I promise this is the last food post. I have had sinus problems and congestion my whole life. I have read about a link between dairy and respiratory/nasal/sinus issues. I decided to do a 3-week trial of eliminating dairy. I noticed a big difference. Usually I have a Kleenex on hand 24/7 because my nose always runs. At the end of the 3 weeks I noticed that I was going the whole day without needing a tissue. And that annoying junk in the back of my throat was gone. Success! Here's the problem: it's hard to eliminate dairy. Milk--no problem, I hate it. Ice cream and cheese are more difficult, but doable for me. The hardest part is all the hidden dairy in recipes and prepared foods. I found myself having to make separate dishes for my family and for me. Big pain. So I have compromised and mostly avoid dairy. I use almond milk on my granola, leave the cheese off the top of my portion of dinner and out of my sandwiches, and I only eat a bite or two of ice cream instead of a bowl when we have it. I guess the little congestion is worth it for me. Have you ever eliminated dairy? What benefits did you notice? Any other side effects? This is still a work in progress for me.
As I have made improvements in my diet it has been a slow process. And I think that is why it has been successful for me and it has stuck as permanent habits. If I had had to go from where I was when I ate whatever, whenever to how I eat now overnight, I think I would have rebelled. Incremental changes are the key for me. Another key is moderation. I don't want to scan every ingredient list and grill the waiter when I eat out. And I don't want to abstain from my child's birthday cake. So I do my best most of the time, and then I don't sweat the small infractions. I guess I'm okay with an A-.
