Pros and Cons of consuming dairy with gut health issues:
Diary has grown to have a sour reputation as more than 60% of the worlds population is lactose-intolerant. There are a few ways that consuming dairy has a place in a healthy diet and how it affects your gut health.
Pro: Protein found in dairy can help balance your gut bacteria
Did you know that having a healthy gut is reliant on fermentation to maintain its cycle of bacteria growth? Well what keeps it going are the strains of Probiotics AKA live bacteria that are found in fermented products. So the consumption of fermented dairy products is a good way to keep your healthy bacteria strong and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Con: Protein found in dairy may inflame your gut:
Slow-release casein is a protein most commonly found in dairy. It is popular amongst athletes and fitness enthusiasts as a protein supplement, as it is known to aid in muscle recovery and repair. This sounds good but slow-release casein has been found in recent studies to cause gut inflammation and digestive problems.
Pro: Consuming dairy provides a convenient source of vitamins and nutrients
Dairy and Dairy products have very important essential vitamins and nutrients like
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B12
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Iodine
Con: Dairy can cause symptoms like anxiety:
With more than 60% of the world being lactose - intolerant, the consumption of dairy when it cannot be fully broken down can cause irritation and inflammation in your gut. If there is any inflammation in the body, the immune system is activated and the nervous system is on alert. If you or some you know is lactose- intolerant and suffers with anxiety it is good for their gut health to reduce their consumption of dairy.
Like any food or drink there are pros and cons for its consumption. Those with lactose-intolerance and gut health issues can have a hard time with large consumption dairy. And there are links to dairy and dairy-products causing symptoms like anxiety. However dairy contains a lot of essential vitamins and nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. It also is known to help balance your bacteria while helping prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Eating in moderation is what is most important and talking to a licensed health professional or dietitian to get one-on-one help to include dairy in your diet.