Are you addicted?

When I was a kid, I drank about 3 glasses of milk a day, or more.  I've always eaten cheese too.  Love cheese, yogurt, sauces, and a huge fan of ice cream.  I ate a bowl of ice cream almost every night until I was 40.  I didn't know how on earth I was going to give it up.  Turned out it was easy when I researched the effects of dairy for myself.  I have had so many people say to me, "I could never give up diary, I love my cheese!"  Guess why?  Because dairy is addictive.  No, for real.  When you eat dairy, there are compounds produced in your digestive tract called casomorphins.  Did you notice the word morphine in there?

Of course cheese and dairy are 'addictive' because they are so yummy and creamy and fatty.  But did you know that diary is truly addictive?  When milk protein breaks down in your digestive tract it's converted to something chemically similar to morphine.  Fat from certain foods makes it way to the brain and fat molecules trick the brain into saying "Oh that is so good, don't stop eating it!"  They also signal the body to ignore appetite-suppressing hormones.  Wonderful.  Fat, salt and sugar do the same darn thing!   It's completely addictive like drugs or alcohol.  But good news!  It's not too late to get healthier and reverse some things that may be going on with you!

**Dairy (casein) has been linked to a host of problems and diseases including allergies, acne, breast and prostate cancer~as well as autism and attention deficit disorder in children. Hmmmm.  You will lose weight giving up diary, it's true.  But for me, it's also health issue.

How Do You Get Your Calcium?

Boy, if I had dime for every time someone asked me that.  It's true, I don't eat dairy or drink milk.  I grew up consuming tons of it.  I talk to so many people who tell me they love cheese and could never give it up, as well as how they drink milk for their bones.   I just smile and don't say a word because I don't think folks want to hear that it's disease-producing and fattening.  A study funded by the National Dairy Council itself discovered that the high protein content in dairy actually leaches calcium from our bones.

**I get calcium from dark green vegetables, beans, soy, tofu, seeds and raw nuts.  Also, I eat calcium-fortified foods, such as orange juice, soy/almond milk, and "yogurt."  This is the wonderful "yogurt" I eat, which is fortified with calcium and live & active cultures. It is made with coconut milk instead of cow's milk. I threw some granola on the top. You can find it at Sprouts or Whole Foods.  Amazingly Good!