Thinking of giving up dairy? While no two people are the same in terms of how their bodies respond to dairy, there certainly are commonalities. You can expect at least five prominent benefits when you give dairy the boot, and one of them involves the health of the planet. Here are five reasons why you may wish to go dairy-free:

1. Plant Milk Is Delicious

Those who use dairy milk often don’t feel like there is one best milk brand, but those following a plant-based diet almost always have a milk preference. The reason for this is simple: Each plant-based milk type and brand has a unique taste. Some are sweet, some are surprisingly creamy and luxurious, while others have a crisp and refreshing taste. 

Plant milk is delicious, and there’s a style to suit every taste and occasion. Nothing beats a frothy macadamia milk latte, while a bowl of cereal with a gentle swirl of oat milk is uniquely sweet and tasty. Plant milk provides a feast of flavors and textures to tantalize your taste buds. 

2. Your Sinuses Will Clear Up

Dairy supports the healthy bacteria in your body, which is precisely why yogurt is recommended after antibiotics. The problem is that it doesn’t only replenish the microorganisms in the gut – it also feeds the microorganisms that result in mucus. 

Phlegm, nasal congestion, frequent ear infections, postnasal drip, and even persistent coughs can improve when you cut dairy out of your diet. In fact, many people report that their snoring has improved after quitting dairy. The only true way to ascertain how well it will work for you is to give dairy the boot temporarily and test it out.

3. You May Drop A Dress Size

Even reduced-fat dairy can lead to weight gain. New research has indicated that dairy products can lead to insulin resistance, which in turn, can lead to weight gain. Additionally, many dairy farms treat their cows with hormone medications to increase their yield, and this comes through in the milk. 

Hormones in dairy can trigger a spike in estrogen in your body, leading to weight gain. Switching to plant-based alternatives like cashew milk, almond milk, or even oat milk can result in effortless weight loss. 

4. You’re Doing Your Bones A Favor

Many people still believe they need dairy for calcium and bone health. However, the newer research suggests dairy consumption is linked to more bone fractures, not less. As it turns out, you don’t need any animal products to gain all the calcium you need to maintain bone density, protect your teeth, and keep your eyesight strong. 

The calcium that is in dairy first came from plants. The animals ate those plants, assimilated those nutrients, and produced them in milk designed for their own young. Human bodies are equipped to do the same. We can get adequate calcium by eating a balanced and nutritious plant-based diet. 

5. You’ll Improve Your Environmental Impact

It’s no secret that cutting back on dairy is good for the planet. In the space used for grazing and maintaining cows, we could plant more vegetation capable of replenishing the soil with nitrogen, yielding crops, and neutralizing carbon in the atmosphere. At the moment, dairy farming and feed production are not managed effectively, leading to a host of problems. Reducing the demand for dairy is a good place to start addressing these issues. 

Plant Power

Plants are packed with everything we get from dairy but with fewer of the adverse effects. They also come with plenty of upsides, like the ones listed above. So, if you’ve been considering making the switch, today’s the day!