I’m lactose intolerant. It seems like a quarter of the people I know are as well. I used to be a normal iron-stomach kind of girl, but trouble started somewhere during my junior or senior year in college. I went from drinking 3 dining hall sized cups of milk with lunch and dinner every day to not being able to drink 1/4 cup of milk if I wanted to button my pants (or wear them at all)! Ew.
I steer clear of milk for the most part, unless someone cooks for me and adds milk which I deal with. Or, if I want to have ice cream (often) I’ll usually take a Lactaid. Some cheese is ok, but I’ve found if I am training intensely, there is really no dairy that my body can tolerate. Cheese is my major downfall. I sometimes think I have to decide if I’d rather be a really good runner or eat lots of cheese. The verdict is still out on that one…
I love cheese. This is a almost completely eaten piece of brie. Yum!
So there you have it. Another random fact about me that has nothing and yet everything to do with my running! Happy Monday!
Do you have problems with dairy? Have you been able to give it up completely? Any tips for quitting cheese? (I’m not into the vegan “cheese”, sorry)
I too have issues with dairy, bloating but more asthma problems. It seems I can get away with 1 serving of dairy a day. I am also vegetarian and gluten intolerant and highly intolerant to sugar. Some days are easier than others! Sometimes I think wow maybe I should everything I want and lay on the couch withering in pain and discomfort (not a way to live). So I choose to make healthy choices. I do have a good recipe for “cashew cheese” sounds weird but really like a spread or hummus texture, it is awesome! Stick with what works for your body it is worth it in the long run!
I think most people love cheese. I never have actually. Never sat well with me and so I have always stayed away from it. I think you should pick running over cheese
ps I love Daiya vegan cheese! You should try it. It actually melts!!!!
Yep, I’ve had Daiya. It’s ok, but only in small amounts for me. The taste is very overwhelming for me in what I think are “normal” amounts. It was pretty good mixed with black beans for a dip, but didn’t like it for things like grilled cheese where more cheese is involved.
When it comes to dairy products, you can try Smart Balance, Earthy Balance and Spectrum Organic. These are great alternatives to regular butter and brands that can be found at most grocery stores.
Hi Jen, I’ve just found your blog, and thank you for sharing this. I have long-term lactose issues, that come and go. Cheese is also a big problem for me! I was vegetarian, but when the issue flared up badly I was getting stomach pains, so have resorted to fish, chicken and turkey to keep my protein and energy levels up. My survival strategy for cheese is:
Goats cheese is lactose free, so fine. I am discovering some hard goats cheeses in supermarkets at last, which is amazing!
Mozzarella I find ok, I think it is pasturised differently. So this means lots of normal restaurant pizza/pasta is ok for me as well, phew!
I’ve recently reintroduced halloumi cheese. This is only 1/3 cows milk – the rest is sheep and goats milk which is lactose free, so this is also ok for me.
So I reckon even with an intolerance we can still enjoy the best cheeses!
Hi Charlotte! Thank you so much for sharing! I love goats cheese so this is great news! I don’t get it often though, because I tend to stick with more “tradtitional” cheeses like cheddar. I will have to get some one of these nights and see how I handle it.