Why I Don’t Drink Milk!

Hey my Chocolate Milkshakes!

Thanks for all of your comments on my Dark Chocolate No-Bake Cookies. I’ve already finished up all the ones I made, and I’m already eyeing the dark chocolate chips to make some more. I just love how easy and delicious they are. Haha, and I wasn’t kidding about eating it for breakfast — I totally would!

I don’t drink milk.

Dairy milk, that is.

So why don’t I drink milk? These are a few of the reasons.

• It makes my face breakout.
  

My lastest experience with milk: I was wanting some vanilla protein powder (because it just tastes so good) and I got some whey protein powder. I thought I’d try it and see how my body reacted. It was yummy, I must say, but it really messed up my skin. I never breakout — EVER. And then it started. A couple days after I started eating the whey. It’s not even like the whey has much lactose in it, so it wasn’t the lactose. It was really hard (because I bought a big bag of it from Costco and I only got half-way) to give it up, since it was so good, but you know what: I decided that the health of my skin was more important than that. Balance is something I strive for, and balance with my body and with myself are a part of that. My body was clearly telling me (and SHOWING me) that it didn’t like that. I’ve stopped it for about a week and a half now and my face is already getting better.

Studies have even shown that the protein in milk can irritate the skin and make it more prone to breakout (if you want the details and some good resources, click here, here, and here; I also like this book– it explains the correlation between milk and acne very well — I checked mine out at the library).

• It makes me bloated and uncomfortable.
  

Whenever I eat dairy, I always get a little bloated. Since I don’t like that feeling, I don’t eat it.

• It gives me stomach aches (it was even shown even as a baby I had to have soy formula because regular milk caused an increase in colic).
  

Before I found out I was lactose intolerant, I ate yogurt as a snack EVERY day in the afternoon — I loved it, so why not?! I finally linked my stomach aches to that snack. On days I had something else that wasn’t dairy, I didn’t have a stomach ache. On days I did, I got one. To make sure, I cut out the yogurt. No more stomach aches. And, my face started getting clearer.

• It doesn’t really make sense why humans should drink it anyways.
  

My grandmother wasn’t the biggest fan of milk. Her belief was that humans shouldn’t drink it. Humans are the only animals to drink milk after they are weaned, and it’s not even like we drink human milk – we drink the formula that helps baby calves grow into large cows. So, it doesn’t really make sense to drink it in a way. (this websiteshares my grandmother’s views)

• I can get my calcium in others ways.
  

My whole family has never been much of a milk drinker. We use it in cereal and such, but not much else. It was only when I switched over to nondairy milks did I ever start just drinking it to drink it. My doctor wants me to be having 1400 mg of calcium a day. I know, that sounds like a lot. But it really adds up fast! J

Some foods that contain calcium include:

• One cup raw kale has 90 mg calcium
  
• One cup of pinto beans 80 mg calcium
  
• Three ounces of canned salmon with bones has 180 mg calcium
  
• One cup of tofu (soy) yogurt has 310 mg calcium
  
• Three ounces of canned sardines has 330 mg calcium
  
• One-half cup cooked turnip greens has 100 mg calcium
  
• One cup of chopped broccoli has 43 mg calcium
  

Others are found in nuts like almonds:

Seeds like flax and chia:

Carob powder is a good source:

Non-dairy milks:

Even these dry roasted soy nuts contain a good source of calcium:

This is not an excluding list – there are many other sources of calcium. You can also buy calcium-fortified orange juice and breakfast cereal that are enriched with it. Calcium is also available as a dietary supplement(Please speak to your doctor/health care provider before taking calcium or other dietary supplements).

And yes, along with milk, I don’t eat yogurt (unless it’s soy), cheese (never been a big fan of the fake cheese stuff), butter, etc. I try to avoid dairy in all of its forms.

Please, I am not saying you can’t ever drink/eat milk. If you do decide to buy milk, make it the organic kind if at all possible, or at least free of the rbgh and rbst hormones. I just know that it doesn’t work for me, and these are my reasons. I am open to opposing opinions.

Milk works for some people. For me, it doesn’t.

Do you drink milk? I’m meaning the dairy milk — from cows. I don’t drink dairy milk, but I drink the nut and bean nondairy milks. I’ve also been wanting to try some grain milks like oat and rice; haven’t had the chance yet though.

Your favorite source of calcium (dairy or nondairy)? Almond milk. YUM!

Have any thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? I’d love to hear from you!

xoxox

Picture source: milk

Hey My Nut Buttahs!

Hey My Nut Buttahs!

Can you believe I have already hit the bottom of my SECOND jar of walnut almond butter?! At least there is another OIAJ in my future! And by your requests, Protein Granola Bars will be next!

My life has been pretty crazy over the last few weeks. Some of the things that have been going on include –

I RE-DID MY RECIPE PAGE! GO CHECK IT OUT! 

