I am not a vegan… and not a vegetarian. I don’t have any strange eating habits .
But I have been a milk drinking, cheese eating dairy lover since I was a small child. I grew up drinking milk every single day in my breakfast cereal and as a snack after school and the drink served with dinner.
A while ago I cut out most of my milk drinking and replaced it with Soy milk. Of course now I am told that soy milk MIGHT be bad… mostly it’s one famous doctor who says soy milk is bad, and even though I have not seen any concrete evidence, the anti-soymilk campaign moves onward. That’s okay, because Almond milk tastes great and so does Oat milk… but I’m sure someone is already writing me an email to tell me the evils of these milks also.
*UPDATE: I am watching my carbs, so I now drink unsweetened Almond Milk. It’s yummy.
WARNING:
What I want to tell you is shocking…
I had no idea. Honestly. And I like to think that I am “in the know” about a lot of things.
Yes… I did know that dairy is loaded with fat and cholesterol. That is why I limited my intake of it, reasonably.
About a week ago my wife said she had been talking to a friend of her’s and that the two of them had decided to go a week off of dairy. They wanted to know if I would join them.
She had some printed pages that touted all the health benefits, but without a moment’s hesitation, I agreed to join them.
I grabbed the best dairy free cookbook I could find. (I needed the recipes to be easy to make, and Danielle Walker did just that) and I was ready to begin. Of course I ate a good deal of dairy on the weekend leading up to the Monday we began the 7 days of no dairy.
I wondered how great would I feel after a week of no dairy? Or perhaps nothing would seem different and 8 days later I would be enjoying a piece of cheese.
Mmmmm Cheese….
BOY WAS I WRONG
Giving up dairy was about as hard as I expected for the first couple of days. By the end of day two I was feeling pretty ill, which is out of the norm for me. Honestly, ever since I flipped my life upside down with the law of attraction I have become a high energy and healthy kind of guy. The kind of guy who always feels great.
Day three, instead of rolling out of bed with enthusiasm and excitement for the day ahead, I woke up feeling more tired than I was when I went to bed.
In fact, I felt groggy and brain foggy all day.
I’ll skip the day-to-day play-by-play, and tell you that for seven days straight I have felt terrible, in different ways. I can’t concentrate… I am experiencing headaches, which is something I never have.
I don’t have the deep down energy, and I tire easily. My stomach is bloated and I am retaining water.
My skin has broken out in three different kinds of rashes in three different places on my body. In general I am itchy… and honestly I am cranky. Strange emotions are coming up… anxiety and anger, which I have not felt in many… many years.
I am even late on the 11 cent sale I promised all of you…. because of this brain fog and lack of energy.
Long story short, going off dairy cold turkey causes the body to go into a detox. When I search online I find claims that going off dairy for one week will cause an entire gallon of mucus to exit your body. Obviously, things are not always pretty.
Today it is 10 days later, and I don’t have any desire to go back. Food tastes great without dairy. It seems that at the 10 day mark, for me at least, the cravings have mostly subsided.
Check out the HUGE list of Dairy Free Foods on Amazon. It’s crazy.
[color-box]Now many of you know that I quit smoking cold turkey the day my son was born. I was in the room with my wife and waiting for our little baby boy to be born, and I really needed a cigarette. The moment he came out and I cut that cord, I KNEW RIGHT THEN I would never smoke again, because I wanted to be around to see my son grow up. Even though I was a bar tender back then, and I worked around smokers who all tried to taunt me into picking the habit back up (many smokers can’t stand ex-smokers among them) It is a promise that I have always kept. As a matter of fact, it was Aug 1st, 1999 when I stopped smoking… 9 years and 12 days and counting….I CAN HONESTLY SAY…QUITING DAIRY IS HARDER THAN QUITING CIGARETTES [/color-box]
Seriously….
My body never went through this kind of hell when I quit smoking. Sure, I have cravings… and it was difficult… but I didn’t get bad breath, skin rashes, headaches, lack of energy, bloating, water retention, and a host of other not-so-pleasant physical problems.
The only craving I have is for cheese. I LOVED CHEESE. Now I know why…
THIS IS GOING TO BLOW YOU AWAY
Cheese is actually physically addictive… no kidding. I must have missed the Surgeon Generals Warning label on the block of cheese.
YOU WONT BELIEVE WHAT DRUG IS INSIDE CHEESE!!!
Check this out:
So here is an excerpt from an article in the Orlando Sentinel July 13 2003:
Of all the potentially addicting foods, cheese may be the most complex. In research studies using vegan and vegetarian diets to control cholesterol or reduce body weight, most participants soon forget the lure of ice cream, sour cream, and even burgers and chicken. But for many people, the taste for cheese lingers on and on. Yes, 70 percent of its calories may come from waist-augmenting fat, and, ounce for ounce, it may harbor more cholesterol than a steak. But that cheese habit is tough to break.Why is cheese so addicting? Certainly not because of its aroma, which is perilously close to old socks. The first hint of a biochemical explanation came in 1981, when scientists at Wellcome Research Laboratories in Research Triangle Park, N.C., found a substance in dairy products that looked remarkably like morphine. After a complex series of tests, they determined that, surprisingly enough, it actually was morphine. By a fluke of nature, the enzymes that produce opiates are not confined to poppies — they also hide inside cows’ livers. So traces of morphine can pass into the animal’s bloodstream and end up in milk and milk products. The amounts are far too small to explain cheese’s appeal. But nonetheless, the discovery led scientists on their search for opiate compounds in dairy products.
And they found them. Opiates hide inside casein, the main dairy protein. As casein molecules are digested, they break apart to release tiny opiate molecules, called casomorphins. One of these compounds has about one-tenth the opiate strength of morphine. The especially addicting power of cheese may be due to the fact that the process of cheese-making removes water,lactose and whey proteins so that casein is concentrated. Scientists are now trying to tease out whether these opiate molecules work strictly within the digestive tract or whether they pass into the bloodstream and reach the brain directly.
(some paragraphs about chocolate addiction snipped)
The cheese industry is miles ahead of them, having gone to great lengths to identify people who are most vulnerable to addiction. It dubs them “cheese cravers,” and tracks their age, educational level and other demographics so as to target them with marketing strategies that are tough to ignore. With a $200 million annual research and marketing budget, the dairy industry is not content to have you just sprinkling a little mozzarella on your salad. It is looking for those Americans who will eat it straight out of the package, whatever the cost to their waistlines or cholesterol levels.
At a “Cheese Forum” held Dec. 5, 2000, Dick Cooper, the vice president of Cheese Marketing for Dairy Management Inc., laid out the industry’s scheme for identifying potential addicts and keeping them hooked. In his slide presentation, which was released to our organization under the Freedom of Information Act, he asked the question, “What do we want our marketing program to do?” and then gave the answer: “Trigger the cheese craving.” He described how, in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the dairy industry launched Wendy’s Cheddar Lover’s Bacon Cheeseburger, which single-handedly pushed 2.25 million pounds of cheese during the promotion period. That works out to 380 tons of fat and 1.2 tons of pure cholesterol in the cheese alone. A similar promotion with Pizza Hut launched the “Ultimate Cheese Pizza,” which added an entire pound of cheese to a single pizza and sold five million pounds of it during a six-week promotion in 2000. The presentation concluded with a cartoon of a playground slide with a large spider web woven to trap children as they reached the bottom. The caption had one spider saying to another, “If we pull this off, we’ll eat like kings.”
I am sharing this with you because I care. I wish someone had told me how harsh detoxing could be.
I wish someone had told me how addictive Cheese can be. Or even mentioned the morphine compound found inside.
I’m the kind of guy who turns down pain pills, even after a surgery…
I never knew I was ingesting Morphine with my cheese and crackers.
So if you decide to clean your body up… and want to cleanse yourself without all the horrible side-effects that I have had… you really need to READ THIS NOW.
Overwhelmingly I support the Master Cleanser if you want to purify your body. (It’s just three bucks too!)
Me… I just made a split second decision to join my wife and her friend… I decided to make myself the subject of an experiment if you will…
For those of you wondering about my wife and her friend. YES… they had a rough ride also, including migraine headaches (much worse than mine), irritability, skin breakouts (body acne), and emotional instability (although don’t tell my wife I pointed that out… at least not until she is over the detoxing)
And that is what they cared to share… most people are not as forthcoming with their dirty details like I am. What can I say… I try to live my life like an open book… for all to see, observe and hopefully learn from my mistakes.
Oh yes… there has been a positive thing about this diary detox so far…. I have lost 5 pounds even though I feel like I am eating more than usual, and my wife has lost 4 pounds.. her friend didn’t offer up any weight related conversation.
SO… if you want to go off dairy please don’t let this scare you. Instead, just do it slowly. If I had known then what I know now, I would have simply cut my intake of dairy items down over a 2 – 3 week period and went off it slowly.
Knowing what I know now… I just can’t bring myself to ingest anything dairy.
Wishing you the best day,
Excellent research, John. And you are right about all the nay-sayers being so quick to point out the harmful effects of this healthfood or that healthfood. Our bodies are the best barometers of what is or isn’t good for us, but when they are toxic or numb from years of ingesting food additives, we stop responding when our body sends a message. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Dr C. for your words of encouragement.
I appreciate your insight.
Hi John,
That was scary reading that but I bet you will be feeling amazing soon, do you use “alternative” milks, like soy instead now?
I have been thinking about going off dairy as I am a bit sensitive to it but I love my cereal with milk! I must admit though I have found a soy milk that I can drink by the glass which does not taste like someone has put the carton in a blender!!!
wow that was an amazing article and I was shocked to hear of traces of morphine in cheese…its like the old coke a cola with the additive of cocaine…..but I feel that all the info should be open knowledge for the people…it is sad that the almighty dollar and sales come before the health and well being of humanity……..Linda
Our family has been off milk since January. My 8yr old daughter was a border line diabetic, when the doctor decided to do some allergy testing. We found that she is beyond highly allergic to milk. Within two weeks of being off the milk her glucose/insulin levels were perfectly normal and she felt better than ever. Since cheese was her life joy I told her I’d get off too to make her feel better. In a week my 5yr struggle with an “ulcer” was over. I’d been to numerous gastroenterologists trying to get it under control and here it was the milk that was causing it! With such good results we took the rest of the family off and my 10 yr old’s eczema disappeared!
The only dairy we all still crave and mourn is the cheese. Now we know why, thanks!
I found this page after googling quit dairy-detoxing. I have been off dairy for five days now and am feeling really awful! I guess this is why. I am having a serious case of brain fog as well as lethargy and nausea. I did quit cold turkey because my son was reacting to it in my breastmilk. His eczema is already improving though!
Hi Denise
I have been off dairy for 4 days, was feeling marvellous the first day, and then suddenly it was like being hit by a steam train. I have recently been diagnosed as being Casein allergic so I stopped everything dairy. I got a shock when I went gluten, wheat and sugar free about a year ago, the withdrawal was horrendous. But I never expected any withdrawal from dairy. So glad I found this forum, my husband accused me of eating sugar (it changes my brain and I become very bad tempered indeed!) I have just got him to read all the replies. I shall carry on and just hope I get through it as quickly as possible.
Love
Jacqui
Gillian,
Yes, we have Soy milk in our fridge. Silk Vanilla is pretty tasty. I know some people say that soy products are bad also, but if you want a bowel of cereal with milk, the only other choice you have is making almond milk by putting almonds and water into a blender with vanilla for flavor.
Who knows, maybe someday I will quit the soy milk too… but right now that is what I am doing.
Or you could just BUY Almond Milk. It’s pretty delicious! Why would you have to make it yourself?
Because the stuff in the stores is full of chemicals that cause bad reactions in lots of people. At home it’s pure almond milk or you can add your own vanilla or whatever. The store kind doesn’t work for everyone because of the fillers and thickeners.
Linda,
Thanks for your comments. I agree… the dollar seems to come before everything in this current system. Even the so-called health care system has degraded away from nutrition and prevention and has become prescription and symptom masking.
The coca cola thing was before my time but it has always been hard for me to believe…
Amazing times eh?
Jami Leigh
Wow… that is great! Your whole family has benefited by getting off dairy! Congratulations.
I also have a little boy who can not have dairy. The first few years of his life were awfully hard on him. He was sick all the time. He never made it a single week without a fever and a illness.
We took him to doctor after doctor until we eventually found a naturalpathic doctor who took one look at him and his dark sunken eyes and immediately said “let’s take him off dairy” She ran some blood work but before the results even came back we already knew because 2 days off of milk and he was a new person. My crazy little redhead was full of energy, bouncing off the walls and healthy as an ox.
Of course none of the MD’s even thought to look at that…
It turns out that his body see’s the Casine in milk as an invader and his immune system works overtime attacking it, which left him worn out all the time and susceptible to catch actual diseases.
So he is thrilled that I am off dairy with him. In fact, he caught Mom having some diary last night and he was pretty upset. We’ll have to see about mom… but I am done with dairy once and for all!
Denise
Hang in there, it gets a whole lot better!
