What an encouragement and blessing to be greeted with this today. Thank you Laura. And yes I echo the empathy, one for the pain you’ve been dealing with and two the loss of something you have loved. Sometimes I think we can see little things like giving up dairy as just that-little. And in the grand scheme of things they often are. However food is such a part of our culture, connection, and memories so it often feels like a bigger thing. Also did you know that dairy can actually function as an additive property in our brains? This actually brought me a lot of understanding because I had a really hard time saying goodbye for good 12 years ago to keep autoimmune disease away. In some people the casein is not broken down or digested properly and a byproduct of this is something called casomorphin. This amino acid affects the body like an opioid. In fact it’s called an opioid peptide. Not all dairy of course has the same amount of casein. Cream not so much. Milk, cheese, and ice cream do, which can make them more “addictive”. Some might see this as discouraging but I think the knowledge is empowering. Knowing what’s going on behind the scenes so to speak can help make our “why am I doing this again” stronger. Now for the dairy free recommendations! I too was a big cream in my coffee drinker. Nutpods are my favorite! Especially “marshmallow “. I don’t like any non-dairy creamer I've tried (without sugar). For ice cream the Ben and Jerry’s is a good brand. We have 6 children so this summer we have been making it ourselves and I love Danielle Walkers’ chocolate mint ice cream recipe (she uses coconut milk and almond milk). The other day we had a tiny bit leftover that wouldn’t fit in the ice cream maker that I poured into a to-go coffee cup to stick in the fridge and guess what? It was really really good in my coffee when I ran out of Nutpods! Good job caring for you’re body and giving it what it needs and doesn't!
Some non-dairy “ice cream” (i.e. frozen dessert) can be pretty good. I like Ben & Jerry’s Phish food. Still trying to find a really good chocolate and peanut butter.
I wish I had had such an easy transition. I have been trying to get off cream in my coffee for years now. Black coffee. Bleah. I just can't do it. In fact, I don't think I even like coffee without doctoring it. I do like how it wakes me up. I've tried almond and oat milk, but they do not measure up. Sigh.
Hey Laura, I've followed your work for years. I'm sorry you're having to change your diet a bit but I'm glad it seems to be helping. I was dairy-free for about 10 years. The best ice creams I found were from brand "So Delicious". Many of the flavors were kind of hit and miss, but the Salted Caramel Cluster and Peanut Butter Brownie were amazing, I believe they would even hold up to regular dairy ice cream. You might also try Ben & Jerry's vegan non-dairy flavors. They are also pretty good.
Ah, so true...we don't know until we try! Thanks for this simple encouragement!
Yep! Glad you liked it.
What an encouragement and blessing to be greeted with this today. Thank you Laura. And yes I echo the empathy, one for the pain you’ve been dealing with and two the loss of something you have loved. Sometimes I think we can see little things like giving up dairy as just that-little. And in the grand scheme of things they often are. However food is such a part of our culture, connection, and memories so it often feels like a bigger thing. Also did you know that dairy can actually function as an additive property in our brains? This actually brought me a lot of understanding because I had a really hard time saying goodbye for good 12 years ago to keep autoimmune disease away. In some people the casein is not broken down or digested properly and a byproduct of this is something called casomorphin. This amino acid affects the body like an opioid. In fact it’s called an opioid peptide. Not all dairy of course has the same amount of casein. Cream not so much. Milk, cheese, and ice cream do, which can make them more “addictive”. Some might see this as discouraging but I think the knowledge is empowering. Knowing what’s going on behind the scenes so to speak can help make our “why am I doing this again” stronger. Now for the dairy free recommendations! I too was a big cream in my coffee drinker. Nutpods are my favorite! Especially “marshmallow “. I don’t like any non-dairy creamer I've tried (without sugar). For ice cream the Ben and Jerry’s is a good brand. We have 6 children so this summer we have been making it ourselves and I love Danielle Walkers’ chocolate mint ice cream recipe (she uses coconut milk and almond milk). The other day we had a tiny bit leftover that wouldn’t fit in the ice cream maker that I poured into a to-go coffee cup to stick in the fridge and guess what? It was really really good in my coffee when I ran out of Nutpods! Good job caring for you’re body and giving it what it needs and doesn't!
Some non-dairy “ice cream” (i.e. frozen dessert) can be pretty good. I like Ben & Jerry’s Phish food. Still trying to find a really good chocolate and peanut butter.
I wish I had had such an easy transition. I have been trying to get off cream in my coffee for years now. Black coffee. Bleah. I just can't do it. In fact, I don't think I even like coffee without doctoring it. I do like how it wakes me up. I've tried almond and oat milk, but they do not measure up. Sigh.
I’m sorry this is harder for you! Other things have been a lot harder but this one was less tough for me than I thought it would be.
Hey Laura, I've followed your work for years. I'm sorry you're having to change your diet a bit but I'm glad it seems to be helping. I was dairy-free for about 10 years. The best ice creams I found were from brand "So Delicious". Many of the flavors were kind of hit and miss, but the Salted Caramel Cluster and Peanut Butter Brownie were amazing, I believe they would even hold up to regular dairy ice cream. You might also try Ben & Jerry's vegan non-dairy flavors. They are also pretty good.
Oooh, peanut butter brownie sounds promising…
Thanks-- I needed to hear this.
Glad it was helpful for you.