That sound's pretty ridiculous to me... Dairy products are such a great source of lean protein (to get the c-p-f ratio right without too much fat and tofu is just :eek: ) I can't imagine avoiding them. Some people avoid them pre-race because they screw with their digestive systems, but that's totally individual. When I am at home (summer = tri-season), I drink about a half gallon of milk a day and sometimes I even have milk or yogurt for an early pre-race breakfast and I'm sure it hasn't slowed me down. And if it has, which I sincerely doubt, my slowness because of too little training totally outweighs it...

There are plenty of other things that triathletes should eat carefully in out diets and dairy (at least lean dairy) should not be one of them unless you're a vegan or something. Some of everything in a calculated moderation is the way to go. I would always be skeptical if someone tells me to avoid an entire food group. Even if they tell me to avoid the junk food group because highly refined sugars are exactly what you should eat or drink while actaully training and racing. Also, if you are training a lot, sometimes it is hard to get all the calories that you need without some calorie dense foods.

If you are interested in sports nutrition or plan on making drastic changes to your diet to improve your athletic performance, I recommend reading Chris Carmichael's Food for Fitness or Monique Ryan's Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes first.

cat ~ thanks for bringing reason ! i cut the meat out but dairy products I still use and that did sound kind of bizarre.

Saludos Gato!!!
I can no remember something so "nonsense" ike the advice someone gave to you to avoid milk, yougurt and stuff...
Man...those are great sources of energy...and protein...besides they are absolutly delicious...
But!!!...there is always a but...
If you feel your stomach upsetc...bloated...and maybe some diarrea, maybe you are lactose intolerant...something really common these days...
There are some solutions for that...
1.-Try milk with NO LACTOSE...taste good...and has almost all waht regular milk has...
2.-Try yougurt...specially Non Fat...it is better tolerated that Milk...
3.-If bloating persist...try some Lactase caps...they are sold over the counter...and they really do wonders...

Get this humble words from the "King of Lactose Intolerance" who happens to be ME! :eek:

Hasta la vista
Santiago Rios MD
a.k.a Flea

Milk and other dairy products provide complex carbs, protein, and calcium, and are quickly absorbed into your digestive system(with exception to those who are lactose intolerant)

Preferably go with one that is low fat or non fat.
They also have organic dairy products if you are concerned about hormone and antibiotic use.

Is "notmilk.com" not a subsidiary of PETA? Anyone can dig up some "scientific" information and post it as cold hard fact. The unfortunate fact fo the matter is that not all science is pure, nor are all results correct, hence the peer review part of true science. If all these "facts" as stated by this site were, in fact FACTS, we all would be very much aware of the dangers and more information would be present regarding the "poison" that is milk.

Its not a perfect food, but there is no such thing. People the world over have adverse reactions to wide variety of foods, some of which are suggested as protein substitutes by the vegetarian cult.

It's unfortunate that people by into this ramapant misinformation. and attempt to spread it. I'll take my advice from the true and established nutritionists and scientists, thank you very much!

I'm sticking to what I said earlier...
I've taken a class in nutrition and have read a few of the sports nutrition books out there.
Milk is good.

The letter was not written by PETA, it was written by Robert M. Kradjian, MD
Breast Surgery Chief Division of General Surgery,

I am a dairy fool, but was reading an article on Runner'sWorld.com and it mentioned avoiding fruit and dairy (but only pre-workout) so as to avoid bowel issues during your workout. I have since cut those two things out before my AM workouts and 2 hours before later workouts and have not had as many problems.

I agree with the majority here, don't cut out dairy completely. But I think there are some people out there that it just doesn't work for them.

I have heard different opinions about dairy out there. For one, while dairy is a source of protein, it is not the best source in that in many people is does not digest not absorb well. MOST people are slightly lactose intolerante without even realizing it. This is because dairy products such as milk esecially are, from a nutritional standpoint, meant for infants. The combination of calcium and Vitamin D supports their growth. As adults, their are many options to those who either have problems with dairy or believe the infant theory. I know many people dont realize they are intolerant but when they go off the dairy they feel different. My wife used to break out with acne when she had too much dairy. It also makes people bloated and sluggish. Now, I believe in a balanced diet, but everyone has what works for them, or what they thinks works for them. And with all I have read and heard, and the way everyone contradicts each other, it may be safe to conclude that we dont know anything and it is all just a guess anyway.

