Quite a while back I met up with a new friend for lunch. Being at a healthy cafe turned the conversation toward health, and my friend mentioned that she was worried about her partner’s health as he was always congested. She was thinking it might be linked to dairy but said he would never give it up. I told her that I avoid mostly dairy because it always makes me congested and gives me brain fog. And the conversation moved on.
When I saw her a few weeks later, she excitedly grabbed my arm. “Oh, I must tell you. After you told me about how dairy affects you, I went home and got him off dairy completely. He doesn’t even have yogurt any more. And Heather”, she grabbed my arm harder and looked right into my face with wide eyes, “he is now regular for the first time in his life!” I was a bit stunned. My friend went on, “He is so much happier, and he is never going back to dairy.”
So, that was pretty cool. I didn’t say that possibly, the true answer lies a bit deeper. Maybe her partner does have a problem with dairy. Or maybe he has poor gut microbiome health. Or maybe it is something else entirely. Obviously, he will be healthier if he is feeling better and is more regular. Nonetheless, I am not a doctor. I am definitely not in the business of diagnosing other people’s conditions, and it is really important to see a doctor to rule out anything serious before any conclusions are jumped to.