Are dairy products part of a healthy diet? Which dairy products are best and which should we avoid?
There has been much ado about dairy in recent years, and it can be hard to navigate what is healthy and contributes positively to our diet. There are many non-dairy milk alternatives out there, and some of them are actually helpful for those that are unable to drink fluid cow’s milk or tolerate dairy, at all. However, the protein and nutrient content in those alternatives does not help us meet our overall daily need, and cow’s milk is a much better source.
A fair number of us are lactose intolerant, so drinking a glass of milk may not be realistic. But cheese and yogurt are typically tolerated better because of the cultures that are required to make them. Many commercial yogurts and kefirs have more sugar than we want, so choose carefully. Stick with plain yogurt and kefir, organic if possible.
(Or we can make it ourself! Believe it or not, it is best to make our own yogurt or kefir at home, and it is really not that difficult, but to culture it long enough does take some time.)
Cultured cheeses are readily available in the store, including cottage cheese, farmer’s cheese, Swiss, brie, cheddar. Finding a raw cheddar is a good choice because it has not been pasteurized, so the enzymes are intact.
Perhaps the biggest question we have is about the fat content, and which is best. While the higher fat dairy options have been vilified for quite some time, more research is emerging that shows the fat content of dairy is not harmful. Especially in organic varieties of dairy products, the higher fat content has benefits, and also helps keep us fuller longer. The best option in dairy is, of course, what we tolerate the best. However, cultured cheese and yogurt or kefir are probably the healthiest choices because of the enzymes, probiotics and protein content.
Dare to give a new dairy choice a try!
