Losing Weight in 2008 on a Milk-Free Diet

It's that time of year again. That time when everyone tries to lose that extra weight they put on over the holidays, or, if you're like most of us, you're trying to lose that extra weight you put on over the last couple of years. Many have made their New Year's resolution to go on a diet. There are so many diets to choose from that you could probably do one every day for a year, but what do you do if you're allergic to milk and most of the recipes and diets call for dairy products?

There are many reasons to take dairy out of your meals besides a milk allergy. You may have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) that can be helped by reducing or eliminating your dairy intake, you may be lactose intolerant, you may have a child who cannot have milk, or you yourself may be actually allergic to cow's milk.

These are all very good, and sometimes life threatening, reasons to take milk out of your life but what happens when you decide to lose a few, or more than a few, extra pounds and the diet you choose is filled with recipes using dairy?

First, you have to learn to substitute dairy free products. Quite often substituting is an easy fix. You can use soy milk or rice milk as a replacement for cow's milk. There are also dairy free margarines and cheeses that can be used to replace butter or cheese made from cow's milk. The problem is quite often these products have high quantities of sugar or salt. It is important to check the nutritional guide on every product you use. You may have to use less soy margarine than you would butter. This isn't all bad because using less of these products means you'll be losing weight quicker!

Often dairy is touted in a weight loss plan because it is believed that calcium helps in losing weight. Not only may this be true but it is very important to get enough calcium in your system to ward off osteoporosis, especially for young women.

This may seem more difficult for someone with a milk allergy or intolerance but it is actually quite easy. Calcium can be taken into the body through supplements and should be especially taken by those who live a milk free life. This is not the only way to get calcium though and many people forget about, or choose to forget about, the calcium found in green vegetables. By adding large amounts of green vegetables, like broccoli, to your diet you not only up your intake of calcium but you give yourself a significant boost towards losing that extra weight!

Another dairy free food that gives you calcium is fish, especially fish such as salmon or sardines. A meal filled with salmon and green vegetables is not only tasty but it also gives those with milk allergies an easy way to get calcium that does not involve only taking a supplement and worrying about if they are getting enough calcium to keep their bones strong. Adding fish and green vegetables to your milk free diet will help you lose weight and keep your body healthy.

It is important to not forget about soy products such as soy milk and soy yogurt. Soy milk that is fortified with calcium can give you up to 45% of your daily intake of calcium in one cup! So just because you do not drink cow's milk does not mean that a cup of soy milk a day is any less important.

Soy yogurt is a newer product that is very important to those on a diet. Not only does it have a variety of fruity flavors but it is a tasty breakfast or snack choice. Soy yogurt, such as Silk brand soy yogurt, even has the "live and active" cultures that are so important in regular yogurt.

As you can see there are many ways to lose weight, eat healthy, and get the calcium that is important to your bodily functions. Losing weight in 2008 can be just as reachable for those who have a milk allergy as those who do not!