Is it just me or does anyone else have more problems with alternative milks than with dairy. I have tried several now and had more or less given up when I saw a cashew one and thought I might as well give it a try too. It was very nice to drink, as a drink on its own, and in coffee but it did what all the others do to me, it made me constipated. I only had a small amount to try it. Any ideas anyone?
Cow's Milk Alternatives: Is it just me or does... - IBS Network
Cow's Milk Alternatives
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Maureen1958
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Hi Maureen
Sorry that's happened to you. No, this isn't a problem I get at all when I have plant milk. I buy and use Almond, Coconut and Cashew Nut milks. I have to say Cashew is my favourite.
Have you thought about buying a nut bag and making your own? I've made before both Almond and Cashew and they are so simple to make. All I did was go on Google, search on how to make a nut milk and that was that.
With the Cashew Nut Milk I didn't even need to nut bag as my normal regular liquidiser ground the nuts down into the filtered water really well, the nut is quite soft, also you get all off the fibre that way. However, you need a nut bag for Almond Milk.
Best wishes.
Maureen1958 in reply to
Hiya, thanks for such a helpful reply but I'm afraid I'm not very domesticated, but my husband said he might give it a go for me, so I can try it. I reckon the constipation is caused by the calcium they add to these milks, so it would be interesting to see what happens if and when he has a go at making it. He is retired now, so has time on his hands. Thanks again, I'll let you know how we get on.
in reply to Maureen1958
You are most welcome, they are very simple to make.
Yes please, I'd love to know how you get on.
All the best 😀
Hello there I’m interested by the calcium theory.... does this extend to calcium tablets too do you think?
Yes, I think so. I believe there is a link betwen calcium carbonate supplements and constipation. I think they recommed calcium citrate to counteract this.
I have IBS-C. Have a bottle of Magnesium citrate which is supposed to be excellent for constipation. But it has calcium in it..so not understanding..as Calcium is constipating..
Is it calcium citrate or calcium carbonate?
Hmm..I'm not sure. I will have to look. Is there a difference between the two?
Yes, I believe so. It seems there is a link between calcium carbonate and constipation.
I drink Oatly and I don’t think it causes problems .. hard to say sometimes what’s causing what!
I use Innocent Oat milk which is excellent. It does not have additives and preservatives like Oatly
So Innocent Oat milk has no calcium added then?
No but we get enough calcium from out diets anyway. A lot of western people are actually too high in calcium. I had a calcium level of 5.5 (range is between 2 and 6) and I never drink any products with calcium added. Fortifying products unnaturally like Oatly is not very healthy.
Innocent Oat Milk is just Water, Oats and a dash of salt
Thanks, I might give it a try then. Thanks again for your help.
So does Oatly have calcium added to it?
No but we get enough calcium from out diets anyway. A lot of western people are actually too high in calcium. I had a calcium level of 5.5 (range is between 2 and 6) and I never drink any products with calcium added. Fortifying products unnaturally like Oatly is not very healthy.
Innocent Oat Milk is just Water, Oats and a dash of salt
Mine doesn’t but you can get it with calcium fortification. I use the original but often sold out at sainsburys so clearly popular!
Thanks, I might give that a try too, thanks for your help.
Could well be the Calcium but I think it is a very low addition in most nut/grain 'milks'.
Are they sweetened? If so try the unsweetened versions...less choice but it might help. Or make your own as others have suggested.
Maureen1958 in reply to
I don't think any of the alternative milks are sweetened. But they don't say how much calcium is added.
in reply to Maureen1958
I respectfully disagree Maureen1958 😊
Some do have added sugar...check the ingredients. Some Alpro's Oat and Almond options are labelled as Unsweetened, without added sugar.
I would agree that the added sugar might be low but any refined sweeteners are bad for IBS and SIBO...in my humble opinion 😄
Maureen1958 in reply to
I don't really have a problem with sugar or sweetners generally but do have a problem with calcium supplements.
in reply to Maureen1958
I have a problem with them both. Calcium supplements are certainly known to bind the bowels...and some longterm studies have shown that the supplementation is linked to osteoporosis, despite its' claims!
And moreover supplements are a dangerous thing in my opinion. Get the required vitamin or mineral through a balance diet and there is no need for supplementation. So many studies are showing extracted substances are often linked with health reduction, and worse, cancer and other chronic illnesses. The supplement industry is unregulated and does not have to show any longterm data about benefits, or disadvantages!
