Diet, slimming and weight management  Diet, slimming and weight management  © Specialist Supplements Ltd 2011 0845 094 3627 Your health is your responsibility This is an information site only! Dairy free meal replacements and protein shakes If you’ve read our health information page on meal replacements and protein powders, you’ll already be aware of the numerous ways that they can help you to achieve your health goals. Now we are going to look specifically at dairy free meal replacements and protein shakes. Why go dairy free? There are a number of reasons why you may want to go dairy free, ranging from weight loss and animal welfare to health concerns (such as the fact that animals are given hormones, which can be transferred to people through consumption). Below, we look at just a few of the key issues from a health perspective. Lactose intolerance and dairy allergy Approximately 75% of the world's population is genetically unable to properly digest milk and other dairy products as a result of a condition called lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest and metabolise lactose, which is a sugar found in milk. This condition is caused by a missing enzyme (lactase), which is required to break down lactose in the digestive system. On eating or drinking a dairy product, a lactose intolerance person might exhibit symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea and indigestion. Dairy allergy is also common - cow's milk is the number one cause of food allergies among infants and children. It is important to note that a milk allergy is a separate and distinct condition from lactose intolerance. Unlike lactose intolerance, it is a food allergy and therefore involves an adverse reaction and immune system response to one or more of the constituents of milk (which can be from any animal). Some of the key symptoms include skin rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain and flatulence.  The acid/alkaline balance The view of most nutritionists and naturopaths is that, for healthy blood and for efficient delivery of balanced nutrients to cells, the pH balance should be neutral, or slightly alkaline. This is because medical blood tests are usually found to be acidic and there is therefore good evidence to suggest that sick people tend to be in the acidic range. It therefore becomes pertinent to your health to know whether you are eating acid- or alkali-forming foods. The definition of an acid- alkali-forming food is that it produces, on combustion, an alkaline or acid ash. So, if we equate the process of digestion to the process of consuming food by fire, the end-product will be either alkaline or acid. In the list of acid-forming and alkaline forming foods, it is apparent that all meat and dairy products are at the top of the acid-forming list, closely followed by all kinds of sugar and sugar-containing products. Diabetes and other health conditions According to various studies, there is evidence to suggest that cows' milk can contribute to diabetes. For instance, a report in the New England Journal of Medicine (1992) supported the theory that proteins in cows' milk can damage the production of insulin in those with a genetic predisposition to diabetes. Dairy has also been linked to, or thought to aggravate, a number of other health conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, acne, heart disease, asthma  and multiple sclerosis. A recent UK study also showed that people who suffered from irregular heartbeats, asthma, headaches, fatigue and digestive problems showed significant improvement (and often total recovery) after removing milk from their diets. How could dairy affect my weight? Fat content Dairy is full of saturated fat and is not usually a recommended element of a healthy weight management programme. In 2005, the Harvard School of Public Health stated that "Three glasses of low-fat milk add more than 300 calories a day. This is a real issue for the millions of Americans who are trying to control their weight. What's more, millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of milk or dairy products give them stomach aches, gas, or other problems." In other words, milk can contribute to weight gain because it is particularly high in calories. However, there is also another key reason that dairy could be making it harder for you to lose weight. Digestive disorders The term “digestive disorder” is really an umbrella term for a number of different digestive health problems, ranging from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Leaky Gut Syndrome and Crohn’s disease, to ulcerative colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), constipation and diarrhea. Unfortunately, digestive disorders are increasingly common, largely due (it is thought) to poor diet, food intolerances and allergies and the increasing number of chemicals used in farming methods and foods (including additives and preservatives). There are many potential obstacles to achieving a healthy metabolism and long term weight loss, but latest scientific research suggests that resolving damage to the digestive tract should be a priority for anyone trying to overcome stubborn weight issues. Notably, dairy is thought to aggravate a number of digestive disorders, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The thinking behind this rationale stems from the fact that cravings for sugar, carbohydrates and/or high calorie foods are all indicators of digestive inflammation and related toxicity that could be interfering with metabolism. This is one of the key reasons why a full body detox is often recommended prior to commencing a weight management programme. The hunger hormone (ghrelin) made by the stomach is involved in the process of reducing any inflammation in the digestive tract and also helps to protect the body from a bacterial toxin referred to as LPS. There are two important points to note here: 1. ghrelin malfunctions in overweight individuals, resulting in food cravings; and 2. LPS is at heightened levels in almost all overweight people due to bacterial imbalance in the digestive tract. The result: bacterial imbalance in the gut could be injuring or inflaming the lining of your digestive tract and causing you to have food cravings! What’s more, digestive disorders can often interfere with nutrient absorption, making it harder for your body to get the nutrients it needs in order to lose weight healthily. There is a constant battle between ghrelin (which is trying to clear your body of toxic LPS and prevent intestinal permeability from the inflammation caused by the excessive LPS) and the LPS (which is trying to eliminate the ghrelin to ensure the survival and overgrowth of the harmful bacteria). Insulin levels may also be raised by the body to help combat toxic levels of LPS, creating a heightened risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Dairy free meal replacements and protein shakes What the above tells us is that it is important to detoxify your body and resolve any digestive health issues prior to commencing a weight loss regime. It is also important to avoid anything that: (a) could aggravate the digestive tract, such as dairy and gluten; and (b) is high in calories or saturated fat. A high quality dairy free meal replacement or dairy free protein shake is a great way to supply your body with fortified nutrients, help to keep your blood sugar levels stable (thereby avoiding cravings) and ensure that you feel fuller for longer, without the risk of aggravating your digestive system or adding unhealthy calories to your healthy diet.  [Dairy Free Meal Replacements] [Dairy Free Protein Shakes] [Low Carb] [Low Fat] [Product] [Slimming] [Weight Loss] [Probiotics] [Diabetes] [Sitemap] [HTML Sitemap] [Herbal Supplements] [Health Foods] [Dietary Products] [Colon Cleansing] [Health Blog] [Health Information Pages] [Organic Supplements] [Slimming Information] [Slimming and Nutrition] [Organic Food Supplements] [Diet Info] [Detoxification] [Health Product Links] [Health Articles] [Own Brand Supplements] [Trade supplements] [Wholesale Vitamins and Minerals] [Own Label Products] [Practitioner Supplements] [Digestion Health] [Diet Foods] [Meal Replacements and Protein Powders] [Clubs] [Products] [Herbal Supplements] [Foods] [Books] [Tablet] [Diet Pill] [Advice] [Weight Loss Diets] [Bodyline Slimming] [Herbal Slimming] [Slimming Centre] [Slimming Centres] [Slimming Clubs] [Slimming Cream] [Diabetes] [Slimming Diet] [Slimming Pants] [Slimming Pill] [Slimming Pills] [Slimming Programme] [Slimming Supplement] [Slimming Support] [Slimming Tablet] [Slimming Tablets] [Slimming Tea] [Slimming UK] [Slimming Weight Loss] [Dietary Fibre] [Home] [Health Information] [Diet] [Dieting] [Health] [Health Food] [Health Products]