Second thoughts re going dairy-free
This past Sunday evening, I was noshing some of the junk food that’s frequently served at Israeli folk dance sessions when it suddenly occurred to me:
“Hey, lady, aren’t you supposed to be dairy-free?”
“Well, yeah, but M&M’s have never bothered me.”
Hmm.
“Hey, lady, aren’t you supposed to be dairy-free?”
“Well, yeah, but M&M’s have never bothered me.”
Hmm.
Over the course of the evening, I experimented with maybe three of those miniature Hershey’s candy bars in addition to the M&M candies, and my tummy wasn’t troubled in the least. It may well be that quantity is the issue—I seem to be able to get away with eating the small amount of dairy that’s included in many candies, but not a full serving of dairy, such as a mozzarella cheese stick, a small bowl of yogurt, or a scoop of ice cream, all of which have hurt my stomach in recent months.
So that’s the good news—I can’t eat cheesecake, but at least I can still eat a chocolate bar (for now).
posted by Shira Salamone at 10:23 AM
6 Comments:
You are casting too large of a net. All of the items you mention as having a problem have other things in common beside dairy. Also, "dairy" itself is not some monolithic thing; milk has parts. You should see what part of dairy is bothering you, before you jump straight to the conclusion that low quantity is why you can eat chocolate candies.
As a rule, high-fat dairy products have bothered me more than low-fat products for years, which is why I've been avoiding butter, cream cheese, sour cream and whipped cream for ages. That said, I'm planning to consult an allergist, and, if I can figure out how to get insurance coverage for one, a dietician once the results of next week's Crohn's test are in. It's entirely possible, if not probable, that more is bothering me in dairy products than fat, quantity, and/or lactose.
Right, but different people are sensitive to milk fats, milk proteins, or milk sugars (lactose). Some people can handle fermented milk fine, but normal pasteurized milk bothers them.
If you have a sensitivity, quantity might matter. If you have an intolerance, any amount is pretty bad. If you have an allegy, avoid at all costs.
But, unless it's a full blown allergy, the dose makes the poison.
I already know, having tried them, that neither lactose-free milk nor lactose-free yogurt is any easier for me to digest. Casein is a possible candidate for the role of villain, but I'd like to get some professional help figuring this out before I jump to, well, any more conclusions than I've already jumped to. :)
Enjoy plenty of chocolate this Chanukah (though of course not enough for any ill effects!)
Woodrow/Conservadox, I've been having great fun munching chocolate Chanukah gelt, and will continue to do so. Yum!
Post a Comment
<< Home