Guess what...I do not like supplements! 😄
Maureen1958 in reply to
No, I don't think I like supplements either. I had never used or tried one at all until recently, but having suffered with IBS for many years, I thought I would give it a try. I have not found one that has made me any better but quite a few that have made me worse, one way or another, if you get my drift. 
in reply to Maureen1958
Loud and clear! 🙂
I know many people with constipation, stress and anxiety swear by Magnesium Citrate as many of us are defficient in this needed mineral. I have asked Doctors and they say it is safe at about 320mg for women. Also I suffer from Seasonal Affective disorder in the shorter winter months and after taking "lemon Flavored Carlson's Cod Liver oil"..my depression went away. I don't think "all" supplements are bad. Many people also have great success with Probiotics.
Eliana5 in reply to
I know many people with constipation, stress and anxiety swear by Magnesium Citrate as many of us are defficient in this needed mineral. I have asked Doctors and they say it is safe at about 320mg for women. Also I suffer from Seasonal Affective disorder in the shorter winter months and after taking "lemon Flavored Carlson's Cod Liver oil"..my depression went away. I don't think "all" supplements are bad. Many people also have great success with Probiotics.
in reply to Eliana5
Hi Eliana5
I think for people who are insufficient or deficient in vitamins or minerals some supplements are essential. Some water soluble vitamins can be safely supplemented because if you take too much then you just end up with expensive urine! 😊
As I vegan and someone who avoids most processed food I take B12. In truth in this sanitised world most people could do with B12 supplementation but many get it in their dairy and other fortified products.
The papers I have read have shown that longterm studies in to some supplementation like calcium and vitamin C, which has gained popularity because the manufacturers have publish dubious studies about its ability to fight colds and cancer, has lead to some (particularly in the US) taking huge amounts and this has shown to have no effect on colds and worse, heighten cancer risk in some cases and lead to osteoporosis when calcium is claimed to do the reverse.
I guess what I take away from what I have learnt about nutrition and all that it encompasses it since I became ill is that the billion dollar advertising budgets that some industries have leads to 'misinformation' and skewed studies...hey, it took the world 50 years to finally accept smoking was hazardous because the tobacco industry used such tactics...and they now own large chunks of the food and drug manufacturers!
And no I am not a conspiracy theorist...just a realist (say I!). And just my point of view, you can rubbish it if you want 😁
Eliana5 in reply to
Lol..on the "expensive urine" I agree. Supplements are complicated. I do wish they were FDA approved, but then the drug industry won't profit millions of dollars.
in reply to Eliana5
My last word...
Did you know that the FDA is responsible for setting food and drug standards and protections for the individual, but, they are also tasked with promoting the same industries.
They receive millions from industry and have a revolving door policy with industry insiders taking up jobs in the administration who return to their board positions a couple of years later...conflict on interest maybe?
Thats why they tell the American public to cut down on fats and processed food when they should be saying stop eating McDonalds, Burger King, red meat and highly processed stuffs by Kraft food and the like! (Philip Morris is still a major shareholder I believe...Marlborough country lives on)
Ok, I am done, promise. Off to eat my lovely chickpea and steamed veg lunch with turmeric and ginger sauce on the side, and watch the footy! 😋
Eliana5 in reply to
That does sound good. My friend/Resident here is a health food eater, vegetarian. Yesterday, she made the most yummy guacamole dip, with vanilla hummus included with some (somewhat Spicey) spices in it, and served it with tortilla chips. I used to eat Big Macs, Whoppers with cheese several times a week in my 20's. Shocked that I never had a heart attack from it all. I'm in my 50's now, and because of IBS-C have a fear of "heavy" foods like potato skins, cheeseburgers, Macaroni and cheese, potato salad and hoagies. Strange how things change as we get older.
Budgie5 in reply to
Do you know anything about k2? I was advised to take it with d3, both of them to send the calcium I’m taking straight to where it’s needed and not to calcify anywhere and cause problems?
in reply to Budgie5
Hi Budgie5
Its not a topic I have come up against before so a quick google later and I came across this paper on D, K and Calcium.
I have only checked for conflict of interests (does not appear on first look that there is any industry influence) then I read the summary. I leave you to draw your own conclusion.