I remember the brain fog and lethargy…. it was pretty intense for about a week to 10 days.
I had some milk nausea, but nothing like the brain fog.
I think it is great that you are doing this for your son! Way to go!
I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one – I’ve been off cheese for 6 weeks now – I was eating it 4 to 5 times a day for hypoglycemia and having all of these strange symptoms like dry eyes & mouth, sinus headaches & swollen glands in my neck, numb lips, eczema, nervousness, reactions to foods & cosmetics – then I went over the edge when I developed a swollen esophagus & had trouble swallowing and breathing at times – that’s better now after 6 weeks off dairy – my retired nutritionist determined it was from the cheese – however I’m still having “withdrawal” symptoms – at times my skin burns – even my teeth burn and I seem to have irritable bowel syndrome – can eat nothing with fats – my stomachache is intolerable sometimes heating pad helps – lost 10 lbs – my tongue feels like it’s inside out especially in the morning lots of nervousness where I feel like I need to eat – able to walk & do the tread mill though. At times I feel almost normal – my head is really clear – but at times I feel like I’m going crazy – the eczema spots will burn too – they are turning light pink instead of raging red – the nutritionist says it will take 10 months for everything to clear – I’m off all my vitamins except for acidophilus & buffered vitamin C – can only take a certain brand which I’m out of right now cause of the snow – seems to help with reactions – progesterone cream is ok (I’ve been through menopause), peppermint tea wasn’t good, nor zinc, B6 drops – gave me bad stomachache & insomnia, the calms homeopathic I picked up is lactose based – so won’t try it – I’m scared to try chamomile tea – but read it may be a good source of antihistamine – scared to take the “big guns” like Benadryl, Tylenol, or Milk of Magnesia. The nutritionist says I have to “tough” it out – he’s retired & we’re doing this over the phone from another state – wondering if I should go see someone else. I go back to work in another 10 days & would like to have something when I feel nervous, weak, stomach hurting, insomnia, skin burning – inside & out at times. Any ideas?
I think this is an old thread but I have to say: sounds like you need to cut out wheat/gluten as well. I get sick from dairy but I was diagnosed with celiac disease first. SO SO SO much sounds like you are gluten intolerant- many of your symptoms sound just like mine when I have wheat. Oh, and ginger and aloe juice help my stomach a lot.
Great article!
I’m attempting to cut dairy out of my diet, and so far…half so good. I had no problem with milk, I never really liked milk except in my coffee but I got used to soy in it, and now 4 months later, I would never go back to drinking milk. I rarlely ever eat ice cream or sourcream, or butter, so that wasn’t the problem I had to target…now my big issue is cheese. A few weeks ago, I decided to stop buying CHEESE, (i did not stop eating it though) , And reading that article actually REALLY shocked me. It also sort of angered me that I was ingesting such an addictive componount without consenting, or knowing. Shows the research we have to make about the food we consume. Now that I know, I feel like I don’t even want to know anything about cheese anymore, ironically, instead of making me feel like ‘i’m physically addicted and cannot do this’, it just makes me feel completely turned off by the thought of ingesting it again. Let’s hope it stays like that.
Thanks for the article. I too went through horrible dairy detox over 1.5 years ago and have been off dairy ever since except for a couple of “challenges” just to be sure dairy was a problem. Nasty ibs and a doctor’s suggestion is what sent me in that direction. Boy was withdrawal a pain! Burning scalp, headaches, insomnia, palpitations, vivid scary dreams when I did sleep, sweats, mood swings, fog, rash, and just terrible cravings for CHEESE. Every now and then I sorta miss dairy ice cream, but it is cheese that tempts me the most. Coconut ice cream is an excellent replacement, but there is no “fake” cheese I have found that even comes close to the real thing. I guess I will always be a recovering cheesaholic : )
Wow, Angie. I know this was 2009 but I’ve had the most horrific nightmares this week, one was the worst of my life and VERY vivid. And I had pain in my teeth, neck, headache, eyelids, restlessness, hungry but not hungry – I can’t even explain. No food seems satisfying. I can’t relax. Sweating. Craving ice cream which I rarely eat anyway so that’s weird. Hot baths helps for a little while.
Well I am on day 8 of my no dairy, AND no wheat decision!!! I just wanted to give a different view: I decided to get off dairy and wheat because I suspect a life-long food allergy is at the root of my life-long ear-nose-throat infections and chronic allergies year-round. From day 2 I have consistently felt a HUGE INCREASE IN ENERGY, my SKIN is calm and clear, and I am SO excited to see my chronic BAGS UNDER MY EYES reducing! I have been getting a clear signal from my body that THIS FEELS GOOD and is right. It has been a bit challenging to find a totally different food menu, but I am a huge fan of HAZELNUT MILK. I have had nothing but immediate positive reactions to the detox; the only annoyance (but reassuring at the same time) is MASSIVE NOSE BLOWING all day, as well as productive chesty hacking: the snot is leaving!!! YAY!
Also, if you think you might miss your caseomorphine fix, I can think of many alternatives!!!! 🙂 Munch some poppyseeds and have a polka dotted smile. Good day to all.
One more essential thing I forgot to mention: since my no-dairy decision, I have had absolutely NO ALLERGIES, not even a hint or a speck of nose prickles, runny eyes or nose, sneezing, itchy throat: ALL COMPLETELY GONE. Just thick mucus coming out, and clear breathing in between. I AM SO EXCITED. These allergies (leading to chronic colds etc) have plagues me MY WHOLE LIFE. I always thought it was allergies to dust or mold or something in the air. I am so pleased to be able to CONTROL my health.
I really appreciate your article because I never completed a dairy detox due to the brain fog and tiredness but this time I’m gonna stick it out. I can do it for 10 days if I know it gets better. Thanks!
recovering cheesaholic
I too am in day 4 of dairy detox in an effort to cure excema. I’m also cutting out processed sugar, like canned drinks, chocolate, candy, etc… Natural is fine. Withdrawl is hard – very itchy and irratable right now – used to be huge cheese addict, but I already feel better on some counts – almost immediately better digestion and clearer airways. I am going to stick with it – the only thing I will miss is pizza. I discovered my breakfast serial tastes fine with water. Sounds dull, but it’s true. I’m hopeing by day 10 I feel better than now. I’m sure it’s different for everyone , but any comments on how long the widthdawl effects last would be great.
I am a month dairy-free. I found this article near the end of my dairy detox. I thought I was going crazy. I had all the symptoms (vivid, scary dreams, insomnia, daily headaches, rash, lethargy, bouts of severe depression…) but nothing to pinpoint why it was happening. I wouldn’t have imagined that it was the dairy.
Now, I haven’t had a headache in over 2 weeks. The depression has lifted. I feel great. I’m sleeping well. My acne has completely gone although the excema rash is hanging on…
It’s really worth the effort to hang on through the whole detox. Avoiding dairy now is easy, as there are tons of replacements for everything. Just be careful buying fake cheese as many say “lactose free” on the package, but have casein in it. The full dairy free ones taste nothing like cheese…
Hi John,
great page!!! have learned a lot. today is day 2 off dairy. we’ll see how it goes. i’m 40 but have been feeling joint stiffness. i also have a very creaky body that i hope will improve soon. i did not know that this dairy detox could be so bad! i’ve not felt any negatives yet. thanks for your page.
I recently was severely congested and had asthma because of the cold weather. I gave up drinking milk this past month and in the process of totally eliminating cheese.
I feel great the thick clear mucus is coming out of my throat I no longer have asthma, and I feel great. I also am drinking warm water and avoiding soda pop and I have lost 18 pounds and feel great.
Thank you so much for this great insite! I went off 95% of my dairy about 3 weeks ago and was wondering how long before some of the bloating decreases and I see some real results. I read that dairy is terrible for women with menstrual issues as it causes “dampness” in the body. I have replaced dairy with rice milk and coconut milk products. It actually turned out to be quite an easy switch. Once in a while I have some dairy, but it’s about once per week instead of a few times per day. I hope it will improve my health and I will drop some of the water weight! Be well!
Thanks for this site John. I cut out dairy cold turkey 10 days ago. The first few days I experienced severe depression and couldn’t stop crying. I was also very anxious and tired and thought I was going to lose my mind. I had eliminated diary to see if I could do it because two people close to me suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome and I read a book online by one man who cured his
RLS by completely removing dairy from his diet. I was wondering if you or anyone else experienced these results? I love Blue Diamonds vanilla & chocolate almond milk. And thanks for the tip about fake cheese and checking for casein. I have really been craving cheese and have been going for the soy fake cheese, but rice cheese is quite tastey too.
Again thanks to all of you for your feedback. To Our Health!
Overdue to finally, consciously do this and stick to it; had read prior to this that casein acts like an opiate. I Googled” insomnia from quitting dairy?’- and came to this page. I need the support. I am on day 5. Last night I had insomnia all night, until 5:30 am ,tossing and turning; finally slept 4 hours.
Symptoms I am trying to get rid of: the ever-there plug of mucus in the throat-epiglottis area, sleep apnea, puffy under the eyes, burning and dry eyes, weight gain, feeling out of control,FM like pains. Fake cheddar cheese is horrific, as well as fake sour cream and fake cream cheese, though I bought and tried them all. In the garbage. Easy does it; eliminating one type of food at a time; still eating some grain products; have cut back drastically on refined sugar. Goal is to weigh 15 pounds less.
I recently realized my 8 yr old daughter is allergic to dairy. I have taken her off of everything etc. cheese for about a week now. After reading this I really want us all off of cheese but I’m a little afraid of what it will do to my sensitive child. So i’m trying to decide the best way to ‘wean’ us off of cheese. My husband is not going to be happy. LOL
I find this all very interesting. I stopped eating dairy four weeks ago and have had no side effects that I can think of. I was surprised though that I haven’t lost a single pound but my pants are practically falling off me.
Off dairy for just short of 2 weeks now. Migraines and stuffy-headed. I was just diagnosed with a UTI the day before yesterday! I am thinking there may be a link between the UTI and my lack of diary. Do you think that might be because I went “off” of the antibiotics(given to the cows) in the milk? I have not had a bladder infection since I was pregnant 8 years ago…random? Oh and I lost four pounds!
I am in the exact same boat! I’m a week off dairy, and I suddenly have a UTI. I too think perhaps it has to do with the sudden lack of antibiotics from the milk. I’ve been searching for references to this online, and you’re the first one to mention a UTI. Also, I’m wondering if it’s so much detox that my bladder and kidneys are reacting badly. In addition, I’ve had bad headaches all week. I’m so relived to know that I’m not the only one going through this and am going to keep at it. Thanks for your comment. I know this thread is old, but I just wanted to put this out there!
Jennifer how are you doing now? I am just a week through this and wondering how long I have to feel sick before I feel better.
So glad I found this thread! I started searching online to see if going off Dairy could be why I don’t feel well and first read one by Dr Weil who said it is far fetched to have “Dairy detox”.
Thanks!
Oh yes! I am on my 3rd day off from dairy! It is HELL! But I am happy to find this article to relate with! Wow!
Wow! I am on day 3 also, as Garret above – I came on the computer to look up ‘dairy withdrawal symptoms’ because I feel so rotten! It is great to read that so many people share the experience of a difficult detoxing time, so it’s not just me! I have a continuous headache and don’t ever normally get them. I feel irritable and that is not usual. My body is calling out for something and I can’t figure out what to give it!! Interestingly though, the milk and cream I just love is actually raw…not pasteurised or homogenised and is from basically an organic herd. I guess what it all boils down to is that humans were not meant to ingest what should be food for calves! I’ve loved all things dairy for so long, but that’s it!!
I see this article is two years old, but someone else commented two days ago, so I feel okay in doing so as well. 🙂
I have suffered from chronic sinus problems for years now. I’ve kind of given up on doctors, although I do see one regularly, and have turned to books. Two of the books I’ve read so far recommended eliminating dairy, so I decided to go for it. It’s day 4 and I haven’t had this much energy in such a long time! I do feel bloated and gassy, but I feel like stuff in my sinuses is finally moving. I didn’t really drink milk, but I like cheese, butter, yogurt and ice cream. It hasn’t been that hard to do, just to remember to be aware of what I’m eating. I have accidentally eaten a little bit in these 4 days, but I’m working on it. I hope I don’t go through the fatigue, but if I do it’s really what I’ve become used to and it will pass! Thanks for the article!
Thank you so much for this article John, especially for addressing the emotional withdrawal effect from dairy. I have been off dairy for five days now and the past few days have been brutal. I have been an emotional basket case, feeling very depressed and almost suicidal at times. It is great to know that this probably has everything to do with the lack of dairy in my diet – not anything else! Phew. I thought I was going insane. Thanks again.
Thank you so much for this article John, especially for addressing the emotional withdrawal effect from dairy. I have been off dairy for five days now and the past few days have been brutal. I have been an emotional basket case, feeling very depressed and almost suicidal at times. It is great to know that this probably has everything to do with the lack of dairy in my diet – not anything else! Phew. I thought I was going insane. Thanks again.