The dairy lobby is incredibly powerful. The fact that dairy is included in the food pyramid is not due to needing it in our diet.

Read the chapter on Dairy in "Eat Drink Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating" by Walter C. Willett MD. It says that dairy increases the risk of a number of cancers and doesn't help the overall calcium level in your body (due to the fact that ingesting animal protein leads you to excrete calcium in your urine). Also, most dairy is loaded with fat. Some will say "I only drink skim milk" - but do you eat cheese too? Loaded with fat and cholesterol. Anyway, its a whole chapter on dairy and why you don't need it and why it causes problems. And its from the Harvard Med School - NOT PETA.

Our bodies aren't really designed to drink milk after infancy. Especially not of another species. Dairy is very difficult for us to digest and leads to all sorts of minor health problems - days that you feel sort of "blah" but don't know why. Try giving up all dairy for 3 or 4 weeks and see how you feel. I have plenty of friends and co-workers who have tried going dairy free and feel so much better they have kept with it. I challenge each of you to give up all dairy (its hard dairy is in so much food) for a month and see how you feel.

Anyone in the mood for a big bowl of ice cream?

Mmmm I love dairy products! Especially from cows. Have you ever looked closely at the teeth of extreme athletes? If you don't like cow juice, then make sure you take in calcium.

I mean that some of them look like they have calcium deficiencies, and it's obvious when they smile. One can get plenty of calcium from the plant kingdom, but I prefer eating ice cream.

Blitz

I think the "calcium crisis" in our country is overblown. We are one of the top 3 countries in the world with regard to dairy consumed per capita yet we are also in the top 3 countries in the world in terms of low bone density and osteoporosis.

Why do we have low bone mass? (1) lack of weight bearing exercise, (2) obesity, (3) lack of vitamin D and (4) overconsumption of animal products.

Weight bearing exercise plays a huge role in keeping up bone density. As our nation has become more sedentary and fatter we have exercised less.
Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D deficiency is a bigger link to low bone density that calcium intake levels. We get vitamin D from sunlight. As our skin cancer fears rise and we become more sedentary people are getting less sunlight and lead to vitamin D deficiencies.
Americans are consuming larger and larger amounts of animal protein which leads to reduced calcium absorption by the body due to excreting it out of your urine.

Unlike some vitamins and minerals, calcium from supplements is very effective.

Dairy is linked with weight gain and obesity, heart disease and certain cancers. If you do the research I think you'll find that consuming dairy isn't worth it just for the calcium. You can get the calcium elsewhere.

Hitman-like you I am a lawyer and feel somewhat uneasy not citing everthing I state above. But, this is just a triathlon board and I am not going to take the time. Upon request, however, I will be glad to provide support for the above (and none of it is from PETA - while I don't consume animal products I do have leather seats on my car).

You can link jsut about anything to cancer from some studies everything from Sweet and Low to sunscreen has turned up cancer in some points. Dairy is linked to obesity? Hmm. Amusing that dairy products in other circles are considered fat burners. Dairy consumption is not a new thing among people. We have been drinking milk for thousands of years. Granted, not always the refined cows milk we primarily consume today, but dairy in some form or another has been consumed since agriculture was incepted.

Here's my observations: Long ride, no milk for breakfast= lower performance, usually crapping out about 1/2 way through. Only milk for breakfast= not good either. Gotta have balance.

Calcium and vitmain D deficiencies are not just present in the obese and lazy. As athletes, we are more dispositioned to osteoperosis. Especially with all the riding and swimming we do. I'm sure I wcould dig up support for any of the above statements as well, but I find it to be a waste of time. I have no doubt that there is a study out there linking sunlight to cancer... oh, wait...

Opinions are like @$$holes, everyone's got em. Some are just bigger than others.

My favorite related study:
Several years ago, researchers found that all the items they tested were carcinogenic, except for popcorn and water! I don't think I'll be switching to that nutrition plan anytime soon, though. Of course, they probably didn't test wheat grass. :eek: