Did anything change for you, big or small? Did you feel more energetic on the dairy free diet? Did you notice gastrointestinal symptoms when milk products were reintroduced into your diet? Was there a link between your consumption of dairy and headaches? Any reaction is worth noting, regardless of the magnitude. Let’s take a look at a few possible outcomes you may have experienced:

If you noticed significant changes between your dairy-free and your dairy-full days, then your body is giving you a big signal (a bright, red, flashing one) that you have an intolerance, sensitivity, and/or allergy to milk products. A dairy free diet may be your best option. It is easier than you think, and will quickly become a habit that you do not want to live without. Utilize Go Dairy Free as a personal resource guide. This site contains an abundance of useful information to address any questions or concerns, as well as recipes, menu ideas, and tips for eating out. After a few months, those dairy cravings will fade away, creating room for a healthier you to emerge.

If you noticed some improvements, but no dramatic swings, then you may still wish to consider a dairy free or dairy limited lifestyle. Any differences, no matter how large, do indicate that you are having some type of physical response to milk products. These small changes may also indicate a more dramatic internal change, which may not be apparent immediately, such as a reduction in cholesterol or a kick started metabolism. Consult your physician, and consider continuing the dairy free lifestyle for 3 months. If you discover more health improvements, great, keep it up! If you opt to add moderate amounts of milk products back into your diet, check our page on the Dairy Rotation Diet for some healthy suggestions.

No noticeable reaction? Dairy may not be a concern for you. There are just a few considerations before you continue your dairy indulgence:

• Diseases & Conditions - If you did not see significant external changes on the challenge, but you are suffering from conditions related to heart disease, such as high cholesterol, or other long-term ailments such as hypothyroidism, it might be advised that you stick to the dairy free challenge for at least 1 to 3 months. Coincide your blood tests with the challenge; in order to have your cholesterol and thyroid levels checked near the end of your extended challenge, but not before you hit your dairy day. Do not be surprised if your cholesterol and/or thyroid levels mysteriously drop a bit. It has been known to happen!
• Support of Loved Ones - Do you have a family member who may be lactose intolerant or allergic to milk? It is much easier for a person to stick with a diet if they have the support of their family. Consider altering your in house eating habits to avoid tempting a dairy free loved one, and to help them enjoy a well balanced diet.
• Personal Reasons – Some feel that the consumption of dairy is "unnatural". They may be right. After all it was a food added to our diets through industrialization. Our society seems quite content in consuming the milk of another nursing mammal, yet we consider it dangerous to consume our own species breast milk past infancy.
• General Health & Social Responsibility - We lump these two together as they both arise from a similar issue. Today's "processing" of milk and the environments in which it is induced are un-natural to say the least. Some people choose to cut out milk due to the strong social issues it brings up. While others feel that the use of added hormones and antibiotics as well as homogenization and pasteurization creates an unhealthy product for human consumption. If you have concern in this area, check out our All About Milk section (within "Health Info") for more extensive information and resources.

Ask your doctor about obtaining an allergy blood test or an in office lactose intolerance test. Don't ignore food sensitivities. Full-blown allergies are not required to wreak havoc on our bodies. Check back... we will be adding information on allergy and intolerance testing in the near future.

If you opt to consume dairy in any amount, consult our section on the Dairy Rotation Diet for recommendations on the healthiest ways to do so.

In the end, it is your own body, health, and quality of life that you must consider. If you noted any type of dairy reaction after completing our challenge, then your body is sending you a clear message that dairy may not be the best food for you. Disease and illness typically manifest in us over time. Even those ailments, which may come on suddenly, are given an open door from a weakened immune system. Limiting or eliminating dairy from your diet may be a very wise move in the long run. Not to mention, isn’t it nice just to feel better every day. Check with your physician to find out if a dairy free or limited lifestyle may be beneficial for you.