I am now on day 9 of my “love of cheese” detox. It seems to me that after reading the comments, I would have to say that Jez seems to have had one of the easier times of getting off dairy. Could it be a dairy and wheat connection? I became a vegetarian about 6 months ago. I was never sure what to eat Besides fruits and vegetables, dairy became my favorite food group. I am now eating 60% raw without dairy But even now, I’d have to say a salad would still be better with a big hunk of cheese on top.
Thanks for the article and comments! I am currently at the end of my 3rd day dairy-free and it has been awfull! Flu-like symptoms, super low-energy, grumpy, brain-fog, bloated, and breaking out/skin rashes. I am going to stick with it until the worst is over. I have been a vegetarian for 14 years but have been having severe allergies for the last year. I am really hoping going off dairy will help with my allergies and general health and well-being.
I am on day 2 of no dairy,I getting mild pains in bottom of my stomach,very regular bowel movements and bizzarely appear to have black eyes
I am on day 3 of dairy free and gluten free. I removed sugars about 2 months, but I’ve always been plagued by severe under eye circles. I mean like two black eyes and NOTHING has worked to date, not even makeup can cover it using color wheel correction techniques (like orange, green and blue theater makeup). Going back to strict low carb has produced even more prominent eye circles that I can’t ignore. MOst likely b/c my diet is HIGH in cheese and cream. Decided to go GFCF for 2 weeks to determine if I see any improvement. I’m on day 3 and the only thing I’ve noted is nausea at night. Strange. I googled dairy detox and found this, so thanks for the insight. I totally forgot the casein connection. My dd was diagnosed with autism 3 years ago, so I’m familiar with the abilities of casein and GFCF (gluten free/casein free).
People may also want to note that gluten works the same way. It’s the peptides that are believed to leak from the gut, typically due to a yeast problem, and then seep into the blood stream and affect the brain by binding to the opiate receptors.
Also, my dd has been GFCF for years and we’ve tried just about every DF cheese on the market. There are two that I can recommend that are GFCF (no gluten or dairy). One is soy based and is by Galaxy, it does really melt. http://www.galaxyfoods.com/Products/SoyCheese/Vegan/index.html
and
Daiya Cheeses, http://www.daiyafoods.com/
Good luck.
Day 25 of no dairy. Honestly, no difference other than weight loss. I only drank a tiny bit of no-fat milk in my coffee before, but ate a lot of cheese and yogurt. I plan to keep dairy out of my diet though. The longer you’re away from it, the more you realize how unhealthy those chunks of fat-packed, bowel-blocking cheese really are. The dairy industry has done a great job of convincing Americans how vital dairy is to our diets (money rules all). I’ll be curious to see my latest cholesterol level as I was trying to drop it down from 205.
I am on day 2 of very low dairy, wheat and refined sugars. I’m hoping to reduce symptoms of stomach bloating, period pains, lethargy and hayfever. Have only been eating fresh fruit and vegies and wholegrain pasta and rice and reduced wheat bread. I have nutalex instead of margarine/butter and honey iinsead of sugar. I have been feeling like I have morning sickiness all day! So have been eating cruskits and dry crackers, but this is not helping. My stomach is unsettled all the time and feels hungry constanty, but whatever I eat won’t satisfy and makes me feel worse. I hope it gets better. Reading your article and all the responses has ispired me to continue
You’ve got all symptoms and you’re only in day 2? I too am on day 2, but haven’t felt any different so far. I expect to only feel/look better as the days go by.
where to start. at fifty yrs old my lovely pink complexion became angry red, w bumps and pimple like things i never had, the doctor said ROSACEA. tried everything, EVERYTHING, i was a dog with a bone on this…..went on a 7 day fast w fresh green juice and wheat grass and sprouts and everything cleared up. no meat, no sugar, no nothing. had major detox, from caffein, meat, sugar, dairy withdrawals, etc, didn’t know from what. anyway, went back to my diet, slowly, and everything came back. lethargy, foggy brain, rosacea. uggh. found a doctor in ventura county and research scientist of 25 years, and dermatologist and ucla professor who told me unequivocally i had a dairy allergy, just by looking at my face. and my symptoms are mild compared to many others. many other doctors over the years never checked and didn’t tell me this. she showed me hundreds of her patients with dairy in the diet pictures and without dairy in their diet pictures , sometimes in just weeks or months the difference was ASTOUNDING !! anyway, it’s a little challenging, but i am off. about a week, no withdrawals yet, but that’s maybe because i have done this before. i know it may take up to a year or two to reverse things, but i plan to be here for the long run. it’s hard but i want to tell everyone with skin problems GET OFF THE DAIRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh oh, for some reason she says goat and sheep cheese is okay! i use almond milk unsweetened in my cereal. and any vegan things at whole foods are dairy free of course. olive oil instead of butter…….Thanks for the great work, i didn’t even know what to expect. the doc didn’t tell me what to anticipate. took two months to get an appt with her, btw.
Searching the interwebs to find others having dairy withdrawal symptoms and hit the mother lode here. Ditto to all of the above. End of day two and I am miserable. Constant headache, blood sugar swings, lethargy, burning scalp, and cravings, cravings, cravings! I jumped off the milk and cheese and yogurt bandwagon just to see if my recurring IBS might be lactose related. But now having experienced this I’m not going back on dairy whether the IBS goes or stays. I gave up nicotine three years ago and caffeine one year ago and they were nothing compared to this. Thanks to all for sharing your experiences.
Yet another one with a long laundry list of withdrawal symptoms after only day two. I too am on day two and don’t expect to have any symptoms other than feeling and looking better. Gotta be optimistic!
WOW, this information has blown me away. I decided to cut down on dairy as a new years resolution. Am doing quite well so far. I found this site by googling ‘cutting out dairy allergic reaction’ as I’m getting very itchy patches especially on my hands. I will pursevere. Maybe we should start a cheeseaholicks annonymus.
I hear ya!!!
I just had to mention that when my husband and I had our daughter in to see our naturopath for food allergies, she mentioned that the proteins in wheat and dairy (gluten or gliadin and caesin) actually cross the blood brain barrier, and cause a “stoned” effect! This ties in to your morphine comment, there is definately something there. I have celiac disease, and am also allergic to dairy and am in the break up process! Wish me luck, I am also going cold turkey as I have no other choice really~it is too painful. Thanks for sharing.
I found this looking to see if there was such a thing as “dairy detox” and if so, is a symptom skin breakouts. This is happening to both my daughter and I and we are over two weeks dairy free. Weight is dropping fast, energy improvements have been noticed, as well as some weak and dizzy spells and tears. I mostly wanted to let readers know that many substitute products for dairy, have carangeenan (a seaweed) in them. Though seaweed is “natural” it is MSG, an excitotoxin. It will first excite the brain, make the product taste great, and get you addicted to the “excited brain” feeling, all the while, brain cell death is the result of the excitation. In short, it too is addictive and causes central nervous system damage. Look out for it and demand that manufacturers take it out. FYI, mercury in the brain, represses the brains ability to remove excess glutamic acid ( aspartic acid) . Both gluten and casien create glutamic acid in the brain. Without the excess being able to get removed, the brain gets inflamed, cells swell and then cell death occurs. mercury toxicity may be the main reason behind dairy and gluten allergies. The body is trying to get you to stop the brain damage these proteins are causing because of the mercury messing with the removal system. demand mercury be removed from EVERYTHING!!!
This is great info. I’m on day 5 of total dairy detox. Prior to which I was on the Primal Diet, so dairy is my only real dietary hang-up. I’ve suffered sinus infections my whole life and only in the last three years, I can barely get through a few weeks without one. Sick of taking sudafed, and already cleaning out my diet to only meats, vegetables, fruits, and greens – diary was the final thing. I’ve been bloated and head-foggy, and emotional, and today nauseated, with bad stomach and bowels. I just barely started to throw off some mucus but underneath it all, I have a sense of wellness creeping up on me. It’s hard to explain how I can feel so bad but sense how right it was to quit the dairy. Thanks for posting this article and thanks to other viewer comments. Before reading this, I thought something was terribley wrong – and now I realize this is wonderfully RIGHT.
I’ve been off dairy for about 10 days now. I never experienced any of the awful detox symptoms that some others are having. I have had sinus problems for years, and with every sinus infection, I am left with a lingering cough that will last for months. People look at me like I have TB or something. I’ve known for years that I was most likely lactose intollerent. I never eat ice cream and rarely eat cereal because I always feel so bad afterwards…and have terrible stomach issues. What I didn’t realize was what the milk was doing for my sinuses and respiratory system. Within 24 hours of going comptetely off dairy (including my precious cheese), I could feel a difference. And, within 3 days I was already feeling like a new person. I have more energy than I’ve had in years!! I’ve lost weight and mostly if can tell how much my waistline has gone down. I’m going to the bathroom like crazy, and I finally feel like I’m getting a healthy gut. My cough has gone away that has been with me for 2 months now. Yea!
I went gluten free with my son a month ago and have found it pretty easy. Tried going off dairy for a week and only made it 2 days. I thought my nerves were going to make me jump out of my skin. I had trouble sleeping and concentrating. I was so shocked at how my body responded to no milk that I had to do some research. I thought milk was my friend all these years. After reading all of these posts, I am determined to try again but more slowly.My body is not real fond of soy……..going off dairy is sooo much more difficult!!!
Hello there. Glad I found this thread. Everybody seems to have different experiences, but nevertheless the withdrawal symptoms are definitely there. I’m on day 7 and have so far experienced extreme lethargy, flu-like symptoms and grumpiness, whilst at the same time feeling “clean” inside my body if this makes sense.
Been a vegetarian for most of my life and have always eaten plenty of cheese and yogurts in order to get lots of protein. Then went on a very slow and sensible weight loss programme where I reduced my sugar intake a great deal. But even though I lost 3 1/2 stone and did feel better physically as a result, I still had this constant underlying feeling of being ill without knowing why. I’m now hoping that removing dairy from my diet will help me to become healthier. Will post again in six months or so. 🙂
I am soooo happy I found this web-page!!!! I have been living on whey protein drinks for too many years & have been feeling very convicted about it. I know I should stop. I just got a vegan/gluten free/raw protein powder to replace my whey. But I love love love cheese. Even though I only eat fat free cheese & skim milk I know it is still bad. I am scared of the withdraws I may get, but I know I need to do it! This article has convinced me! My diet consists of whey protein powder all day & then salad with feta cheese and some chicken. Oh & when I binge, it is tons of cheese, cookies, cakes all the way, all with dairy in them! I am hoping getting off the dairy will help my weight issues & oily skin problems??? I am seriously addicted to cheese. I hope I am strong enough to refrain from it forever!! Anyone use any cheese substitutes??? I know silly to ask. I am not a soy person at all. Sooo Lets see how this goes. I hope there will be more testimonies on here or on other blogs/websites….
I have been off dairy for five days now. (Never big on drinking milk, but a dedicated lover of cheese and ice-cream) I have not struggled with the sacrifice as much as I expected but it might have something to do with the fact I am incorporating more raw foods into my diet. So I have been downing a lot of green smoothies and snacking on fruit. This seems to give me a lot of energy. So far my sinus issues have improved and my skin looks better. Unfortunately, I have been experience some headaches which could possibly be dairy withdrawal, at least according to this site.
morphine isn’t just in the cheese. it’s in the crackers too: gluten.
pizza zombies:
http://www.13.waisays.com/zombie.htm
If you want to help yourself be put off by cheese, also do some research on how much puss is allowed in dairy products! Uugh!
Wow. Now it’s been a little over a week without dairy and gluten for me and without dairy for my husband. We are both so exhausted! day 1-2 I felt uncomfortable in my stomach but the bloating feeling disappeared. We both had runny noses for 4 days. My husband stopped snoring completely.. so altogether great changes. I am hoping the tiredness will disappear soon.
I don’t think I will go back having dairy any time soon.
I’am a vegetarian for 1.5years ( now being April 2011 ), and in December 2010 i’ve decided to be a vegan, starting with January 2011. The first 3 days were tricky, but after 7 days, I got used to it, and I was feeling great, light, and full of energy. It’s something I recommend to active people. My only problem was that I got bored., and so, I’ve quit. Don’t do that.
Please! Will you cut out this crap!? Dairy is addictive wooooo! Go vegans, die of protein deficiencies! We are… wait for it…omnivores! That means we have evolved to eat …everything! Yes you can give up dairy products if ou want to, you can give up all meat proteins if you want to, but you will not be healthier because we have evolved to process meat proteins, we are good at it, and it is good for us. Please, please, learn the science and give up the crap!
why cut meat? no dairy is good and it doesn’t mean no meat too 😉
You know, I could have wrote this a little while ago, before I felt like I was drowning in that gallon of Mucus. No one loves(loved?) cheese more than me! But not all animal products are the same! Dairy is a delicate protein, and cooking doesn’t help it. THink about the piece of cheese when you are gasping for air, like me.
