that is wonderful in lasagna. The new Daiya vegan cheese is really good as well, and is the best dairy-free cheese I've had (especially the cheddar-type in quesadillas!).

[itself]

Yep, I cannot do dairy either. As I am allergic to soy, hemp milk has been my saviour. I miss yogurt a lot, and cream cheese on my bagels!

[OakLeaf]

I miss yogurt a lot

Have you tried culturing coconut milk? I see a lot of cultured coconut milk products on the shelves - I've bought them a few times and really like the taste, but there's a limit to the amount of plastic packaging I'll bring home on a regular basis.

I know the commercial products have a lot of gums and stuff added as thickeners, since you need a protein content comparable to dairy or soy to get yogurt to curdle and thicken. But it's still possible the bacteria would grow well on the sugars.

I might have to try culturing coconut milk. And find a kombucha starter...

[ny biker]

You mentioned you don't eat a lot of soy so most of my favorite substitutes are out but you can certainly do a lot with raw cashews; they make an excellent cream.

I have no problems with dairy products, but I am allergic to cashews, or more specifically, to whatever they break down into after I've digested them -- the symptoms take a few days to appear. Apparently this type of allergy can be a problem for people who are sensitive to poison ivy.

Just something to consider for anyone who eats lots of cashews.

[angelaslc]

I have a dairy allergy and a lactose intolerance.

I started itching in Jr. High. Doctors blammed it on dry skin - soaps and detergents. In my twenties my right ear started itching. It got so bad that I would scratch in my sleep and make my ear bleed. Then late twenties itching got really bad on my legs and I couldn't sleep at night. I went to several doctors and no one could tell me what was wrong. I was given allergy meds but then I feel like I've been hit by a bus.

At age 30 I did a detox and stayed off dairy for 90 days. After I added it back it I itched all over. BINGO!! I also noticed it aggrivated my asthma and made me tired.

I don't really use any type of milk anymore but if I do, I use coconut milk or almond milk. I've used raw organic goat cheese and I actually really like that. I absolutely love coconut yogurt - my dessert of choice.

I've been studying detoxification programs and have detoxed quite a bit this year. I noticed my dairy allergy was minimized - even my lactose intolerance was hardly noticable. However, if I start to eat it daily the symptoms increase. Also the symptoms seem to be worse in the summer.....some pollen bothers me in July and August and it makes me itch and agrivates my asthma.....but according to my allergy specialist I'm not allergic to anything.

I agree with everyone else on Calcium. What's more important is Vitamin D and Magnesium. You should take at least 500 mg of Mag a day. For those who train hard, consume caffiene, sugar - may need more. Too much Mag orally will cause is loose stools. My boyfriend needs a lot of mag or he gets major cramps. So I use a magnesium oil and apply topically so he doesn't get loose stools.

Vitamin D is really important too - even more important than Calcium - Actually I think it's the most important vitamins. But you don't absorb it from dairy products. My boyfriend thought he got plenty of sun from his daily rides but he was deficient. I was taking 2,000 IU of D and I was deficient.

If you use any sunscreen at all it prevents you from making vitamin D. So we take vitamin D - but in a liquid gel cap form. I take 2,500 in summer, 5,000 in the fall and spring and 7500 in the dead of winter. So far so good.

Don't listen to the dairy marketing. Countries where dairy is a staple in their diet have a lot more osteoporosis.

Eat GREENS!....I'm gonna go make me a salad....