Lactose Intolerance or just Carbohydrate Sensitivity?

Wonder why one day you just stopped tolerating milk, cheese or ice-cream?  Often a new client will state they are lactose intolerance and add a sentence such as “I used to tolerate milk products just fine until the last few months or maybe even a year.  Then something happened.”

Those with true lactose intolerance have usually had it for quite some time and know how to gauge how much dairy their body is able to tolerate.  However, many individuals who think they are lactose intolerant are actually carbohydrate sensitive.

When someone with insulin resistance continues to eat a large percentage of their calories as carbohydrate, their body becomes more intolerant of all types of carbohydrate.  If they consume a lot of starches made up of strings of glucose molecules such as rice, pasta, potatoes, cereal, etc. the sugar does not readily get into their cells.

As a result, they have various symptoms such as gas, bloating, reflux, fatigue, etc. that go along with insulin resistance.  Add a sugar in the mix such as lactose and these symptoms become more of a problem.

Limiting starches and consuming carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds can easily calm down the symptoms of insulin resistance and allow one to consume dairy products without a problem.

If you find yourself with symptoms of lactose intolerance try cutting out starches and desserts for a week or two and see what happens.  I think you might be surprised at the results.

What are the Key Organic Foods to Buy?

One question I frequently get asked is:  what are the most important foods to buy organic?  Let’s face it –buying all organic and local foods can be not only pricy but inconvenient.  Going to many different stores and farmer’s markets can take a huge chunk out of your week.

What are the most important things to buy organic if you are on a budget and/or short on time?

1.  Dairy – cows are fed hormones to produce higher quantities of milk and so best to purchase organic milk, cheese and yogurt.

2.  Meat – when you consume meat fed hormones, it is possible to increase the level of inflammation in the body.  In addition, if you are a meat eater and can afford it grass-fed meat (versus corn/grain fed) has higher levels of omega 3 fats which anti-inflammatory versus pro-inflammatory in the body.

3.  Fruits – the most important fruits to buy organic are:

           1.  Apples and Pears

           2. Stone fruits such as peaches

              and nectarines

           3.  Strawberries and cherries

           4.  Grapes

4.  Vegetables - the most important vegetables to buy organic are:

            1.  Carrots and Celery

            2.  Sweet Bell Peppers

            3.  Tomatoes

            4.  Lettuce    

Feed your family the organic and/or local produce and foods you can afford within reason.  Visit the farmer’s markets on the weekends.  You might be surprised how fresh and clean the air feels around the fragrant produce and how delicious healthy food feels on your body!