It’s true we evolved to eat meat proteins. However, we did NOT evolve to consume dairy products. That is relatively new (at least in the scope of our evolutionary timeline). I am a die-hard meat eater, but I am giving up dairy after reading the research that whey protein causes (in some people) a disproportionate spike in insulin (the fat storage hormone). I did the dairy free week long challenge and lost 5 pounds without dieting at all. It’s also true that dairy contains morphine compounds; wheat does as well. Just something to keep in mind when you mix up a bowl of mac & cheese.
Mark, thanks for trolling.
Mark, That’s the addition talking.
Wow, this article is getting over 400 visits a day!
Thank you Stumble Users. 🙂
I am glad that I am able to help any fellow dairy detoxers.
I’d love to hear some of your success stories, so be sure to come back in a week or two and let us all know how you feel.
After all the nasty detoxing was over, my energy went through the roof. I’d love to know if that is the norm for most people who go off dairy.
– John
53 Comments! Be sure to visit page 1 of the comments if you missed them. 🙂
Mark,
Did you read the article before you started bashing me as a Vegan?
The VERY FIRST LINE of this article is:
“I am not a vegan… and not a vegetarian”
The rest of your comment appears to be about eating meat. I hate to break it to you Mark, but this post is NOT about meat. It is about dairy.
Just in case you need a definition of the word “not” I will include it below.
not
–adverb
1.
(used to express negation, denial, refusal, or prohibition): You must not do that. It’s not far from here.
Hope that helps Mark.
For the record, I have nothing against Vegans. I just don’t happen to be one myself.
Hello
I looked this up because a week ago today, my sons doctor suggested highly that he go dairy free. We decided to do it together as a family and for us that is a huge deal.. We cheese everything. While I must say I have not actually struggled with this, today I am SICK!!! My head is killing me my neck and and shoulders feel as if I have been beaten. I am a mmigraine sufferer and this is entirely different. I feel miserable but weak and wierd. I am thinking do I need a doctor or is this the lack of casein, and or other dairy villans.
I was looking for info on dairy because I tried to give it up and I actually went a month off it. I had finally gotten over the nasal stuffiness. My problem was like your wife’s. Emotional instability.. it kicked in around the fourth week. OMG, I was having anxiety and then I started getting paranoid! I was freaking..and I just gave up and went back on dairy.
Then the emotional.. and mental issues just stopped. Never mind 7 days. This all happened after being off an entire month! I think my detoxing was lasting a lot longer!
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes which will make the largest changes. Thanks for sharing!
Wow…I can’t believe comments I read sometimes…if u are an omnivore who cares! But don’t make annoying comments about how people need to learn about “science” and realize meat is good for you because humans have evolved. I mean honestly, this article is not even about meat it’s about DAIRY PRODUCTS. Second, most humans have NOT developed to process their digestive tract to succesfully process meat the way a true omnivore does. Don’t fool yourself. But also it’s not to say that you shouldn’t enjoy meat and dairy products, as long as you know how it affects your body!!
I am so glad that I discovered this and was warned about the symptoms before kicking the dairy! The first few days of being off cheese and yogurt were not all that bad. Just nasal stuffiness, and cravings, and ahem…having to use the bathroom more frequently. Now it is 7 days off of cheese and the depression is significant. Everything seems black. I am glad to know that this is a withdrawal symptom and will go away. I think I have always been allergic to milk. I was not breastfed as a baby, but was given cow’s milk in my bottle and then we had milk in our cereal every day. I was plagued with stomachaches throughout, but no one ever thought it had to do with the milk. Anyway, thanks for the article!
Thanks for the information. Tomorrow will be three weeks that I have been dairy-free. I can really sympathize with Diana. I am having emotional battles. After one week, I was depressed and incredibly moody. After two weeks, I had my first panic attack in a long time. Since then I am just jumpy. But I am going to try to stick it out. Any idea of how long this could take? I don’t want to turn back now.
Along with this, I am tired, low energy, and bowel issues.
I will say that my nasal congestion, which is usually crazy at this time of year, is non-existent. YEA!
Toxins and chemicals in your bloodstream are stored in your fat reserves, so if you go on a CRASH diet, the fat starts dissolving and releasing all these toxins and chemicals back into the bloodstream in concentrated form – and it can make you feel sick and off-colour for up to 10 days, until a lot of them are dumped into the toilet.
Diets work better when you pick one food at a time to stop eating, and replacing it with a better substitute which is healthier. When that change has become a HABIT, then introduce a second substitution, and so on.
If you eat high fibre breads (up to 13%)which are mainly complex carbohydrate and high protein, you can manage your blood sugar levels and cholesterol much better, and your weight will begin to reduce automatically as your appetite turns itself downwards.
I’m on 8th day today . And today I felt terrible , aches tired and I thought I had an allergic reaction to a prawn ( which has never happened before ) as I started itching all over mainly my face and came up in small lumps . I’m very snappy and bad tempered and again that’s not like me .
Also we DO NOT digest meat properly as we have a large intestine ( over 20ft long ) whereas a lions for example is 3 feet long to expel toxins quickly !
You are so right! Last year I quit dairy for a month. I was so hard. It took about two weeks to see a change But I lost 5 pounds, my stomach flattened, my acne cleared, and my brain fog lifted! It was amazing! Of course one day cheese called my name and by the end of the day all of that nasty crap Came back. Since then I have tried quitting again and just cant seem to do it! It tastes so darn good!
I have never been a cheese person at all. I tolerated the occasional single-slice American grilled cheese sandwich and some pizza as a kid. I have kept my consumption down to a slice of pizza or two every few weeks in adulthood (especially on the east coast-best pizza, ever). The concept of drinking a product intended for a calf, let alone concentrating said product into a really disgusting product makes no logical sense to me. Humans are designed for human milk, but ween off of it at a very young age.
The fact that I don’t eat cheese boggles most people (seems that about 95% of everyone looovvvees cheese, the other 5% wouldn’t miss is it at all if it disappeared). I have a belief that cheese was an OK idea at best-waaay back when there wasn’t refrigeration and people had to have some fatty food sources to get through the winter.
I engage in many healthy eating practices like lots of raw and fresh greens and veggies, fruits, very low sugar, very little meat (pretty much fish and pork is all I eat), etc… What has been most amazing is when others try taking certain foods out of their diets to see how they feel. Cheese tops the list for having the most profound effect, people really find that not having it makes them feel much better in the long run.
I heard of the findings of the casomorphins several years ago and it made perfect sense why cheeseheads are so into that gross food. When people are turned on to that fact, it makes perfect sense, but their addiction overrides reason, much like smoking…
Too bad the Dairy Council has the $ to cover up the BS that is their product. I’m very glad for the internet for allowing the truth to be told!
Thank you so much for your comments. I started dairy free 10 days ago and have had pretty much the same symptoms everyone has mentioned: fatigue- not even wanting to go to Yoga, break outs, fogginess, and tons of visits to the “powder” room. I do loooove cheese and I am worried that I won’t be able to tolerate it at all if I ever want just a tiny piece. But lets see… Glad to hear that current symptoms are “detox” and hopefully will go away for good…. Thanks again aeveryone for sharing your experiences. It is very helpful in getting through this… Good luck to everyone in going dairy-free!
I am on my 4th…cheese free day. I have been having headaches…fatigue…bowel stuff…my eyes are tired…I just want to sleep…this is an amazing experience. I am grateful for this information and to everyone for sharing…I did not know that letting go of cheese would be so hard.
I just gave up cheese 2days ago. I have a headache and also my brain feels foggy and I am very irritable. I won’t give up though! I know the end results will be worth it.
Just took my daughter, who has some complex autistic spectrum/behavioral issues, as well as skin and respiratory stuff going on, off dairy. I took her off gluten several months ago and that was rough, but this is beyond anything I could imagine. Giving up dairy has turned her into a monster. I am glad I read this. She has been depressed, expressing suicidal feelings (she is 8 and generally quite happy), bit and hit me (never did that), had crazy meltdowns right out of the Exorcist etc. And ALL she can talk about mournfully is ice cream and cheese. A Mr Softee truck passing by will make her cry and have a fit. Clearly we are onto something, but it would be a tragedy if her withdrawal (from morphine, no less) was so unmanageable that she ended up hurting herself or putting herself in a dangerous situation, or just feeling incompetent as a person, because she’s too young to understand what’s going on. I’m going to keep a little cheese around to give her in case of emergency, like feeding a diabetic sugar when they have an attack!! I will get off it gradually… nothing, but nothing, is worth what she is going through right now.
Within 24 hrs of giving up dairy I knew there was something wrong with me, but I had no idea it was because of the dairy. After four days of not having it I felt like I had the flu but without the runny nose. Body aches, slight fever, low energy. Worse I felt really depressed. I had to call out of work just to sleep for two days straight. The rest of the week I went to work but then slept the rest of the day. After about a week it began to get better but being tired continued for about another week or so. Around day 4-8 I had to cancel all social engagements and work because I had an erratic bowel. I had no idea what the hell was going on. I was really worried about myself.
This process all began about three weeks ago. This past weekend I was feeling very anxious and all I wanted was cheese. I ate pizza and macaroni and cheese. My stomach felt very heavy but my emotional state felt better. I have always been an emotional cheese and chocolate eater. When life was really rough, that is all I would eat. Talk about an addiction. This morning I decided I was going to quit dairy altogether. Then I read this article and everything snapped into place. Now I understand what I am up against and know how to get through it. I gave up chocolate last year and it was pretty hard. What did I substitute? Cheese. Well, no more. No more fixes.
Dark chocolate can be very good for us. I get the kind containing 72+ cocoa, with no dairy added. Keep the moo milk out of the bars!
I am so pleased to find others who suffered from stopping dairy. I can hardly breath and am without energy. This is 2wks in !!! I guess I will eventually balance out
I am a 32 year old man, I have been drinking soy milk for several years. I recently learned how bad it is; estrogen levels etc. So I quit cold Turkey and switched to rice milk and hemp milk. I immediately experienced minor hot flashes, food cravings, splitting head aches, couldn’t sleep etc.
Then I went to the health food store and they said to take tribulus, a herbal supplement that stimulates testosterone production. My symptoms were immediately gone and I felt great. My body was lacking testosterone so it started producing lots of it to make up for the past years. And my new testosterone level naturally canceled the need for estrogen in my system. Estrogen and testosterone are hormonal opposites, so they cancel each other out.
Body building tribulus is the answer for men craving soy, however only use as necessary it can also be addictive.
soy milk withdrawal, soy milk addiction, soy milk detox, soy milk craving, male soy withdraw, male soy milk addiction, stop soy milk estrogen dependency.
thank god ! i thought there was something seriously wrong with me. I gave up cows milks because I found out I had an intolerence to it! im on day 7 today. I have experienced nausea, gas, dizziness, hazy vision, total tirdness (I am a gym junkie and I could not bring myself to go to the gym) this has never happened before so u can see y i was worried. Some days my legs feel like blocks when im trying to walk! do not feel good at all but I am hoping that this is a bad start to something good. Please god! thanx for all the comments they have settled my mind on thinkin that there was something physically wrong with me
So glad I found this article. I’ve been hacking up mucus every day for over 5 weeks now since giving up dairy, potatoes and bread. I simply have not been able to believe that one person could generate this much mucus, especially in the mornings. I’m sorry for the graphic detail, but I’ve been going a little crazy wondering if this was normal. Like you, I was brought up on dairy – I used to fight to get the extra milk bottles at school, but I will never go back to it now (esecpailly after going through 5 weeks of detox hell). On the plus side, I’ve lost 10lbs in 5 weeks and I can see light at the end of the tunnel – I’m much sharper mentally and I can feel surges of energy. So, thank you for sharing your experiences on here.
..so much sharper mentally that I have forgotten how to spell 🙂
How long does it take to get rid of the break outs? I am having trouble with them on my wrists and hand. Thanks for this great info I wish I would have seen it sooner though.
Pingback: The week from hell.Or, why not to go cold turkey from Cymbalta. « In Search of Dessert
I’ve noticed a number of people are saying that they’re are experiencing stomach pain when they quit dairy. From what I understand dairy (especially yogurt) is good for reducing stomach acid, and I know many people who use it specifically for this purpose. I wouldn’t be suprised if some of the stomach aches and nausea out there are being caused by too much stomach acid.
Hi all.
It’s been great to read all about everyones detox stories. Brilliant.
I have recently found out I am highly intolerant to Lactose and all dairy products…to the amusement of my fiancee and folks: we come from a dairy farm in New Zealand!
I love dairy, from natural yoghurt to cream, brie to blue, milk to bailys – love it…well…loved it.
I am currently on day 2; today was almost impossible to get out of bed, mucus is coming out of me like 10 teenage boys ‘hoiking’ their way through a park, and the spaced out sequences are embarrassing.
The only time I can think straight is when I’m eating or trying new teas’ like Lapsang Souchong…very nice.
So, I’ll keep it brief and regular with the transformation – my eyes seem clearer though; one positive, and my skin also seems smoother – for now.
Luckily I can still eat meat.
