Dairy products

anonymous

New member
Hello - I was talking with someone who has a friend that is 52 with CF. She said that she avoids all dairy products due to her CF. Are there others out there that avoid dairy due to cf or is it just related to allergies? I have a 8 month old with CF and feed him cheese/butter/ice cream/cream - and anything else he wants to eat. thanks!
 

anonymous

New member
When my toddler is congested, I try to avoid giving her much dairy (and sugar) bc these things make her more congested. I think a lot of people (with or without CF) have trouble with dairy. I asked my dd's CF Nurse about this and she said it seems to depend on the person whether they notice a difference.

HTH!
Kelli
 

anonymous

New member
I think many people w/ cf who avoid dairy do so because of how their bodies handle it. If your little guy has no trouble digesting the milk, then don't worry. You are very blessed if that is the case! My 4 year old son (w/cf) has much difficulty with dairy, specifically milk. He gets horrible stomach aches, abnormal stools. We still give him cheese and butter with little or no problems. He just loves milk, but we don't let him have too much and even then we try to give him fat-free milk. Fortunately, we are having no problems with his weight (60%).

By the way, we had our son tested for lactose intolerance. That was not the case for us. I think it's just a big mystery among many cf patients. We just have to adjust the diet to what works for our kids!

Jena
 

anonymous

New member
Our dieticians opinion, which she backed up with several research studies, is that dairy products do not produce more mucus in the lungs of CF patients. If anything it is detrimental because CF patients need the calcium to avoid osteoperosis in future years. Check with your CF team to see what they feel is best and do your own research, before relying on the opinions of others. Each CF person is different and what works for one may not necessarily work on your own child.
 

anonymous

New member
Your dietician is right in her findings but she forgot to inform you of one thing it seems. Milk or any dairy for that matter DOES NOT create more mucous. What it does do in most people (and those without CF will notice it more when you have a cold and congestion) is that it makes the existing mucous thicker, so it can still cause problems.

Also, some children who are allergic to milk, find chocolate milk ok to drink. And not the kind of chocolate milk you buy in the gallon already made. But a gallon of regular milk and some good old hersheys chocolate sauce (or whatever brand, but hersheys works for us) and mix it at home. Our dietician has a theory that something in that brand of chocolate coats whatever it is in the dairy that aggitates our stomachs (both my hubbie and I are lactose intolerant) and allows us to drink it in moderation.

Julie (wife to Mark 24 w/CF)
 

anonymous

New member
Hello everyone, Yes, many CF sufferers have very different diets. I too, have often been told by other people to cut down on dairy products, it may be the cause of all that mucus production, however as a child I was bought up on a farm and had my milk straight from the cow's udder, it was never pasteurized. Wouldn't get away with that today, but that was back in the 50's!!! As kids we had copius ammounts of the stuff, my late bro. and sister were not as keen to share my enthusiasm for the great white liquid!! My digestive system didn't pack up until later in life and now with the help of those precious little enzyme caps. my pancreas can handle virtually anything,- over the decades I have discovered what moderation means! Unfortunately there are those who cannnot tolerate foods with lactose and must for good reasons adher to a more rigid diet. I have had my visits to the osteopath and to date all is well with my old bones, I guess the calcium in all that milk [and just love macaroni cheese] has helped to build good bones.
Cheers Eileen.<img src="i/expressions/sun.gif" border="0">
 

HollyCatheryn

New member
It is true that dairy does not (or if so, rarely) cause increased mucus, BUT it does cause a slimy coating in the throat and mouth that can cause the body to FEEL congested and feel as though there is a need to cough, but that the cough is not accomplishing what it should. This is what most people interpret as increased mucus. There are a few things to consider.1) If you are taking in lots of calcium to boost your body's levels, make sure that you have plenty of vitamin D (which helps the body absorb the calcium), but that you are not taking artificial forms of iron with it (which prevents the absobtion of iron). One of the best ways to prevent bone deterioration is with exercise and, if you are a woman, breastfeeding (ironically enough, it causes your body to remineralize your bones so that they end up as strong, but often stronger than before your nursed a child).2) Consider that there are NON-DAIRY forms of calcium as well, such as dark, leafy greens. The interesting thing here is that with dark, leafy greens you get calcium AND iron, but they do not cancel each other out. 3) NON-BOVINE forms of dairy are more suited to human ingestion, especially goat's milk - which is an aqcuired taste, but can be worth it for your health4) Taking the apropriate number of enzymes with the ingestion of dairy will ensure that all the available nutrients are absorbed5) The inclusion of cultured/fermented foods which raise the body's reserve of enzymes (not just pancreatic for which we have artificial substitutes) and aid in the breakdown of foods that do not contain their own enzymes.A great book on diet and foods with the focus on raw eating and maximizing your intake of healthy nutrients in a bio-available form is "Rejuvenate Your Life" by Serene Allison (check <A href="http://www.aboverubies.org">www.aboverubies.org</A> under books and tapes in the list at left). Also check out Reliv (<A href="http://www.reliv.com">www.reliv.com</A>) nutritional supplements. I have had wonderful success in my health (with a special consideration for calcium) since I began taking Reliv regularly (my story can be read at <A href="http://www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/Reliv">www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/Reliv</A>)
 

HollyCatheryn

New member
PS - 8 months old is pretty young to be ingesting all that dairy, especially since it is one of the most allergy-causing foods. You might want to be cautious. I understood it to be that children under 1 year of age should not be ingestion cow's milk (and I thought that included the related dairy products).
 

anonymous

New member
I have to agree with HollyCathryn here. Is your child digesting this OK or are his stools runny or greasy?
When I eat grease, butter, etc, especially when I forget my enzymes, it just runs right thru me in the same liquid form that it started out to be, so I always try to avoid a lot of fat/grease type stuff. That's just me, though.
Possibly your child has a stronger digestive system than I do and with the aid of enzymes, he is able to digest butter, etc just fine and have normal stools while doing it. If that's the case, then great!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
As far as the dairy thing goes....I just notice that it makes me cough more, I don't know about the increased mucus, but I don't think so.
 

anonymous

New member
Hello,

In response to the last few posts I have not started him yet on Milk but he does eat other dairy. I think greasy foods do upset his system (ok- you ask why am I feeding an eight month old pup style pizza). I think I maybe takingt his "feed feed feed... eat.. eat..eat thing a bit to far! He does have a well balanced diet of fruit and veggies at every feeding along with his bottle. He eats about 4-5 meals a day - every three hours... I think that schedule will work well for him for three meals and two snacks a day...

thanks for all your posts...
 
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