Newbie, hoping to cut out dairy

nc805397

Hi everyone! I want to try going Paleo! I have the paleo diet book (and the wheat belly book!) and I have cut out wheat from my diet. Diary, however, is a different story. I've reduced my milk intake significantly, and only have ~500 ml left of it in the fridge. I do not plan on buying more. I LOVE cheese, especially babybel light. I also eat greek yogourt and cottage cheese,..a lot. Should I go cold turkey and cut it out ASAP? Or gradually ween myself off of it one by one?? Let me know what worked best for you, I am ready to commit!

I loved the Wheat Belly book, I was convinced right away that wheat needed to go, but even after reading Paleo I'm not sure I am able to cut dairy. Let me know if you have any advice. thank you

homesweeths

I'd definitely recommend cutting the cottage cheese right away. Too high in protein, and not enough fat to protect your body somewhat from the protein. Milk protein (casein) can be perceived by your body in the same way as gluten. Don't know about the Greek yogurt (like if the probiotics add some protection? Don't know.)

The babybel light cheese seems highly processed to me. I think cheese is doable, as long as it's full fat. Raw milk cheese is supposed to be healthier than typical cheese, but can be hard to find. I can eat small amounts of full fat cheese without it affecting me much.

KBGirts

I am primal, not paleo so I eat diary. I do often feel like I should cut out diary and go full paleo. I have never been big on milk anyway so that part would be easy or me. Greek yogurt, I like, but it wouldn't kill me to stop eating. I LOVE cheese though. Ugh..... Maybe I could just have it once in a blue moon.

AllanMisner

I've found it helps to set a frame around a food to give myself a milestone. For example, I will go off a food for two or three weeks (cold turkey) and see how I feel. If and when I reintroduce it, I keep how it makes me feel top of mind. If I feel bad after reintroducing it, then I have the evidence I need to tie my willpower to.

As an example, I used to be addicted to Diet Coke, and by addicted I mean 4 - 8 liters per day. I stopped cold turkey (major withdrawals) and felt so much better. After six months, I drank a liter of Diet Coke and got the worst headache. It is easy for me to say no to soft drinks now.

ShannonKirton

I'm paleo but sometimes I still crave cheese so I reach for some full fat hard parmesan as a snack. Just 2 oz or so maybe once a week. I was eating greek yoghurt at first, but found that the carbs it carried were not worth it, so I gave it up. Milk was also hard to drop, but I now make some shakes for either meals or post workout and use coconut milk instead (the full fat kind) and some days I don't even think about missing milk. Good luck on your newest challenge

superjean1

I've been doing paleo for a few months, with a few slips/binges. I started because of some autoimmunity/arthritis issues. I thought dairy would be the hardest to give up being the Wisconsin-raised cheese head that I am. Interestingly though, I removed dairy for a month and then had both cheese and ice cream at a party one day. Within 36 hours I had achy joints and felt sort of swollen all over. Issues resolved after no dairy for another month and then I ate cheese again and had the same reaction. So, no matter how much I love and miss it, the effects are making it much less desirable.