To be continued…
Thank you so much for this web site and to everyone who commented so far…
Like most of you, I’ve been off dairy for a week now. I took that decision after YEARS of being sick (sinus and breathing problems, horrendous migraines, skin problems, low energy, etc.).
Lately, I’ve been to many doctors (my family practionner, an allergist, a dermatologist) and all they’ve done was to prescribe me pills and creams and pumps and spays and antibiotics (that I couldn’t finish taking, I was so sick from them). Nothing worked. I didn’t know what to do since I’ve been getting worse and worse over the past months.
So, a week ago, after doing some research, I decided to quit all dairy and aspartame (I was SO addicted to the stuff…). It’s now 7 days later and for the past three days, I haven’t had ONE SINGLE HEADACHE/MIGRAINE, which, by itself, is so mind blowing to me that I want to tell everyone I know!!! Plus, my sinuses seem to have totally cleared out, and my skin seems to be getting better also!
The only thing I worry about is that I am getting very bad bowel movements (the reason why I looked up this site tonight, actually). I am glad to know that I am not alone and that this is caused by my body detoxing…
The best of it all is that even though I am finding it challenging to reorganize my eating habits to exclude all dairy (and most gluten, so far), especially since I am (or was!) an ovo-lacto-vegetarian, I haven’t had any cravings yet. Of course, I do think about how good a grilled cheese sandwich would be, but knowing that this would likely make me feel sick again, I am not even tempted to look back…
Thanks again for this site, it is very much appreciated…
Marie, I realize this is a VERY old thread but I was wondering what you meant by “bad” bowel movements.
Im actually an anxiety sufferer and decided to come off dairy to see if it helped my anxiety. Im on my second day and im tired, mucousy, achy, a little grouchy and my anxiety is actually not as bad although i have had some negative thoughts which i can reason out of. Seeing as im 32weeks pregnant im taking it slow. Weve been off butter and margarine for a long time, ive replaced it with nuttlex and im now in the process of changing my milk supply to almond milk and oat milk. Than ill change my chese over gradually and just not eat it as regular as i do. I already have a3and a 4 year old at home so its not an option to stay in bed all day. Im thinking the gradual change is a better option for me. But i have decided to completely shift my relationship with food. Cutting out dairy means a lot of chocolates and procesed foods which will be best for me innthe long run. Health is so much more important.
I decided to look into dairy and asthma to see if dairy products were causing my 4 year old daughter’s asthma and skin issues. What I discovered was so horrifying that I stopped drinking milk and any form aof dairy right away. The idea of pus and blood just turned me off so bad that I don’t want any of it!! This coming from a cheese lover. I LOVED pizza! I couldn’t figure out why I had all this neck and shoulder muscle pain. I felt like I had been hit by a baseball bat. I just didn’t make the connection so thanks for posting this. I did notice that my skin improved – it was so soft and clearer. However, right now i am having some acne issues but I am sure it will clear up once my body gets rid of all the junk. As dfor my daughter, i switched her to oat and rice milk (fortified) and she loves it. Unfortunatley, she loves cheese and my husband is not yet on board with the idea of eliminating dairy. He thinks no cpizza and ice cream is bordering on child abuse and is completely unreasonable. The funny thing is that he was completely onboard about not drinking milk but as soon as I mentioned about the cheese he freaked! No addiction there at all right? So frustrating to know the truth and not have anyone believe you. Now I realise that we are dealing with a powerful addiction the defies reason. Look at all the people who won’t quit smoking even though it’s know to be bad for your health? Working on it though. Thanks so much for the valuable information. It’s all making sense now!
BTW…daughter no longer has any stuffiness or congestion since taking her off dairy. She hasn’t even had a cold or flu even when everyone around her was getting sick. I am so pleased to finally figure out why my child was always getting sick. She was eating tons of dairy…cheese, yogurt and milk. She was hospitalized last year for asthma and I couldn’t understand why this was happening. So happy to have fugured it out – no thanks to the medical community! She had been tested for dairy and showed a slight reaction to dairy on the skin test but was told that this was “not significant”…um ok. If you say so doc!
This is my first night after my first day of no dairy. Abundant flactulance, followed by mild tummy pain, hard stools, then loose stools. Oh my gosh!
Wow! So happy to read everyone’s experiences. Thank you!
My family (3 kids and husband and I) have been dairy free for just over two weeks. We stopped gluten over a year ago when we learned my son’s anaphylactic allergic reactions were from wheat and gluten. That was hard to stop, too! I mean, we had tried being gluten free two other times and failed. We succeeded the third time when we *knew* it was behind my son’s problems. I mean, what is more motivating than your children’s health? I felt so stupid after, like, how did I not know this was the problem?! And that is how I feel about dairy with my other two kids…
Two days into dairy free, my middle boy (5) coughed up a bunch of cauliflower-looking pieces. Yuck! Google turned up “tonsil stones” and sure enough, a strong correlation with dairy. Arg! His body was finally able to expel them. All of us are still coughing up tons of mucus, and blowing our noses non-stop. My middle boy has always had totally blocked up ears with wax. Well, now that is all flowing out in addition to more mucus (out of his ears!!), and it smells putrid. I am trying not to be too hard on myself about not doing this sooner. It is so obvious that it is a problem. Everyone is having better, normal bowel movements.
My little daughter is nearly two, and still nursing. She actually ate very little dairy, but must have gotten quite a bit from me, as she suffered from severe constipation. Well, no more! She has two healthy BMs per day now. She is having some abdominal pain in the nights, so I hope that will pass soon. Also, her eczema and my son’s got worse for a few days, and is now completely gone.
I know it is only two weeks in, but I already feel like this is a choice we will do forever. Just as I did when I knew wheat was a problem.
Good luck to all of you! It is a hard road, especially at first, but you (and I!) can do it!
Jean
wanted to add one more thing… prior to stopping dairy, we were only consuming raw dairy from a friend’s cow, super fresh, super clean, etc, etc. I kept reasoning that this was natural, and right and wholesome. The more I read about the opioid compounds, the more I can see that those compounds are nature’s way of helping a baby nursling continue to nurse for optimum health, but milk is just not for those over age 7 or so. I am an advocate for nursing, and nursed my children quite a good long, time. One of the *right* things I did for them before I learned about wheat and dairy! LOL.
I’ve been off sugar for almost three months now and off dairy for almost four weeks. Cravings are still very strong. How long does this take?!
I am now one week into eliminating dairy, and it was brutal! Today was the first day I woke up feeling semi OK, which was encouraging. I decided to go dairy free to help eliminate ovarian cysts and reduce hair loss, and so far, I noticed an improvement in both conditions. No more pelvic pain, and reduced shedding which is very exciting. Also less redness in my skin which is just the way I thought my complexion was. I hadn’t been drinking pasteurized milk, but ate A LOT of raw milk cheese and some raw milk. I had never really given up dairy for an extended period of time, this time it’s in conjunction with being gluten free (two years gluten free now with a few cheats here and there) and I feel SO much better. Withdraws from dairy were more intense than I thought – felt similar to the time I quit smoking! Strange dreams, unbelievable exhaustion and fatigue, feeling super tired in the morning, brain fog, depression, anxiety, oh my!!! Glad to have gotten through the worst of it – now I am super motivated to continue!!! Thanks everyone for your posts~!
Wow! Thanks for all the info, everyone! I just went off dairy 3 days ago due to a scorching case of acid reflux. Today, I am moody, weepy, irritable, achy, tired and I have the worst taste in my mouth. I thought it was in my head. And yes, I am craving dairy like mad!!! Morphine? Really!? I am shocked and wondering if and when I will ever feel better. Thanks for giving me some hope.
It is nice to see others on the same train of thought as myself. I have contended with quitting dairy on and off for years and struggle with what I consider an addiction. It is now that I find myself looking at how dairy affects my three year old. He just seems to lose focus, has difficulty looking people in the eye, sounds too familiar with the old attention deficit diagnosis. I have done a lot of reading on notmilk.com and just seems to be the right fit in my mind. It is definitely easier to remove dairy and see what happens than to take my son to an eager doc that could be quick to offer add meds. I did a trial with myself a long time ago of quitting dairy and lost a lot of weight. I commend you for being so open about your opposition to milk. Many people are accustomed to milk being the household staple that mention of milk being bad for them is almost insulting. Kudos to you and dairy free lifestyle, keep up the good work!
There are also opiates in lettuce…
Wow, it is true, although it would appear to a much lesser extent.
Hi, today is day 6 for me going dairy free.. I also came on here to look up symptoms of going dairy free.. This artical has been a great help, as well as all the comments. I have a pancreas that doesn’t work & after 6 years of ill health decided to go vegan after my 16 yr old son said how much better he was feeling after going vegan a month ago.. I have developed a horrible cough but after reading this am not worried, I’ve not been sleeping well & have had a headache for 4 days.. I am not going to give up, there is light at the end of the tunnel.. can’t wait for a fitter, healthier, happier me.. 🙂 thanks John for posting this..
Hi, i just quit dairy as well, my identical twin sister suffered from a dairy intolerance (specifically Casein) after a stressful time in her life. I recently went through a lot of stress and become sick for the past 5 weeks. at first i went to the dr and was told it was stomach flu, so i tried to ride it out. I was still sick every day. by the end of week four i knew it had to be something else, i talked to my sister and realized that all of our symptoms were exactly the same (she has now been dairy free for about 4 years). I quit eating dairy completely about 3 days ago and have been feeling really weird, the worst being body aches and foggy head. I’m relieved to know other people experienced this as well! for everyone out there that misses cheese, my sister tried replacing cow dairy with goat cheese and sheep cheese. her body has no problems digesting those. they have different proteins than cow’s milk and we have discovered that trader joes and whole foods carry a very large selection, including goat and sheep cheddar thats very comparable to cow cheese!
It MUST be said that he in this article is speaking of COMMERCIAL (GOVT CONTROLLED) DAIRY – which is nothing more then a bunch of chemicals with all the good stuff removed in their pasteurization and homogenization that takes all the good benefits out and leaves you with just toxic junk.
Dairy is very good for you IF you ONLY use the raw milk of goats or cows and the cheese made from it. You will notice a boost in energy almost immediately from the REAL dairy. Same with eggs – never eat the store commercial eggs. Besides they are all nuked, they are cheap for a reason ! Only eat dairy and eggs form local family farmers – never eat anything that is “govt approved” – that is all poison – they want us dead remember. That is why they are attacking all the family farmers and raw milk and real farm eggs. They do not want you to be healthy. It is not surprising the govt has put drugs in foods in order to get us addicted to their govt poison GE foods. Anything govt touches is deadly. Anything govt touches fails. Look down through history and find just one thing that govt has made better ! You can’t.
If you eat dairy as God gave it, it is excellent food for you. But once govt touches anything – it is turned into poison. By the way natural fat is good for you and need by the body for proper digestion. Natural cholesterol is not bad for you. Only after govt interference butts in does it become bad for you. For example Natural farm eggs that are fertile (means roosters are in with the hens) turns any kind of bad cholesterol into good or eliminates it. It eliminates the bad things IF you do things God’s way as He intended. But govt has been trying to take God’s place all along and wants you to see them as God ! In so doing they are killing you !
It MUST be said that he in this article is speaking of COMMERCIAL (GOVT CONTROLLED) DAIRY – which is nothing more then a bunch of chemicals with all the good stuff removed in their pasteurization and homogenization processes that takes all the good benefits out and leaves you with just toxic junk.
Dairy is very good for you IF you ONLY use the raw milk of goats or cows and the cheese made from it.
God made our bodies and only HE knows what is best for it. You will notice a boost in energy almost immediately from the REAL dairy. Same with eggs – never eat the store commercial eggs. Besides they are all nuked (as is everything sold in stores), they are cheap for a reason ! Only eat dairy and eggs from local family farmers – never eat anything that is “govt approved” – that is all poison – they want us dead remember. That is why they are attacking all the family farmers and raw milk and real farm eggs. They do not want you to be healthy. It is not surprising the govt has put drugs in foods in order to get us addicted to their govt poison GE foods. Anything govt touches is deadly. Anything govt touches fails. Look down through history and find just one thing that govt has made better ! You can’t.
Pingback: The Detox From Dairy | the VEGAN vernacular
Hi
I am frantically searching for side effects of giving up dairy. I feel much better in terms of my aches and pains and energy level (after the first few days when all I wanted to do was sleep) but my stomach is still not happy. I wake up in the morning and after a few sips of black coffee have to run to the bathroom. Things settle down after that but I hope this stops soon. Do you think it could still be withdrawal?????
I have been gluten free for about four years now, but recently had a blood test for allergies….sad to find out that my body wasn’t reacting well to dairy, casien, eggs, nuts, celery, carrots….the list goes on/: So I decided that very same day I got the test results that I was going to go ‘cold turkey.’ OKAY, I will be honest, this was probably a bad idea for several reasons listed above! I didn’t have anything but positive reactions the first 2 weeks…clearand radiant skin! But week two I started having REALLY bad cramps and constipation. I WAS suggested to ear SAURCROUT(SPeLling?) And pepto dismal….the sourcraut has made such a difference with digestive enzymes (; I still feel like total CRAp and bloated, but my family is supporting me in this detox period. Thank u everyone for sharing, this has really helped me.
