Benefits and Risks of a Milk Free, Low Protein Diet

People try out many special diets for various reasons and one dietary option is a milk and protein free diet. When considering any kind of special diet, you should first learn about the reasons for following that diet, what kinds of food you would eat on the diet and any potential health risks or undesirable side effects that might occur as a result of the diet.

Foods with Calcium and Protein

Milk provides many nutrients we need, including protein and calcium. However, we can get those nutrients from many other foods. We can get calcium and protein from other dairy products like yogurt and cheese. We can get calcium and protein from many non-dairy foods, too. We can get calcium from soy milk, tofu, leafy green vegetables, sardines and some other kinds of fish. We can get protein from meat, eggs, tofu, peanut butter and beans.

Why We Need Them

Calcium helps muscles contract, helps blood vessels expand and contract, aids in the secretion of certain hormones, helps transmit impulses in the nervous system and helps build bone. Protein helps build and repair muscles, helps produce certain enzymes and hormones, helps build bone, helps make blood, helps make skin and helps heal wounds.

Reasons for a Milk and Protein Free Diet

Some people avoid milk in their diets due to lactose intolerance. Some people prefer to eat a vegan diet, a diet free of all animal products, for ethical reasons. Some people believe milk is not healthy for adults. Some just don't like the taste. No one should attempt to eat a protein free diet, though, because we must have protein for good health. People with gout or kidney disease may need to limit the amount of protein in their diets, however. If you have kidney disease or gout, you should consult with your physician about how much protein you should eat.

Health Risks

A milk free diet poses no health risks as long as you get sufficient calcium from other sources. A protein free diet, on the other hand, would pose numerous health risks. Without protein, muscle begins to break down. Since the heart is a muscle, this can lead to serious medical problems. Other side effects of not getting enough protein include weakness, fatigue, forgetfulness, impaired wound healing and hair loss.

Vegan Diet

A vegan diet includes no animal products whatsoever, including no milk or other dairy products. It includes no animal protein like beef, chicken, eggs or fish but does include protein from other sources. People can get plenty of protein and calcium eating a vegan diet if they make food choices carefully.

Sources:

USDA. http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/appendixb.htm. Food Sources of Selected Nutrients.

Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp. Calcium.

Web MD. http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/benefits-protein. The Benefits of Protein.

Net Wellness. http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/33141.htm. Protein Deficiency Symptoms.

Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vegetarian-diet/HQ01596. Vegetarian Diet.