It would be interesting to know more about your normal levels of D and K if you have had these tested? Why have you been advised to take these supplements?
PM me if you prefer...I am not an expert but I am happy to look at the research
Budgie5 in reply to
David do you need to take Vit 12 in a b complex form or is it ok to take alone?
Innocent Oat Milk is just Water, Oats and a dash of salt
I have issues with nuts and grains, so wouldnt even attempt these. Im not lactose intollerant but struggle with dairy, so much so that i didnt eat raw dairy for over 20 years (i was able to eat small amounts in baked food).
Last year i seen an advert for A2 milk, and thought i would give it a go. Its brilliant, tastes like normal milk and i have no reactions to it at all. I can now have rice crispies with milk and it causes no reaction 😊 i cant wait for them to start and make cheese.
As for calcium, you can get it from other foods not just dairy - as i had a full screen last year prior to an operation my vitamin and calcium levels were perfect.
Good luck finding something that works for you.
I did try the A2 milk but again was better off with cow's milk!
Rice milk is a great tasting non dairy milk. I recommend Rice Dream as it has the least ingredients and you can chose added calcium if you wish. It’s naturally sweet so is perfect for porridge and in cereals.
Maureen1958 in reply to
Thanks, I might give that a try.
What about Lactaid? It has the milk fat/sweetener taken out of it..it is still cows milk but it doesn't affect your gut..
We don't have that over here, but we have something similar which I have already tried.
Eliana5 in reply to
Do you think it would be good with cereal? I'm also wondering about Coconut milk?
I found same...
i dont eat gluten and i was told to try no dairy to... i dont eat much dairy anyway but thought i would try diff milk and i tried everything and it would make me either constipated or the other way...
In end i went totally skimmed filtered milk and that is briliant for me .. have u tried this?
So you can tolerate skim milk? Maybe it's the fat content you couldn't tolerate because skim milk is fat free
Yeh it a weird one... i can handle skimmed filtered sainsburys one more then anything else?
I think fat content is alot to do with it with me..
I'm the same. I don't do well on a high fat diet at all. Fat is a well known GI stimulant anyway.
Yes fat is defo not good for my stomach... it prob one of the worst things that starts my ibs off along with gluten and yeasty things ie. breads
Exactly. Gluten is definitely a no no for me. I have been gluten free for over 10 years now and feel so much better when I am strict with it! As well as no dairy either
Hi Lulububs, no I haven't tried that, perhaps I'll give that a go too. Many thanks.
LACTOSE FREE DOES FOR ME BIG TIME
Tried that too, but thanks anyway Neil119.
I’m ok with lacto free
Look out for any gums like Guar gum for example. We don’t digest it well.
I'm okay with guar gum and the like, they are my friends!
I use lactase enzymes in my dairy. No more problems! I like it much better than lactase free. Less expensive and I have more control over the amount of lactose I remove. The stuff in stores varies too much.
Thanks for that, I did think about it before trying the lactose free milk but thought I would try the milk first and for whatever reason (at the time) decided not to bother with the enzymes. But thanks anyway.
Do you take the digestive enzymes right before drinking the milk..or take them everyday?
They are lactose enzymes and you put them in the milk, I believe.
Okay..thanks!
Do they work with other food
I really wouldn't know as I have not used them, but perhaps CtKathleenUSA can help you with that one.
For a lot Of people, it's not the lactose that they are intolerant to, it is the cow's milk protein casein or whey.
Yes..thats it. Thanks..
I have the same issues with all milks. I haven't tried cashew milk, but I can't tolerate cashews, so I doubt I will be able to tolerate cashew milk
Can you drink cow's milk or is it just the alternative milks you can't have.
Unfortunately, I can't drink any milk. Cow's milk or alternative milks. I'm sure there are a few I haven't tried yet, but at this point, I'm afraid to. A friend of mine likes Flax milk. She gets it at Walmart. I haven't tried that one yet.
So what do you do about tea and coffee or don't you drink them?
I drink green tea every morning with stevia in it. Been drinking it for years. I LOVE coffee and miss it, but every time I drink it I get horrible cramping & diarrhea and I certainly don't miss that!
Oh that's a shame but we just have to do what we have to do to survive don't we. I wish other people could understand that!
Very true. I have found I also don't tolerate chocolate. Boy do I miss that too! Even more than coffee
Does that include eating chocolate as well as drinking it?
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