We have a TON of figs right now! We have a fig tree out front,  and it is officially a giant.

AND, it JUST decided to have ALL of its fruit go ripe.

(P.S. these Texas figs start green and turn yellow when ripe)

We’ve been giving them to our neighbors (well, more like on our knees BEGGING them to take some), and I must say, many of them didn’t know what they were. All we had to do was mention Fig Newtons and that these figs were the filling inside of the newtons did they say, Oh! YUM! You’ve just got to love them!

We have new revolving Pantry shelves to hold our canned goods.

With canned goods, we want to use the ones we get first before the new ones, but the older ones tend to stick in the back and the new ones are placed in front. So, we always grab the ones in front. With these shelves, we don’t have to worry about not using stuff. I also like that it makes things a little bit more organized.

I just received a box of goodies from Swanson Health! They sent me Coconut Flour, Raw Cacao Nibs, TVP (texturized vegetable protein), Muesli, Wheat Bran, and Oat Bran.

I can’t wait to use these!! What I love about Swanson is their wide variety of the products I love — and their prices are VERY good! Plus, shipping is always $4.99, so buying more stuff doesn’t mean shipping goes up.

Are you interested in getting some free Swanson Health Products goodies to review on your own blog? Then check out the Swanson Health Blog for all the details.

I got a package the other day with my shirt from the 28 day challenge I participated in!

I LOVE IT! Here’s a close-up of the design on the front.

I can’t wait to wear it! Paige is so sweet — I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to do this challenge with her and the other women!

My mom and I have been going over my college plans. It is getting really exciting! Right now I’m just finishing up a couple of classes (I finished another math class the other night — I’m done with Trig and now with Business Math). We discussed my SAT Scores and you know what — there was NO difference between them. I got the same score each time. What I scored on Writing on one test is what I scored on the other in Math, and vice versa. There was only a 20 point difference between the Math and Writing (those are my two strongest areas). I’m thinking I don’t have to take another SAT test unless I REALLY want to.

I re-did my room! Now my closet is organized, my shelves have been cleaned-up, and my floor is now spotless. It kind of reminds me of a hotel room in a way.

I love this quilt that is on my bed. What makes it so special to me is that my Grandma made it herself! By hand!

Guess what I put on my Mirror?

Can you see it? Here’s a close up.

Oh yes I did. My life is now.perfect.

What is one thing I should take into consideration when picking the college I want to go to? I’m having to decide between two and I don’t know what to do!

What should I do with all of these figs??? I’m thinking some Fig Walnut Bread! And some Preserves!

What should I try first with my new goods? I’m thinking of some muffins…

xoxox

Neapolitan Oatmeal!

Hey my Gorgeous Darlings!

Thank you for all of your comments on my last post and guest post! I loved reading all of your responses to my question I asked about sugar. As you know, I am striving for balance, and your comments really mean the world to me! I have grown so much since I have started blogging — and you guys make it all worth it. Thank you for being there for me!!!

What are some your favorite foods?

I love Chocolate.

I love Strawberries.

I love Vanilla extract.

I love Chocolate, Strawberry, AND Vanilla.

And because I love Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla, I love the Neapolitan concept — I get to have all three flavors in one bowl! Hello!

One of the ways I get my three flavors is in the morning is with Neapolitan Oatmeal!

printer-friendly version

Notes: Serves 1 Single Lady (or Guy)! Oat Bran would be lovely in place of the Rolled or quick oats. Protein powder will work too! Just add 1/3 serving in each part in these three flavors: Vanilla, Strawberry, and Chocolate. You can use peanut butter or almond butter in place of the Walnut Almond Butter. Sweeten oat sections to taste. If you want a more smooth oatmeal, blend the oats in a blender before separating into sections.

Ingredients

• 1 serving of Oatmeal, cooked in either water or milk (make sure oats are uncontaminated if want gluten-free)
  
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla, 1/2 Banana mashed, and spoonfuls of Nut butter (I used my homemade Walnut Almond Butter)
• 1 T Cocoa Powder and Chocolate Chips
• And 3 Strawberries mashed or 1 T strawberry preserves.

Directions

Cook oats (I used the stove top).

Once desired texture is reached, separate oats evenly into three parts.

To one part of oatmeal, add the vanilla and mashed banana. In another part, add the strawberries (and sweeten to taste) or the strawberry preserves. In the last part, add the cocoa powder and chocolate chips.

Stir each part. Then, in the bowl with the strawberry oats, add the other oat sections—vanilla on the left and chocolate on the right.

Spread a spoonful of nut butter on top of the vanilla oats.

Top with Chocolate Chips and Strawberries and DEVOUR!

What is one of your favorite flavor trios? Another one of my favorite flavor trios is Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Banana!

Do you like Oatmeal Recipes?

What recipe do you want next? My Protein Granola Bar? My Walnut Almond Butter? or My Neapolitan Ice Cream?

xoxox