Goodbye Bloating, Mucus and Dairy

Maciek’s Years of Bloating and Mucus Woes

My partner Maciek had been suffering from severe bloating and excessive mucus and phlegm production for many years. The bloating left him feeling heavy and uncomfortable daily, significantly impacting his quality of life. He also constantly produced copious amounts of mucus, coughing and spitting constantly to try and clear his chronically blocked sinuses and throat.

After some medical evaluations, it was suggested that he eliminated milk from his diet, as it can contribute to bloating and mucus production issues for some people. I had noticed increased mucus production myself too, though not nearly as severe as Maciek. I only had minor mucus problems occasionally, not constant issues.

However, once Maciek completely quit drinking milk to try and find relief from his disruptive symptoms, I decided to also eliminate milk from my diet in support. We were both hopeful that removing milk would help alleviate his chronic bloating and excessive phlegm.

Investigating the Milk Controversy

Milk had long been suspected as a culprit behind Maciek’s issues, though we loved dairy products and hadn’t quite connected the dots before. Reading Dr. Buttar’s book, The 9 Steps to Keep the Doctor Away, really opened my eyes about some concerning commercial practices like pasteurization, added hormones, steroids and antibiotics that may correlate with various health problems. That compelling evidence was enough to convince us to quit consuming conventional supermarket milk.

Delving Deeper Down the Dairy Rabbit Hole

Wanting to learn more, I dug further into Dr. Buttar’s book. I discovered that milk contains different proteins called beta-casein. The two most common forms are A1 and A2 beta-casein. A1 and A2 beta-casein variants differ by a single amino acid, leading A1 to release the opioid peptide beta-casomorphin 7 (BCM-7) after digestion. Numerous studies have linked BCM-7 to inflammatory conditions, including heart disease, type 1 diabetes, autism, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders, as well as cognitive decline.

In the next illustration, you can examine the structural distinction between A1 and A2 beta-casein proteins. The key variance lies in the 67^th amino acid position – A1 has histidine (His67), while A2 has proline (Pro67). This dissimilarity is crucial as it enables A1 to form the specific peptide BCM-7 during digestion, a process in which A2 does not partake.

Some research also links mucus overproduction to the effects BCM-7 has on mucus gland opioid receptors present in the respiratory tract. Additionally, BCM-7 may potentially damage colon DNA and thin the protective colon mucus lining, contributing to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

We learned that BCM-7 is not significantly absorbed into the bloodstream for most people with healthy gut function. However, those with impaired GI function, like many autistic children, may end up absorbing BCM-7, potentially exacerbating their conditions.

Fortunately, goat and sheep milk contain predominantly A2 beta-casein, without BCM-7. Human milk is exclusively A2. Their protein molecules are also smaller than cow’s milk, improving nutrient absorption. As Dr. Desaulniers notes in her book Heal Breast Cancer Naturally: 7 Essential Steps to Beating Cancer, cow’s milk has over three times the protein and calcium of human milk, making it difficult to digest and potentially causing issues like gallstones, kidney stones, and arthritic deposits.

Our Dairy-Free Decision

Given all we learned, we decided to avoid cow’s milk entirely and stick to plant-based milks like homemade coconut or skinless almond milk instead. Regarding these two types of plant-based milk, I have noticed that I get mucus and/or phlegm if I take them regularly several times a day. I need to do my research on this, because in principle I have no allergies. I will probably prepare another article if I get any good findings on this one!

Regarding cheese, we still enjoy cheese, so we choose sheep or goat varieties.

Quitting cow dairy made a big difference for Maciek. After over a year without it, his chronic sinus congestion has greatly improved. He finds he can handle occasional cow dairy without excessive mucus as long as it doesn’t become a regular habit again.

 

 

Has anyone else experienced issues with cow’s milk like bloating or mucus? What changes did you notice after eliminating dairy? We’d love to hear your story in the comments!