For many years, Aly felt bloated, gassy, and fatigued after consuming too many products containing lactose. Consequently, she decided to embark on a small dietary experiment.
Aly Walansky, a lifestyle journalist, shared her story about dairy products and lactose-containing foods on Eat This, Not That. She grew up with a love for butter and dairy (which contain lactose). Every breakfast, she indulged in her favorite toasted bagel with butter (she was born in Brooklyn, New York, known for its delicious bagels) paired with a latte. When out with friends, her go-to meals often included macaroni and cheese, nachos, pizza, and garlic mashed potatoes.
Aly Walansky wants to limit her consumption of lactose-containing products. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Over time, her tolerance for these products decreased, affecting her health and weight. She anticipated this would happen eventually, as her mother experienced similar issues. In her youth, her mother loved pizza and ice cream. However, as she aged, she would encounter stomach problems after consuming too much butter with her eggs.
By the end of her 30s, Aly noticed that a cookie made with butter or whipped cream could lead to stomach aches and other symptoms, signaling that she might need to end her love affair with dairy. While she could still enjoy cheese products, butter and cream posed a significant challenge. Numerous studies indicate that many people develop issues with dairy as they age.
She promised herself to take a break from these products for a week. After years of feeling bloated and uncomfortable, she realized that her body was increasingly affected by dairy consumption.
A key aspect of this diet was to find alternatives to dairy products. (Photo: Shutterstock).
The Plan
She had no intention of completely eliminating dairy from her diet. However, the plan to abstain from these products for a week would help her identify her body’s reactions. This way, she could consume these products more mindfully in the future.
The crucial part of this diet was finding alternative foods to replace dairy products. Some butter and cheese alternatives have different ingredients. However, since this was just a week-long experiment, she couldn’t try all those options. Furthermore, she needed to monitor her reactions as she removed dairy from her diet, ensuring that any bodily responses were due to the lack of dairy products rather than any substitutes she might use.
Consuming too many lactose-containing products can cause bloating. (Photo: Shutterstock).
The Results
Now, she is planning for New Year’s Eve with friends, and of course, dairy products will be present. The recent week-long dietary plan taught her a lot about her body, such as the fact that she could still enjoy certain dairy-containing dishes.
Feeling Energized
Previously, during holiday seasons, the non-stop activities combined with dining out left her exhausted. However, she now feels more relaxed during these occasions, possibly due to her dietary changes.
No Significant Changes in Skin
In the past, she read that dairy products could worsen Rosacea and other skin issues. As a Rosacea sufferer, she hoped that avoiding dairy for the week would improve her skin problems. However, there were no noticeable changes. Perhaps longer abstinence would yield different results.
Less Bloating
This was a substantial change. After consuming dairy products on her birthday, she experienced bloating for several days. After a week of following her new diet, she did not encounter this issue. Throughout that week, she didn’t wake up at midnight with stomach pain from dinner. This indicated her body had difficulties digesting dairy foods.
Sometimes we stop doing something not because we want to. Drinking too many martinis can cause a headache, but we still crave the refreshing sensation of enjoying one. This situation is similar to food intolerances. We can see what those foods do to us, yet we still want to indulge in them despite the benefits of limiting such foods.
More Creative in the Kitchen
Stopping dairy consumption also provided an opportunity to get creative and try new ingredients in recipes. During one Christmas when making tomato soup, she experimented by adding coconut milk instead of heavy cream. Surprisingly, the flavor was delightful and satisfying.
Learning About Dairy Ingredients
Dairy ingredients are present in more foods than we realize. You might know not to spread butter on potatoes or add whipping cream to fresh fruit. However, these ingredients are still found in many other dishes that we are unaware of. During her recent week-long diet, she had to ask numerous questions about the ingredients in her meals.
Future Limitations on Dairy Products
She still plans to enjoy salads with Greek yogurt, goat cheese in her morning eggs, and grated cheese in her pasta. Fortunately, cheese does not irritate her. However, all other dairy products do, so she must alter recipes that include butter or cream for special occasions, no matter how delicious they may seem.
The message she wants to convey is to maintain a balanced and moderate diet. Overconsumption of dairy products is not good for her body and can lead to fatigue. However, completely eliminating them for the long term isn’t necessary, at least not yet. Some products can still be beneficial when consumed in moderation.
Lactose intolerance is common, but each person’s symptoms can vary. Some individuals cannot digest all foods containing this ingredient, while others may only react to specific types or large quantities. But if you love cheese and your body handles it well, enjoy it. After all, it’s a source of calcium.
