Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Hi folks. I've moved over to a mainly Paleo diet quite recently (where possible), I did like cream or milk in my coffee (mainly decaff) and am not happy with taking it just black. So I have been using Soya milk since last December. I get that under a Paleo regime that dairy / milk is out. But now this whole soya / legume deal has me mildly worried since I've had chance to research it all (and listened to so many Rob Wolf / Sissons / Abel James Podcasts), Therefore I'm considering ditching the soya milk too, but, what to have instead? I want to stay on a low carb diet (having lost 55lbs and looking and feeling great as a result), so staying low carb is much more important to me than aiming for a "strictly" 100% Paleo diet. So, what are my realistic substitutions for milk? I live in the UK and our dairy cows / herds are nearly all grass fed BTW. Is cows milk less of an issue compared to soya? I've never suffered with intolerance to any foodstuff, but would like to give my body the best option.

cheers

Karlos

edited Jul 12 at 20:52

asked Jul 12 at 20:46

Karlos
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Ditch the soya completely. My family and I consume some dairy: raw cheese, kefir, butter, and occasionally cream, all from pastured cows. Coconut milk will give you the creaminess that dairy cream provides if you do want to eliminate dairy. – MathGirl72 Jul 12 at 20:56

I agree, I use coconut milk for my coffee and lattes and it adds a nice flavor as well. Enjoy! – Alex Jul 13 at 12:17

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Have you considered drinking coffee black? I do. Coffee has a complex flavor. Depending on the type it may have a nutty, buttery, or even peppery flavor. Most people make their coffee too strong, because they put so much cream & sugar in the flavor wouldn't come through otherwise (that's why black Starbuck's coffee is battery acid strong). Try getting a GOOD brand of coffee, back off a little on how much you used to make a pot, and try appreciating the coffee's flavor on their own. – Talldog Jul 13 at 14:18

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What!?? Nobody mentioned bulletproof coffee?? Just tried some for the first time. I might be addicted already. – Dave S. Jul 13 at 14:45

@Dave S. I know I am! – MathGirl72 Jul 13 at 15:07

tj · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-12 20:49:20Z UTC

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almond milk.....

answered Jul 12 at 20:49

tj
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bad o6:o3 ratio afaik. – j3wcy Jul 12 at 21:00

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In theory I like almond milk and since there's not very much total fat, the 06:03 ratio doesn't concern me. But so many almond milk brands have additives like carrageenan, gums, and a-tocopherol. If you make your own I think that's fine (and much tastier). – Mscott Jul 12 at 21:36

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I don't understand everyone's fear of o6s. They're honestly not nearly as bad as you think, even in significant amounts, unless they're coming from processed crap. If you're eating healthy and consuming seafood regularly, I wouldn't even worry about your o3:o6 ratio. – BoneBrothFast Jul 12 at 23:35

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Coconut milk beats almond milk with a stick. – Dave S. Jul 13 at 14:46

leslie · Answer 2 · 2012-07-12 21:04:52Z UTC

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I'd go with heavy cream if you don't have an autoimmune issue or a problem with it. Sometimes it's better to stay sane and enjoy life and not be soooo rigid. I'm thinking more Primal. I'm just happier with a little dairy!

answered Jul 12 at 21:04

leslie
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Amen! Sanity and enjoyment are extremely important. – Karin Jul 12 at 21:35

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I'm def more primal...I've made my peace with heavy cream, raw milk, and any fermented or cultured high quality dairy. – JayJay Jul 13 at 0:11

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I don't drink milk (although I never did much previously anyway), but I do consume a lot of dairy products(cheese, heavy cream, sour cream, etc...) From a purely weight loss standpoint, these items are all low in carbs and very filling. I'm sure you know some people have problems with dairy, and some don't. IF you can tolerate them, then you may want to consider adding them back into your diet. – Talldog Jul 13 at 14:03

Karin · Answer 3 · 2012-07-12 21:41:34Z UTC

Dear God! If you have access to heavy cream from truly happy grassfed cows then go for it! (provided it doesn't bother your innerds) Life is meant to be enjoyed and savored...don't drive yourself nuts with constanty asking yourself if things are "paleo" or not. Obviously follow the main components of this way of eating (no grain, legumes, processed foods, processed sugar, etc.) but do allow yourself to know what is sustainable for you. If you do an elimination diet (whole 30 or something like that) and find dairy does I deed mess you up then you know what to do...but if not, enjoy it! I guarantee you that THAT won't be what kills you..(unless of course a cow sits on you or something). Enjoy your coffee!

A at Grain Free Diet · Answer 4 · 2012-07-12 20:49:33Z UTC

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I'd go with coconut milk.

answered Jul 12 at 20:49

A at Grain Free Diet
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I do alternate ....dairy to coconut and back. I like to mix it up. – JayJay Jul 13 at 0:12

Shari Bambino · Answer 5 · 2012-07-12 21:06:20Z UTC

To summarize: Cream (from a cow or goat), coconut milk, almond milk (but you have to make it yourself because the stuff they sell in the store has yuck in it.)

