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Eliminating dairy while healing

tessa25

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tessa25 Rising Star
tessa25
Posted

I know it's commonly stated here to avoid dairy, but I disagree. Celiac has a higher incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis so eliminating a main source of calcium, in my opinion, should only be done if dairy is causing symptoms.

I eliminated dairy for three months because I borderline failed a dairy scratch test at an allergist. There was no positive effect whatsoever. It was not an IGE mediated allergy. I did not feel any better at all. And my celiac blood test numbers did not improve at all (checked twice per month during that time). My gastro doc said to go back on dairy since eliminating it had no positive effect. Consuming dairy again had no negative effect.

I suspect that while dairy may cause symptoms in some people that still have damage, it doesn't do damage. So eliminating it if it bothers makes sense. But eliminating it when it doesn't cause symptoms removes an important nutrient needlessly.

So I'd say try without for a week and if digestive issues don't change for the better then put it back in.

By the way I'm on a soft food diet with lots of dairy in it and my blood test numbers have started to go down again. I should be at normal levels in a couple of months.

 

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Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted
2 hours ago, tessa25 said:

I know it's commonly stated here to avoid dairy, but I disagree. Celiac has a higher incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis so eliminating a main source of calcium, in my opinion, should only be done if dairy is causing symptoms.

I eliminated dairy for three months because I borderline failed a dairy scratch test at an allergist. There was no positive effect whatsoever. It was not an IGE mediated allergy. I did not feel any better at all. And my celiac blood test numbers did not improve at all (checked twice per month during that time). My gastro doc said to go back on dairy since eliminating it had no positive effect. Consuming dairy again had no negative effect.

I suspect that while dairy may cause symptoms in some people that still have damage, it doesn't do damage. So eliminating it if it bothers makes sense. But eliminating it when it doesn't cause symptoms removes an important nutrient needlessly.

So I'd say try without for a week and if digestive issues don't change for the better then put it back in.

By the way I'm on a soft food diet with lots of dairy in it and my blood test numbers have started to go down again. I should be at normal levels in a couple of months.

 

...What nutrient benfits? Midevil times and Renascence dairy was used to make people fat...still great for that. Dairy is for bovine on a genetic level...not humans...I would not mind homosapian milk. BS aside the non dairy alternative Almond Milk, Cashew Milk, Macadamia Milk etc....all has MORE Calcium then Dairy Milk...so I have no clue what your talking about. Diary is inflammatory for many and if you have a damaged gut YOU WILL not produce the required enzymes in the amount needed to break it down and process it....top it off if you have a leaky gut...well you just made your problems worse due to all kinds of complications. This is why we suggest removing it til you at least heal, get ability to process it back up and heal the damage before you consume something that just waste space in your stomach and causes other issues.

tessa25 Rising Star
tessa25
Posted
  • Author

Nut milks have calcium added to the ingredients.

For many the gut damage is patchy, therefore nutrients from dairy are processed from the parts without damage. So unless the damage is everywhere enzymes will be produced to break it down.

8 minutes ago, Ennis_TX said:

top it off if you have a leaky gut...well you just made your problems worse due to all kinds of complications

My post states in multiple places that dairy is for people that do not have symptoms from dairy.

My gastroenterologist does not think dairy should be eliminated if it does not cause symptoms.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I agree with Tessa.  There is no “one size fits all” dietary approach that will aid in healing from celiac disease.   The only common food to be avoided at all costs is gluten.   Intolerances or allergies from other foods may impact individuals differently.  

Most of us here  will advise that if your GI issues are severe when first diagnosed, to avoid oats for the first six months (this was is still being recommended by the celiac group out of Boston) and experiment with dairy as many celiacs are lactose intolerant until they have healed.  From research, celiacs may have other intolerances due to a “leaky gut” (Dr. Fasano does not like this term).  Those intolerances may improve with healing or they can be lifelong because celiacs may have other illnesses (like a true milk protein allergy).  

Going back to dairy.   Lactose intolerance is common in the world based on your genetic makeup.  It can slowly develop as you age too.   If you are a lucky celiac, you might get dairy back or you might not have ever lost the ability to digest lactose in the first place.  

 

Jmg Mentor
Jmg
Posted

Most of the time I see people advised to cut dairy out here its in the context of just starting out on the diet, particularly when initial response is problematic. Given that I think maybe 10 to 20% percentage of celiacs may experience secondary lactose intolerance due to flattened villi I don't think that's bad advice as long as the missing calcium is replaced from other sources and that once some time has passed there's a suggestion to reintroduce dairy once the vili have had a chance to heal.

On a personal note, I have, far too slowly, realised I have a casein intolerance and I'm thus very interested in the Open Original Shared Link examining possible links between milk protein and celiac / ncgs. There are undoubtedly some visitors here who would benefit from total removal of dairy, and my unscientific guess is that there are more within the celiac / ncgs population that in the general public as a whole, but the percentages are likely to be small and no-one should have to give up one of the main food groups unless it's a genuine problem for them, because as much as a pain as the gluten-free diet can be, it's a whole lot harder once you have to eliminate all dairy as well as I've found for myself since the new year!  

 

knitty kitty Grand Master
knitty kitty
Posted

This article has a great explanation about milk digestion in Celiacs!

Open Original Shared Link

Some of us are just lucky and have a problem with the milk protein casein, too.  

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

 I agree there's not a "one size fits all" diet.  You have to find what works for you.  Be your own guinea pig.  I found out really quickly dairy is not for me.  It's for baby cows, like Enis says.  

 

Jmg Mentor
Jmg
Posted
4 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

This article has a great explanation about milk digestion in Celiacs!

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

That is a great article. Thanks for those links as well, Ive seen them before but its useful to see them together. I have some sympathy for the Paleo view on dairy but I also realise I am biased due to my own experiences. 

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knitty kitty Grand Master
knitty kitty
Posted
10 hours ago, Jmg said:

That is a great article. Thanks for those links as well, Ive seen them before but its useful to see them together. I have some sympathy for the Paleo view on dairy but I also realise I am biased due to my own experiences. 

I'm so glad you found the articles helpful.  I'm a little more than Paleo prejudiced.  I found another article  that is more descriptive of my own experiences with dairy.  

Open Original Shared Link

"This is the first report to identify an association between the risk of schizophrenia and elevated antibodies to bovine casein prior to disease onset." 

And there's this article...

Open Original Shared Link

Dairy is scary.  With Celiac causing a "leaky gut" and permeable blood-brain barrier, and casein and antibodies wreaking havoc.....yogurt, cheese, ice cream and cafe au lait were really bad ideas for me.   

It's so easy to eliminate dairy for a few months and try adding it back later, than to continue consuming dairy and causing additional stress to an already stressed body.  I wish someone had told me.....

...and I hope this helps some one else.  

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