Lichen sclerosus and dairy-free

I used to think that yogurt gave me yeast infections. It was supposed to be the other way around: yogurt was meant to be good for yeast infections. I love yogurt. But if I have it for more than two or three days, itchy irritation sets in.

Once diagnosed with LS, I realized it wasn’t a yeast infection that yogurt triggered, it was LS. Either dairy didn’t work for me or the higher histamine levels in yogurt were at play. We’ll talk histamines in a later post.

I’d stopped drinking milk years ago when my kids were little and dairy triggered digestive issues, plugged ears and snoring for them. And then I just got used to a milk-free diet. I found butter agrees with me, so I keep it on hand for its nutritive and delicious properties.

So, why try a dairy-free diet for lichen sclerosus?

Every person is unique. We each have a distinct gut environment and varying stressors. What’s important is to figure out what works for you.

Much like the previous post, Lichen sclerosus and gluten-free, this is about trying something and noticing what changes for you (if anything). Dairy is also a piece of my menopause snoring puzzle. I never snored. Until menopause. Hormones could no longer alleviate the inflammation accrued through diet, injury and stress. The gluten/dairy/sugar triangle is where I find my snoring at its worst. When I reduce/eliminate those ingredients, snoring goes away.

I’m not telling you that dairy is at the root of your LS, I’m encouraging you to get into conversation with your body. Get curious about what you eat and why. Notice what nourishes you and what may no longer be nourishing you at this time.

Work with a nutritionist or do some personal investigating. Keep a journal. It’s easy to forget from day-to-day how we feel. Note the date, what you ate, when and where (were you at the kitchen table listening to Mozart or wolfing down lunch in your car?). Then note anything of interest: sleep, bathroom habits, physical and emotional changes. No more snoring?

Don’t get caught up in micromanaging your diet. Take a relaxed, investigative approach with your food. If you choose to eliminate dairy for a couple weeks or more, bring it back in slowly. Notice any changes.

Oh, and if you’re worried about calcium, try a nourishing cup of nettle tea.

If prepared correctly, nettle tea is high enough in calcium to be considered an aid in bone-building. Some of the other conditions it may help include insomnia, osteoporosis, arthritis, adrenal depletion, skin conditions, indigestion, low iron and even headaches. 1

Dr. Lani Simpson, Certified Densitometrist and Bone Health Expert

Learn more about nettle tea and how to prepare it here.

Remember, there’s no need to label a food good or bad. Don’t blame the food. It could be that dairy isn’t great for you during the cold winter months but you have a better time with it in the summer. It could be that other things are creating a burden of inflammation in your life and dairy is tipping you over the edge. It could be the histamines at play rather than the yogurt.

Happy investigating!

Report back and let me know your findings. 🙂

Much love,

Stephanie

Read the next post in the series: Lichen sclerosus and sugar-free

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**This blog is meant to inform, not diagnose or treat specific health conditions. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. Always consult your doctor or health care practitioner.

1 https://lanisimpson.com/blogs/news/nettles-for-bones-and-more