I have been off of dairy for four days now. I am nursing and my son is having tummy problems. I eat very healthy, no processed foods, organic dairy and raw organic cheese (when I was eating dairy). I have had the worst withdrawal symptoms; horrible body aches, literally everywhere in my body was hurting, and awful bloating. Today is day four and the pain has subsided. The entire time I haven’t had cravings. I will never eat dairy again. If symptoms are this bad…it can’t be good for me!
i wish my doctor had warned me of the withdrawal from going off dairy! But thanks to you and others who posted their stories so I know this is totally normal and im not actual as crazy as i thought.
My son was diagnosed with the highest level of celiac when he was 4 and a half (also diabetes type 1) I put him on herb cocktail from Avena (they’re in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada) and took him back after three months- no celiac! They have tested every yr, he’s 15 now, celiac free!!!
I, too, did a search on google for withdrawal symptoms from dairy. My weight “shot up” six pounds in two days, unlike those of you who dropped weight, which I am pretty confident is water retention. I do feel really bloated, but definitely not constipated. Other things that are described in previous posts are also happening, including skin rashes. Glad to know I am not alone. I needed to know it was connected to stopping dairy. I had numerous food allergies as a child.
Hey John, God bless you for this wonderful article ! I was taking allergy shots every week (2 or 3) for around 7 years, then every 2 weeks for 2 years. Found a new doctor who told me “no more dairy” I was used to slathering Smart Balance and butter all over things, and also cream cheese galore. Well, I have been on the detox for 6 days, and feel just awful, but am totally encouraged by these testimonies of healing (thanks everyone) I spent 6 hours sleeping on day 3 and 8 hours today, now I see why. Feel as if I have been a dope addict since birth, from all the morphine build-up. I KNOW there will be no going back to poisoning myself with cheese (I am no Masochist) I am going to turn 68 in September, so I guess that’s why I am suffering so terribly at this time, BUT I have no neuropathy in my feet, which has been a plague for decades !! I do hope all this truth about the ingredients in cheese become known to the general public. This is just another BAD diet people get hooked on. Thanks again !
I too wish someone had explained that I would have severe withdrawal symptoms. I decided to go on an elimination diet, because I had symptoms of metal poisoning and worried that it was MS. When I cut everything from my diet, I had such a bad few days that I began to panic because I thought I was getting worse! It felt like I was on a downward spiral! Then, a week later, I decided to break my diet and have a bowl of cereal, and it sent me to the hospital! My advice is, chart everything! And don’t make assumptions. Now, that last night I experienced withdrawal symptoms from just eliminating milk, I see that there are many resources on the web, that confirm my observation. Thanks, all.
Thanks for this article has put my mind to rest . On day 3 of dairy detox and have the headache from hell . At least now I know something must be working, cut out dairy eggs and yeast as a rest of intolerance tests which I had done at myself . Suffer from fibromyalgia bug a friend told me xbout trigger foods that might not help with this , was amazed when I got positive results of intolerance for all of these. Finding it a hard slog cutting out all these things but definatly going to hand in there after reading every ones comments , thanks for a great site , using almond milk sf the mo and whilst it’s not milk it’s pleasant enough and great on cereals 🙂
I read a lot of interesting content here. Probably
you spend a lot of time writing, i know how to save you a lot of work, there is an online tool that
creates high quality, google friendly articles in minutes,
just search in google – laranitas free content source
Does anyone have achy body and sleepiness (tiredness) after cutting out fairy.?
YES! My symptoms exactly. I’m on day 5. So great to find this and hear about others feeling so sick with the detox. Who knew?
The first article I read about “5 symptoms of stopping dairy” were like 1). More energy. 2). Weight loss. And on like that. I was discouraged as that was NOT how I was feeling. Lol. This has fortified my resolve to continue. Thanks all!
I’m on day 11 and I feel miserable!! I’m going crazy, I sleep so often now yet I feel tired all the time. I haven’t been able to concentrate on homework and I can’t focus in class either. I’ve been drinking lots of water though but I still feel so drained and lousy, I just want to sleep forever.
I was wondering when the withdrawal ends? I heard 2 weeks? Is it going to be longer? Is it different for everyone? I just want this to end but at the same time I don’t want to eat diary either.
Thank you for this article. I am trying to get off dairy for a while now but experience headaches nearly everyday. How long will this persist? I do have a small cup of yogurt in the morning and some cheese occasionally.
I gave up dairy 5 days ago. I had been eating tons of frozen yogurt and greek yogurt. Plus the dairy in protein bars.
First couple days — not too bad.
Day 4 – headache from HELL and I never get headaches.
Today, day 5 — head still slightly achy. But I am getting more and more energy with each passing day. Danced around the house at night when I would have normally been exhausted.
Dairy is not good for humans!
its true!! I did a 30 vegan challenge and never looked back. although i still eat fish, I NEVER eat dairy! cant stand the smell of it anymore. dont have a taste for it. lost weight and have more energy. I go to the gym and ride my bike at least 50 miles a week . NEVER IN MY LIFE have I been this athletic. 3 month of detox…its worth it. it was more painful than quitting cigarettes!
I don’t know what day I’m on, probably around day 10 (not cold turkey, however) but I feel like crap. I had a really bad migraine five days ago, and I’ve been headache-y ever since. Other detox symptoms, I guess that’s what they are, are muscle cramps, irritability (my poor kids didn’t see this coming), fatigue, nausea, and anxiety. I suppose it’s different for everyone. I haven’t lost weight, probably because I’m eating more things without dairy that still have a lot of calories, salt, and sugar in them to try to help myself feel better. I gave up dairy when I was having stomach issues, and when I looked up the symptoms for lactose intolerance I had every single one of them. Some improvements I’m already seeing in my body are that my skin, so far, is clearer, my lips seem naturally pinker, and I can breathe better.
I googled dairy withdrawal and came across this article just like many of the comments above. I have been sugar free and gluten free, but not dairy free. I have been off of dairy for 2 days and I have felt like that I am losing my mind! I am so glad to find out that it is the detoxing! Everything has made me sad and I was wondering what the heck is wrong with me!
Pingback: Dairy Detox; Day Five | Kelly Says
Im on day 8 and have also had many of the symptoms listed. For me the unbearable thing has been itchy skin and 3 rashes on different parts of my body. I’m so encouraged to see a light at the end of the tunnel and i think my fatigue is getting a little less each day so hopefully thats on its way out! Thanks for the article!
Just finished two weeks dairy free. My lifting days are good if not better but otherwise my energy level is pretty bad. My legs feel very heavy. I’ve had constant head pressure and brain fog for ten years and am trying this now. That might be from concussions but I’m giving this a try. Also hoping to lose the feeling of being full all the time.
Thank you for this article. I am currently in day 3 of giving up dairy and my head feels like it’s doubled in size, my legs ache all over and I can barely concentrate. I feel a lot more reassured that this is normal. Not long to go now!
Thanks, my family decided to do a 3 week elimination diet (eggs, dairy, gluten, soy), we are on week 2 and my husband has had a headache since day one. I was wondering if we should stop, I had only found info saying that people were having symptoms for a few days not weeks. But I guess normal is different for everyone.
Also my 4 yr old has several food allergies, and one of my girls has eczema from dairy, though she chooses to eat it (except for now of course because we are all doing this 3 week diet). We found out that by eliminating it from her diet in the past. I did not know that dairy could cause eczema. The doctors never offered that as a possible. I don’t even think the dermatologist said anything about it. So annoying, poor girl had is so bad it was around her eyes. Did not go completely away until I had her off for nearly a month. Completely off, no gold fish crackers at school or anything. It is in a lot of packaged foods, so read your labels. 🙂
Pingback: The Dangers Of Dairy: What’s Hidden In Your Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese? - Healthy Holistic Living
This is so interesting, I quit dairy last week. I didn’t feel I ate a lot of cheese but did drink gallons of milk in my constant tea drinking habit. I have felt awful, even applied for a different job yesterday even though I love self employment so much and do perfectly fine financially, also missed an event due to hangover like headaches. I hope this will be over soon! I certainly won’t have dairy again but to feel like this forever, ik. You give me hope 🙂
Thank you for posting/sharing. I cut dairy and wheat 8 days ago, and have been so tired, besides all the time spent in the bathroom, I have trouble concentrating. I don’t have any cravings except sleep. I think if I were to do it over, would reduce a bit more slowly, but at this point, I may as well just get through it.
I have been dairy free and full Vegan for 2 weeks now. I am experiencing some itchy, rashes on the palm of my hand. I believe is due to detoxing. I am eating more fruits and veggies than ever before in my life. To replace milk; I have been making my own cashew milk which has a good protein content and is easy to make. Soak 1 cup of raw cashews overnight with 3 cups of water. Next morning rinse and use 3 fresh cups of water and blend until smooth. Any blender will work. No need to strain. I keep it in the fridge and use it as I would regular milk. I have also used it to make hot cocoa. It is extremely creamy. I have also made my own sour cream from soaked raw cashews. There are lots of recipes on the web.
Thank you for your comment. I have also been vegetarian for five years and have just decided to go dairy free for the last week and started experiencing all of these symptoms right down to the itching and fatigue. I was starting to get scared something was seriously wrong with me so I can relate thank you
Great Article !! I recently quit dairy and have been suffering withdrawal symptoms which is why I decided to go online and find out if dairy withdrawal is a thing. I find myself craving cheese and even dreaming about it, but I am honestly disgusted by it now at the same time. I will never return to dairy or animal products of any kind. Nothing tastes or looks as good as vegan feels 🙂
Milk and cheese in all honestly mucus and puss produced by cows to nourish their young. No other animal except for humans drink milk after being weaned off as a youth.
This article is very informative, it can go viral easily,
with some initial traffic, how to bring visitors to it?
Just search in g00gle for : rilkim’s tips
I experienced the horrid effects of dairy withdrawal, too…and last but not least, after going gf years ago, as well as egg and soy free, I am now detoxing from…IBUPROFEN. I am not kidding. I was on a path of taking so much of it during my period and for other chronic pain…turns out the ibuprofen was making some of my symptoms WORSE and the detox feels like getting off of coffee so far. Not fun at all. But as you mentioned, a bad detox makes you realize what the substance is doing to your body and helps you never want it again!!
Hello Dairy free friends. I have read every comment regarding this article. I was told to get off both dairy and sugar completely, by a nutritionist. I have a tremendous amount of pain and inflammation, damaged nerves due to a bad surgery , and a horrible back. Dairy, she said, is the number one cause of inflammation, and inflammation is the number one cause of many many diseases and pain. As well as sugar. This is my 3rd day having gone without both, and I was not told about withdrawals. I am on pain medication, so perhaps my withdrawal symptoms will be less in certain areas, although I do feel achy and tired, and interestingly, the first day I was ready to fight with anyone. Who would think in just ONE day, symptoms of withdrawal would occur? Although I am tired, there is an energy underneath that I have not felt for years. And, although my body aches, my spine does not. I am hoping as the days pass that the symptoms do not get worse as I have read above.
One of the things that is difficult is the amount of energy I am now spending trying how to incorporate this new anti-inflammatory diet. I really don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking and planning meals. I am supposed to eat every three hours and have protein with veggetable or fruit with each meal. It takes work to prepare meals that are tasty and fulfill this diet of NO SUGAR and NO DAIRY. I don’t know which is worse, but together this fels like a project!
Hello dairy free friends. Looks like there is a whole new world out there without dairy…our good old friend who we have said goodbye to.
I went to a nutritionist last week due to a decade of severe pain from a cervical fusion surgery that was botched, and many other disc and spine/back issues; I have been on pain medication for many years just to function. The nutritionist immediately told me to cut out all dairy and all sugar. This was four days ago. I wasn’t told nor did I give thought to “withdrawals”. I became curious, so I found this article and I read every single comment.
I am using coconut in my coffee so far, it’s okay, but I have had brown sugar in my coffee every single day for 40 years! And since I drank a few cups a day, well that adds up. I cut down on desserts a while ago, but continued with milk in cffee and cereal also a least once a day. Well am off all WHEAT also!!
I don’t know if this is possible, after what I read. To eliminate all three at once….so far I have been very tired and achy, but I also feel a different kind of energy emerging and the pain in my back is reduced, so I am praying to all and everything that this works.
I do feel that after 61 years of cooking for my family and myself, I am not interested in paying so much time and attention to preparing new foods that will taste good and satisfy the body, for it seems that is what one must do to embrace this diet. Lots of roasted veggies…much more than I ever ate..and lots of fish, which is fine..but what do you do when you don’t want to cook. Certainly no ordering out. It is definitely a lifestyle change I will need to invest time and energy in to make it successful.
