The dairy controversy has raged on and off over the years. No doubt you’ve heard the pros, cons, fears, allegations, and accusations. I’ll get into a bit of those, and afterward share my thoughts and downloads on dairy for empaths and HSPs (highly sensitive people).
As with most things, it’s a personal decision. I have nothing against dairy, and do eat it occasionally. But adult humans are not meant to digest large amounts of milk — that’s for babies (and animals), whose bodies are equipped to take it in for nourishment sake. Many people find that when they eliminate or cut back on dairy, they have more energy, feel less congested or sinusy, and/or their skin clears up. Most people don’t know that casein, a milk protein, is an immune irritant (aka does not support your immune system functioning at its best to ward off viruses, bacteria, etc).
I went through a soy milk phase in high school where I denounced regular milk and jumped on the non-dairy bandwagon. A psychologist and breast cancer survivor I was working for filled me in on the research, and I ate it up, hook, line, and sinker (in some studies, dairy appears to increase cancer risk as well as the symptoms I noted above). Non-dairy milk has become quite commonplace nowadays, but back then people furrowed their brow for sure.
In addition to soy, which can be controversial, there is almond, coconut, cashew, rice, and oat milk. One of the drawbacks to non-dairy milk (other than the possibility of allergies, if you have a nut allergy) is the lack of protein. Dairy milk is a good protein source. If you aren’t drinking dairy milk for its protein, you might like to make a switch or consider your options. Non-dairy milk can be a good choice for flavor, nutrients, if you’re lactose intolerant, or just for a change of pace.
Some brands pump a lot of unnecessary extra sugar and/or harmful seed oils or other fillers in there. As I’ve often told people, if you are used to sugary beverages, you could start by trying a vanilla (or possibly chocolate for a treat) flavor. Then make the leap to unsweetened varieties.
Overall, work to cut down on added sugars in your drinks, one of the biggest sources of hidden calories. This means looking for one that has zero or only a couple of grams of sugar. Next, don’t add sugar to your coffee or tea. It can take a short time for your palate to adjust, but soon enough you won’t even miss it. If you must, go for a touch of raw honey or maple syrup rather than white table sugar. These are slightly more natural and won’t spike up your blood sugar as much (which then comes crashing down later and can lead to fatigue and low mood, not to mention gradual wear and tear on the body).
If you do enjoy dairy, go organic whenever possible. This is one of the most important food groups with which to do so. The cows who provide the milk are sadly often mistreated, overfed with nutrient-barren corn rather than nutritious grass, and pumped full of antibiotics that remain in the dairy products you and your family ingest. For a critical (and shocking) education on this, watch Food, Inc. or any of the other high quality health documentaries out there. There are several documentaries that address dairy and its relation to the bigger picture too (as well as many other aspects of the food and wellness industries).
There are some decently tasty non-dairy cheeses now as well. Everyone is different though, so find what works for you. Some people can eat a little (or a lot) of dairy and feel fine, with no symptoms. Others have one tiny morsel and break out or get a stomachache. This can change over time and with different phases of life as well.
If you’re an empath or highly sensitive, dairy can be problematic. Because you have so much empathic energy coursing through you, you may be more affected by particular foods, drinks, triggers, and situations than others. Dairy may clog the chakras (energy centers in the body) or block energy flow. This can make you feel sluggish or heavy.
At the same time, if you love dairy don’t beat yourself up for partaking. We’re all human and deserve a treat! Dairy also does have a lot of protein as I mentioned, plus other nutrients like calcium. Just take note of how you feel afterward. How you feel may include physically, like your energy level, emotionally like mood, or mentally like thoughts. How’s your sleep? Do you notice a difference, and how long does it seem to last? This taking of inventory will help you find what works for you regarding dairy. In fact, I recommend this exercise for all areas of life, or any that feel out of balance.
Trust yourself to make the decisions that work for you when it comes to your health, diet, and life in general. This is a large part of your path as an empath. A little research, feedback, and discussion will add to your empowerment along the way.
I’m also here to help you navigate the often overwhelming world of wellness if you need it! You can contact me at erin@centeredone.com or check out more of my blog articles here, here, and here.
© Copyright Centered One by Erin, All rights reserved.
Photos by:
