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I hear so much about how bad dairy is from a health, environmental, and ethical stance from so many groups ...vegan, paleo, low and high carbers, dieters, environmentalists, etc.
I have read all kinds of contradictions and extreme claims about dairy, and it tends to be a topic of heated debate and is one of the most contentious foods/substances. It is one of those foods I have grappled with myself over the years for various reasons. I have a love hate relationship with it, and see both major positives and negatives in dairy. I sometimes think I am alone in how i feel about the positives that dairy offers. So...
I am interested in hearing from people who enjoy dairy as a regular part of their diet, without shame or guilt, and find that it is healthy and beneficial to you. What kinds of dairy do you include in your diet regularly? What is it that you find healthful or beneficial? Do you buy organic?
I do NOT want this thread to be about the dangers and negatives of dairy or a debate about it's legitimacy as a food etc. I want to hear positive opinions and experiences only. I have heard PLENTY of negatives on many different threads so I just want to get a different perspective and sense from proponents of dairy. I hold no personal position either way at this point, though have been on both sides of the coin at some point or other.
I am personally not a huge dairy eater, but after many years of avoiding dairy for various reasons (and struggling with ever decreasing bone density scores on DEXA scans despite eating many nondairy sources of calcium and other minerals), I now eat plain unsweetened low or nonfat yogurt or Greek style on a regular basis, and find that it is very filling and satisfying to me. It has helped me increase and meet protein and calcium goals, has kept my blood sugar stable throughout the day, and is easy on my stomach. I have a hard time digesting hard cheese so avoid that still, and have a hard time with straight milk so avoid that, but from time to time I can tolerate and enjoy ricotta cheese or mozzarella or Parmesan. I am vegetarian so eat versions of these without animal rennet and only on occasion. I also like that there are very few ingredients in these foods (if sticking to the more natural fresh versions). These are the positives for me. I will not go into the negatives because this is not what the thread is about.
I enjoy dairy and would never pay attention to someone else preaching to me what I should and shouldn't eat because of their views. I suggest that if you enjoy it you should continue to eat it if you feel it benefits you. It really is that simple, your body, your choices.
LMAO... you are *WAY* overthinking this. Dairy has been a staple of human diet for centuries, someone recently found a 2,000 year old chunk of "bog butter" in Ireland (2,000-year-old lump of butter found in Irish bog - CNN).
I drink about a gallon of whole milk each week (oh, I'm in my mid 40's and most would call me "fit"), eat a Ton of cheese, cook with whole cream and the butter... I learned from my mom, she used to freak out if she had less than 5 pounds on hand. For the milk, I buy cheap, actually I buy most of it cheap. I do splurge on good quality, but "organic" just pisses me off as I see it as marketing to increase the price. It's like "gluten free", which I see on maple syrup, a bag of sugar and a hundred other things that would NEVER have anything to do with wheat.
Anyway, point is that my wife and I are both well educated, eat a better diet than most we know and dairy is an essential ingredient to every day and most meals. If someone, somewhere is claiming it's bad I'd want to know who they used as their survey group. I recently saw a "survey" that said probiotic supplements increased happiness... the ENTIRE group pooled were suffering from bowel issues. Well, d'uh, bowel issues are resolved and of Course someone will feel happier.
If you worry about trying to conform to everyone else's food agenda, you will drive yourself mad and probably starve in the process.
Eat what you want. The people trying to convince you that only they have the key to perfection are eating what they want You have every right to do the same.
Stop to consider the many other countries who continue to consume full-fat dairy products day in and day out while maintaining better health and longer life expectancy than here in the US. I would highly recommend ignoring the for-profit diet fads Americans tend to get so wrapped up in, and eat healthy whole foods in moderation.
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For the milk, I buy cheap, actually I buy most of it cheap. I do splurge on good quality, but "organic" just pisses me off as I see it as marketing to increase the price. It's like "gluten free", which I see on maple syrup, a bag of sugar and a hundred other things that would NEVER have anything to do with wheat. 