It seems that many people are turning to this kind of diet, and I have been recommended several cookbooks. I will find seven new reci[pies and hope that the habit forms and that my withdrawals will not be as horrible as what I have read thus far! If I had an agonizing migraine like the kind I read about in the comments…well, I’d take a few sips of milk if I had to. Being in that level of pain is not good and drinking a little dairy, if it helps, isn’t going to make that big of a dent in the whole picture. I would think that there is also a way to wean oneself slowly instead of going cold turkey. But for now, it’s ok.
John, just to let you know, there was some difficulty in your posting system and I could not delete one of my comments, You might want to check this out. Thanks again.
Great article. I will be experiencing a few of these issues as well..
Bonnie Cha for Re/code The Galaxy S6 Edge’s curved display can be
utilized for quick access to contacts.
Those who did not perceive any immediate detox symptoms might still encounter what is known as a “healing crisis” later (even 6 months later). And beware, cheating with a little butter is one dairy product some may think will be Ok, but it usually will not be Ok. Take care everyone.
?????? ??????? ? ???????? ??? ?????: ???????, ??????? ? ?????.
?????????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????, ???????, ?????????? ? ??????????.
???? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ????: baza-gorodov(@)yandex.ru (??????? ??????!)
????????? ???? ???? 1 ?????? — ?? 700 ?? 1200 ??????! ?? ?????? 1 ??? ???????????? — 2000 ??????!
???? ???????? ????? ????? ?????? – ??? ??????????!
????????????? ?????? ??? ????????? ? ???? ?????? ???!
???? ??????? ???????????
?????? ?????????? ??? ???? ????????:
1. ?? ?????? ???????????? ?? ??? ??????? ????????????? ????????
2. ??? ???????? ????? ?? email
3. ??? ??? – ????????
4. ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????????? ?????? ????
5. ??? ?????? ????????? ? ????? ???????? ? ?????????? ????? ?? ?????????? ????
6. ??? ????????? ?????? ??????????? ?? ?????? ???? ? ?.?.
?????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ????: baza-gorodov(???????)yandex.ru
I see a lot of interesting posts here. Your content can go
viral easily, you need some initial traffic only.
How to get initial traffic?? Search for: bucksmagnet’s method
Yoou r?ally mak? it seem rea?ly easy tog?ther wit? yur presentation ?owever
? in finding thiks matter tto ?? ?ctually one thing t?at I feel I woupd by
no mesns understand. It ?eems t?o complex
andd ?ery large for m?. I am ?aving a look forwarrd f?r yo?r subsequent ?ut
u?, ?’ll tr? to get the cling oof it!
Hello there
I have symptoms of chronic fatigue and have had them for 4 months. I am actively treating the CF with a strict regime of pacing, paleo diet, vitamins and sleep. I disocoverd through reading that “leaky gut syndrome” contributes to fatigue.
So embarked on gluten and dairy free diet 6 days ago. Nausea and cravings still present but excessive mucus, blinding headaches and flatulance has resolved. Really appreciate the posts as thoughts I had the flu.I shall keep you posted as each post not only gives hope but a timeline and that in itself provides hope. MJC
I have been dairy free for 3 days and gluten free for about 2 weeks. I feel awful. Cutting out the gluten I felt better mostly but stopping the dairy I feel all sorts of weird symptoms. I’ve had a headache all day, but that could be from MSG I stupidly ate in a packaged food. Still, I only ate a tiny bit so it could be the dairy. I have constipation. Swelling. My gut looks huge but I’ve hardly eaten for 2 days except for apples and pears and water. I feel anxious and depressed and even sometimes kind of paranoia. All my worst memories are haunting me, I have to keep making myself stop thinking about them. I am taking hot epsom and sea salt baths that help somewhat. Moving about seems to help a little. Drinking water helps a little but I’ve still got this headache and a feeling of someone grabbing my neck by my shoulder and putting pressure there. After I stopped gluten the soles of my feet kept itching but now that’s gone. Since stopping the dairy I’ve felt almost drunk at times, or poisoned. Please God let this headache go away. Even my teeth felt sensitive. I don’t feel hungry, instead I feel like I’ve eaten a lot or something but I’ve hardly eaten at all. I don’t know why but I don’t have any appetite. I’ve been sleeping a lot. But it’s not a nice sleep. It’s a heavy drunken type sleep. So weird, wth is happening to me? If this headache will please go I can at least fall asleep for awhile. Oh and I’m getting this cruddy yuck stuff in my chest. I have to keep clearing my throat. I think water will help, but I haven’t really even felt thirsty.
I’m really glad to know about the reality of dairy and read all of these comments. It’s pretty comforting. But I pray that this discomfort and pain will end soon.
omg i feel like that too! i have been feeling drunk/poisoned like, difficult to breath, heavy chest as well! How long did this last for you? I am on day 9! the headaches are killing me 🙁
I feel exactly the same too! I have also had episodes every day where I eat something when I eventually feel a few pangs of hunger and 30 minutes later it starts racing through my gut. Then I start to feel super thirsty. I took a probiotic today in the hope that it will slow things down a bit, which it seems to have done, but clearly I’m not clearing things out so it might have been a bad idea. So relieved to know that we are all going throught/have been through the same thing. The neck and shoulder pain on the right, the headaches from morning till night and sometimes through the night, itching (I am gluten intolerant too so don’t have as much itching), weird rashes (granuloma on my thigh, which is gradually getting much less red and pronounced which I’m taking as a good sign), irritability, tiredness (slept from 11pm till 9 this morning), difficulty listening to a lot of noise, gut ache, green goo from sinus on the right. The list seems endless! Just relieved that I’m finally doing something about it and will hopefully feel better soon. Already able to concentrate better (started detox 14 days ago) and do the work that I have piled up!
Great read! I gave up dairy a week ago and have had the worst anxiety and depression ever! I came to Google searching for if the depression and anxiety could be associated with the dairy free diet. Your article helped me stop crying haha. I am like you, always wake up happy and pretty joyful through the day. Couldn’t figure out y I felt so terrible.
I actually haven’t even craved dairy, I think that’s due to the depression and not wanting to eat. But I also couldn’t figure out why I was having so much discharge (sorry TMI). I gave up dairy because my chiropractor recommended it to help heal my back and rid the inflamation. I am going to power through and keep up with no dairy, your article has helped me pin point why I have been in such a slump lately. Thank you for clearing so much up for me!! 🙂
I went off dairy two weeks ago and have noticed the same symptoms. |Having so much problem breathing right now. WELL worth it though as, in the long run, I know I will be much healthier and happier.
Trying to get off dairy again; today was day 2. I got off in the summer and now is the winter and I am trying to get back to where I was. I woke up with a headache which turned into a massive migraine complete with major nausea a few hours later. I have what feels like a bad cold come on. Fun times. Hopefully i will remember this so that I don’t start eating it again!
Apparently I am the only one who has a total different case. I quit dairy 9 weeks ago.l must admit that I tend to f go r get things and do thing without concentration, and most importantly I gained 4 pounds. I was eating cheese t tree ice a day and yougrt daily.
Pingback: Dairy Detox Symptoms – Give up milk – Dairy problems – don’t drink milk | Allergies News
Pingback: DUMPLING DIARIES : 3 of 12 WEEKS @ Warrior Academy – The Curious Raven
I quit dairy again for the second time 5 days ago. I quit before, felt terrible for about 2 weeks then felt better but then drank milk again a few months later, then cream in my coffee. So here I am again, anxious, restless like I need something but can’t figure out what, spaced out & dopey. I am kind of zombie like. I had a nightmare where I screamed. Lol. My brain & body are not happy at all right now. I’ve been coughing up yuck. sorry. Drinking ginger tea, water, warm baths, vegging out in front of Netflix & listening to audio books or the radio seems to help calm me down. So glad for this article and reading all the comments. You keep thinking it CAN’T just be from dairy, but it seems like it is.
Thank you for all of your info, I had read a few articles about some of the contents in milk and it put me right off all milk products, the milk switch in my brain just blew a fuse and there is no way that I could go back to any milk/milk products. And today I just realized that I was having withdrawals as I have had a migrane like headache for the last 2 weeks, mind you I have been off milk for a month now and have been losing weight everyday, which is amazing as I have been trying for the last 14yrs. I hope it stays off and that it is nothing serious other than I have quit milk. Thanks again for your very interesting article.
From reading the article, I see that quitting Dairy caused problems and weight loss.
So, the conclusion is don’t quite dairy right ?
my god i thought i was dieing!! I am on day 9 of dairy detox and i think this is the worst i fell in i cant even remember how long!!! extreme brain fog and fatigue, blocked nose, nausea and unspeakable headaches. not just that, my moods are crazy and i just dont feel like myself… paranoid, anxious and depressed! All those things are not like myself at all, i am normally energetic and generally in a good mood and havent had headaches since i cut gluten off my diet around 1 and half year ago! I am even doubting that dairy is causing all this but on Sunday i had to go to the ER since i couldn’t even open my eyes because of the headache and they count find nothing wrong with me! I am baffled. I did use to eat a lot of cheese, lots, but no milk really, just cheese. I hope this ends soon because i cant take feeling like this anymore, cannot even work 🙁 but i didn’t come this far to only come this far 😉 This post gave me hope and relief, i shall persist on my detox 😉 !! Thanks John!
What that’s crazy! I quit milk and cheese, eggs etc. Except for the occasional chocolate that came on a biscuit. And for four days I felt so ill, brain fog for sure. I couldn’t get words out right, my head hurt, I felt weak! I thought I actually caught a bug, but obviously was my body detoxing. Day six now and I feel so much better, soy milk for me!
Hello! I thank you for sharing your experiences eliminating dairy and the withdrawal symptoms. it’s been helpful to me as well. I am on my 4th day off dairy and trying to stay away from wheat but I’m not going to worry too much about that. One thing at a time. I can relate to many of the other posts, I’m getting headaches, I feel depressed, moody and angry. It is very hard. I am eating often enough trying to find something satisfying because I ate so much cheese. I also put lots of butter on my bread all the time. Even though I feel bad and miss the dairy I also feel good and like I’m doing a good thing for my health. thank you
Diane
This is very interesting reading…how did i convince myself all those years that dairy was good for me? And now after reading this and other things I finally ended my cheesy life…BUTTER is really disgusting…and melted cheese…I feel like a totally new person after three days…I even started to joke a lot and I haven’t been angry or irritated. Wake up happy. No anxiety…this IS a miracle! But I also eat really really healthy now with sallad and vegetables, fruits, vitamin c, oat milk, lots of other proteins.
One more thing…I have been doung three meals a day no snacking since christmas and I guess that is why it is easy for me now because my blood sugar is pretty balanced. I highly recommend it: no snacking! Eat healthy meals especially lunch; protein, sallad, soup, dessert…be sure you get vitamins enough to get through your days because it will help. I hope fore weightloss because dairy made my waist big and my stomach which is so so terrible.
Thank you for this article about three week ago I went to the doctor she told me my blood type I’m blood type A. I looked up my blood type No dairy Avoid and No wheat. Please look up your blood type meat fish salmon, cod, sardine and a few others I can eat. No bacon, ham, pork or beef No cheese. Only vegetable, fruit, fish green tea etc. So Please look up your blood type and a list of food to eat and avoid.
Thank you for this article about three week ago I went to the doctor she told me my blood type I’m blood type A. I looked up my blood type No dairy Avoid and No wheat. Please look up your blood type meat fish salmon, cod, sardine and a few others I can eat. No bacon, ham, pork or beef No cheese. Only vegetable, fruit, fish green tea etc. So Please look up your blood type and a list of food to eat and avoid.
I am starting my dairy free diet now , I’m on day 2 now and am determined to get through it. on day 1 I couldn’t sleep felt like crap and I’m not feeling great today after waking up. I have given up cigarettes and Drugs years ago and it the feelings were nothing. Like this. I have a feeling this it going to be the hardest thing I have ever done but I’m going to keep it up as I am determined
I went gluten free two years ago. The reason I did was because I was feeling dizzy and I read an article that said gluten could be the cause of it. I also went gluten free because I have Graves Disease (hyperthyroid) and I thought maybe it would fix that too? After I went gluten free, I felt great! Dizziness went away, joint stiffness went away, anxiety went away, I had more regular bowel movements, and my stomach felt calm. I can’t remember going through any withdrawals when I went gluten free. (Now if I do accidentally eat gluten, I get really sick two days after I have eaten it. It feels like I have the flu.)
The gluten free diet hasn’t seemed to help my thyroid though. I read an article recently that maybe going dairy free would help? (I really want to get off my thyroid medication.) I have been dairy free for about two weeks now. I felt pretty good the first week, but this week hasn’t been as good. I have anxiety and my throat feels like it has mucus in it. I found this website when I was searching on dairy withdrawals. The plus side is that I think the psoriasis on my scalp is clearing up and I have been losing weight. I have my next doctors appointment for my thyroid in June. I’m hoping my thyroid levels will be good by then?
Were your thyroid levels good?