If you were doing well with the cream then go back to that.

Oh and congratulations on such a great job with the weight loss! I started LC too and moved on the paleo. Lots of us do. Good luck with the continuation of your journey.

trjones · Answer 6 · 2012-07-12 21:00:07Z UTC

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Cow's milk/cream. If you don't react badly to it, there's no reason to stay away just because it's "not paleo."

answered Jul 12 at 21:00

trjones
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Cow milk should be avoided not because "not paleo" but because, regardless personal reactions to lactosium, raises the PH and it decreases the calcium. – Disimaco Jul 12 at 21:14

j3wcy · Answer 7 · 2012-07-12 21:01:31Z UTC

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If you tolerate milk it's fine. The reason most people cut it out is that many are casein or lactose intolerant.

answered Jul 12 at 21:01

j3wcy
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Alvaro · Answer 8 · 2012-07-12 21:03:18Z UTC

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Goya® Coconut Milk, is the one with no additives or gums

answered Jul 12 at 21:03

Alvaro
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JeJ · Answer 9 · 2012-07-13 00:52:36Z UTC

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I seem to get by with a combo of coconut, almond milk, goats milk, and heavy cream.

answered Jul 13 at 0:52

JeJ
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ana · Answer 10 · 2012-07-12 21:34:25Z UTC

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so delicious has a coconut creamer (the original flavor has no added sugar) its thick and creamy and a great substitute ...and i loooove half and half.

http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/coconut-milk-creamers

answered Jul 12 at 21:34

ana
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RaiseFitness · Answer 11 · 2012-07-12 23:18:15Z UTC

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I use heavy cream from pastured cows, but coconut milk/cream isn't a bad option either.

answered Jul 12 at 23:18

RaiseFitness
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BoneBrothFast · Answer 12 · 2012-07-12 23:37:43Z UTC

Stay away from coconut milk with SODIUM METABISULFITE.

I never had a problem before with any particular preservative in foods when I was eating SAD, but after consuming a coconut milk (which I also tolerate well) with sodium metabisulfite, it made me think I was going to literally die for a few hours.

bachcole · Answer 13 · 2012-07-13 00:39:36Z UTC

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Homemade kefir grains.

answered Jul 13 at 0:39

bachcole
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Diane · Answer 14 · 2012-07-13 01:57:35Z UTC

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I found something called coconut cream powder. It has casein as an ingredient, but it's not a lot. The main ingredient is coconut. I brought it to work to store in my office. I tried it out today. It's not bad. I think real heavy cream is the best option, though.

answered Jul 13 at 1:57

Diane
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	Any way of figuring out if it's A1 casein or A2 casein? If it's A1, I don't care how much is in it, I'd stay far away. Especially processed casein. – BoneBrothFast Jul 17 at 17:14
	Although I guess if "casein" is listed as an ingredient, it's processed anyway, since last I checked casein doesn't occur naturally in coconuts. – BoneBrothFast Jul 17 at 17:15

Celton · Answer 15 · 2012-07-13 02:38:25Z UTC

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No beverage at all? I don't mean to be blunt, but I get this question ALL the time. This isn't a paleo exactness thing. (paleo's didn't have beverages, maybe blood?) Why must we have a beverage? Extra unnecessary calories... Go with water, tea, carbonated water, etc. Stick to whole foods.

*Caloric beverages

On second thought, bone broth is great!

edited Jul 13 at 2:38

answered Jul 13 at 1:38

Celton
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	Except water, tea, carbonated water, etc., are all beverages. Sometimes those "unnecessary calories" are necessary. – MathGirl72 Jul 13 at 2:30
	Fair enough. I meant caloric beverages. And very true. If someone WANTS calories, then drinking them is an easy way. However, have you ever heard the recommendation not to drink your calories? – Celton Jul 13 at 2:38
	What concerns me is that Karlos wants to stay low-carb/ lose weight, pretty much all caloric beverages have lots of sugar in them. Unless you drinking straight coconut milk, nothing added, you gonna be drinking sugar. He should avoid stunting his weight loss right? But that actually makes me realize, probably his best bet is BONE BROTH! – Celton Jul 13 at 2:40

sandy A · Answer 16 · 2012-07-13 11:55:38Z UTC

I am using coconut milk right now because I am doing an experiment on myself, but up til now I just used a bit of goat's milk (my goat's milk) in my coffee. However, I wouldn't recommend using store-bought goats milk in coffee. It is right nasty. Other than that a little dab of cow's milk won't hurt you. It's only like a tblspn or 2.

nia · Answer 17 · 2012-11-10 22:29:16Z UTC

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You can buy hemp milk in the UK if you want an alternative to coconut milk. Afaik, it has a better o3:o6 profile than almond.

answered Nov 10 at 22:29

nia
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No milk, no soya milk … so what’s the alternatives?

17 Answers