Hi,I check your blog named “Shocking Dairy Detox – This will blow your mind! | John Derrick” like every week.Your writing style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing! And you can look our website about ????? ???? 2017.
Wow! That’s why I feel so bad. I quit dairy cold turkey just like you but I had no idea about the morphine in dairy. Yikes! I’very already vomited once and that was after eating a small amount of grass fed beef . Got to be careful on this diet. Following Dr. Axe’s Healing leaky gut program. Thanks for the info.
Wow thankyou so much. Im only on day 2 of stopping all dairy and what a headache i have. Now i know to cut it slowly.
Well I realise this is an older site but the side effect are the same !!
3 days in and I thought something was wrong with me, maybe coming down with cold or migraine and terrible fatigue . I didn’t expect this as I have been vegetarian for over 20 years and thought it would be easy, even though I consumed upto 2 pints of skimmed and semi skimmed milk everyday plus cheese & yogurts too.
Ooh and protein shakes. Think I was …am addicted .
Not doing it for health really but for the cows lol so really suffering thank you for everyone commenting on here it’s good to know this is normal on detox from milk.
I am not going crazy ?
Thank you so much for this. I went off dairy a week ago and I have been feeling like hell. No energy to do anything and migraine headaches and I was beginning to think something seriously was wrong with me. I have decided to go vegan and I will be never looking back to animal products again. Thank you again!
Great article, I’m only on Day 1….feels like I have flu and I’ve felt hungry all day… I think my usual milky coffees were filling me up with fat so I never used to feel hungry untill lunchtime, today I was starving by 11am and nothing seemed satisfying, so went food shopping to prep for day 2. bring it on! After having sun allergy for the past 9 years I’m willing to try anything….EVEN give up my beloved cheese… I’ve got this!
Day 3 here of getting off dairy again. Every time I go home on vacation, I get back on it, so have been doing dairy again for about 3 months. This time, I am having radical achiness in my hips (hips not ever a problem) and a runny nose. I think this will finally be it for me–I always avoid gluten and mostly eat a plant based diet so sometimes i give myself some leeway; I just get so disgusted now though when I think that I’m drinking cow secretions full of pus.
nsightful thoughts here. Are you certain this is the best way to look at it though? My experience is that we should pretty much live and let live because what one person thinks just another person simply doesnt. People are going to do what they want to do. In the end, they always do. The most we can yearn for is to highlight a few things here and there that hopefully, allows them to make just a little better informed decision. Otherwise, great post. Youre definitely making me think! Barry
cheap barbour online http://www.barbourjackets.online
I just went off due to seeing an article that said a week of dairy can clear your lymph system and help kickstart weight loss. I mostly gave up milk in coffee, tea and cheese. The cheese is a tough one! Glad to know I’m not alone. Was feeling foggy etc and also rid my kitchen of the newly acquired febreeze infused compostable bags. The scent was brutal, contains neurotoxins. Feeling better without those type of products (scented compost and doggie bags) around! Thanks for writing about this.
I just came across this article as I have recently given up dairy (2 weeks ago on the advice of my naturopath) and the first few days I felt great (more energy, felt more awake) but now 2 weeks later I feel really tired all the time and more bloated than usual. I’ve never been a huge milk drinker but couldn’t go a day without cheese, butter and yogurt. Hoping things get better with time. Thanks for this article, great reading your experience and very helpful. 🙂
Thank you so much for this article, I have been dairy free for ten days now. I am still suffering the headaches but my skin feels so much better already. I started this journey as a result of having Leukaemia. Seven years ago I had six cycles of four kinds of chemotherapy and had been happily in remission until two months ago when I was informed that the cancer had kicked off again. Nothing much is told to you about diet management from the medical doctors, so I began my own research to try to delay any future treatment. Quitting dairy appears to be one of the strategies to reduce cancer symptoms. So here I am ten days later having gone cold turkey. So far so good… but cheese was my down fall, so this article has armed me with new knowledge and strengthened my will power to resist!
I have checked your blog and i have found some duplicate content, that’s
why you don’t rank high in google, but there is a tool that can help you
to create 100% unique content, search for: Boorfe’s tips unlimited content
Thanks, Jordy. I am a female and have been drinking soy milk for years and cheese now and again, even though the naturopath that I used to see said to alternate from soy to other dairy free milk substitutes. I have stopped all cheese including dips that contain cream cheeses.. so many of them. Am feeling rotten, more mucousy than before, stomach and bowel discomfort . have had increased blocked sinuses, even surgery, hayfever. so hoping that by stopping soy and dairy products will see n amazing difference. Not quite the same problems as you, but the soy milk mention by you alerted me to its side effects
Help me I feel awful and I know it’s the dairy. So much pain and half my head hurts. I actually prayed today to make it stop. It’s been like this 12 hours. Why why why did I have dairy again. I quit before and I KNEW I felt better – after this horrible time and I vowed never to have It again. 🙁
I am trying not to take any diary , after 60 years long.
The reason is my LDL IS UP.
Now 4 days without any diary, I feel like like crap.
Hoping its going to be better.
I feel like death has overtaken my sinus cavities and my sanity. I’m on day four and I’m also still eating small amounts of goat dairy. Thoughts?
Thanks
I’m having a weird issue I cannot make my reader pick up your rss feed, I’m using google reader by the way.
Cheap Berluti http://www.berlutishoeshop.com
I have noticed you don’t monetize johnderrick.com, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn additional cash every month with
new monetization method. This is the best adsense alternative for any type of website (they
approve all sites), for more details simply search in gooogle: murgrabia’s tools
I have noticed you don’t monetize johnderrick.com, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn additional
bucks every month with new monetization method.
This is the best adsense alternative for any type
of website (they approve all sites), for more info simply search in gooogle: murgrabia’s tools
I see you don’t monetize johnderrick.com, don’t waste your traffic, you
can earn extra bucks every month with new monetization method.
This is the best adsense alternative for any type of website (they approve all websites), for more details simply search in gooogle:
murgrabia’s tools
I see you don’t monetize johnderrick.com, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn additional
bucks every month with new monetization method. This is the best adsense alternative for
any type of website (they approve all websites), for more
info simply search in gooogle: murgrabia’s tools
Wow! 4 years ago I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had to cut Dairy out of my life. I was on a macrobiotic diet and went through severe detox. 11 years later I am cutting Dairy out again. Have been feeling awful, on about day 6. Realized I was going through the same thing I did before and Googled Dairy detox. Thank goodness I came across this article. I thought I was going crazy! Brain fog depression feeling just awful! This gives me hope. Thank you John!
Great article…thanks John !
Day 5 dairy detox – can’t sleep, hungry but not hungry, skin improving greatly,can take big deep breath, (feels lovely), not sure about mood (already unstable).the big one is the mucus – sore thraot, coughing,blowing hot and cold,runny nose. (Feels like flu). I was considering seeing the doctor but now I’ve seen this artical, my symptoms are all detox related.
Dirty dirty Caseins !!!!
Amy – london
Oh John, I get you!! I’ve been a vegetarian for a number of years. Given up eggs, fish, felt very superior! Lol. Then 10 days ago plunged into 100% plant based whole food. I’ve eaten more lentils than India. Farted more than shrek, and I teach pilates, so that’s risky! Though my not so little pouch of dairy joy that sat on my tummy for years, also, is departing. Detox, hectic. So hectic, I googled for help and came across your blog. I’m also feeding myself like a worm farm, falling asleep at 7 at night, up at 3, thirsty…bloody lentils!! Some times during the day I get such a rush of pure energy I end up taking it out on my poor pilates clients who now look like the after scene of a Jackie chang movie..shame, the benefits to them will show once they recover from the hectic lactic burn. What do I miss most? Chocolate. And thank you commercial monsters…what fun it is now to walk through the miles of check out lines punting all that great stuff I wont eat.. ever again…best of luck to you and your wife…when the irrational mood swings hit, just remember your part in the big picture…respecting all life forms, mostly your own.
how long did it take for the body acne rashes and other symptoms to go away?
Dairy free for 6 days now, sugar free for 1 yr Detox is a real workout. Before being sugar free was always sick and depressed, after sugar free I seemed bullet proof as far as colds and flu etc, however the skin problems remained. Now also dairy free first 2 days laryngitis then mucus build up in throat and nose with constant hacking and blowing with lots of dead nasty bacteria, restlessness, Insomnia, night and day sweats, bloating, headaches, anxiety, depression, I also eat a lot of fermented foods IE Kimchi, and drink Kombucha & water kefir. used to eat a lot of cheese milk and yogurt, but of course all dairy is now gone from my diet. And now it’s day six and seems the throat hacking is getting better as is the nasal area, starting to feel happier actually smiled today. I even tried Colodial silver as I thought I had a really bad cold, may have helped. Dairy detox was almost the same for me as the sugar free detox just no mucus. Today day 6 started thinking clearer memory improving, feeling happy and can feel the energy build like it did when I was a teen am now 60. looking forward to no more hacking and blowing also the bloating and evacuation problems still pester. It is worth it in the end after all it took me 58 yrs to change. And honestly what a change all thanks to my children, I followed their example. Never to old to learn and getting younger by the day. Please don’t let the temporary negatives spoil a healthier positive future
At the begining you said you where a high energy guy (with dairy in your diet). Did you have any ongoing problems when you were on dairy?
I quit dairy cold turkey 8 days ago: doctor’s suggestion. She thought I would want wean myself gradually, but I insisted on giving up immediately. Glad now that I did, But…On day 2 i was about to ask my GP for another round of HRT due to the brain fog, hot flashes and mood swings (much worse than being hangry) I was experiencing. Mentioned this to a pharmacist girlfriend who laughed at me and said, “You’re in withdrawal.” I’ve got to admit I’m relieved; I’m too old for another Menopause!
Today is day 9, and thus far no sweats, headaches, fits of rage or deep hunger-like pains.
Thanks everyone for your stories.
I wonder if eating cheese would ease the withdrawls from herion
About four months ago, I had tried everything I could to cure my symptoms of inability to breathe through my nostrils, and swollen under eyes. I thought it could be food allergies, and stopped wheat, dairy, and peanut butter. For the first week or two, I had pretty severe swelling and creases down both sides of my face below my eyes, and my eye bags turned to double bags. I had a pretty bad red rash also. However, a couple of weeks in, my complexion began to improve pretty dramatically, the swelling of the eye bags decreased (still have them some, but better than it has been in years), and most importantly to me, I can breathe through my nose at night; my inflamed sinuses are better! I had tried all kinds of allergy medications. While I do miss pizza a little, the ability to breathe outweighs it. I have a little wheat and peanut butter now. Tried pizza once and it really weighed me down. I’m probably not used to cheese now, and shouldn’t have it. My withdrawal wasn’t as long or severe as a lot of people here posted, and I am in my later 50’s, doing dairy my whole life. There is a real shortage of information about this out there, it’s like no one believes there can be a such a thing as dairy detox; well, there is! I’m also disappointed allergists never identified this in the past. Diet is huge. If you are reading this, you are researching it. Try it. I’ll never go back. Good luck!
I was like this going off of gluten, but worse. I felt like I was loosing my mind. I was dairy free for over a year and gave it up for some string cheese. That darn cheese… I haven’t been dairy free for a few years and I am noticing how unhealthy my body feels. I am re-experiencing dairy detox and looked it up to remind myself that this was normal.. Uggghhh. I can’t wait for how my body will feel in about 9 days. Thanks for sharing your information, P.S. All of the reputable naturopathic doctors I know with real degrees, which is three, say that organic soy is very GOOD for the typical body.
Thank you very much. I am a 23 year old male and for 6 years I have had symptoms of IBS. I never once considered that I am lactose intolerant. Anyways I started my 14 day detox yesterday and I am having 5/10 anxiety, cotton mouth, feeling hungry after eating, a bit jittery as I am writing this, but your article gives me hope! I promised my nutritionist Id commit to 14 days before reading that you said to ween off it on a 2-3 week basis. Anyways, just sharing my love. Thanks man. We all appreciate it.
Came off withdrawal for dairy after 3 weeksbecause i love cheese. ate 3 lots of goats cheese and now so anxiuos and lack of energy. must go back to dairy free and start again. did not think i would have to start withdrawal again. wonderfu larticalJohn.
Some genuinely wonderful work on behalf of the owner of this
web site, absolutely great subject material.
I am on about week 3 of removing dairy to see if it helps with my swallowing difficulties and indigestion. I have always been underweight, but I have a extremely distended lower abdomen and it seems like the bloating has actually gotten worse since removing dairy and I a incredibly tired and lethargic even after 3 weeks. Can anyone tell me when my physical state will improve? Thanks.
I liked your article, apart from the constant references to fat and cholesterol.
Hopefully by now you have worked out that fat and cholesterol are essential foods and not the enemy.
Cheese, however, is best avoided for its growth hormones and morphine.
So glad to find this. First day off dairy after eating cottage cheese and every other kind of cheese as about 70% of every meal for my whole life! I had this anxious sense of doom all day, and I felt completely freaked out, and then suddenly wondered if it was my dietary change. Glad to find this!