milk vs water

Question
Dear Tom,
I do weightlifting for 1.5 hours everyday. I am not using any supplements, not even whey. However, I try to take in all my protein needs through natural sources. Therefore, I drink more than .5 gallons of milk a day. As a result, I am not drinking water anymore. Is this healthy? Can I substitute milk for water in my diet? Or should I still leave room for water?
(I am asking this question because ever since I have started this diet, I am having headaches when I shake my head)

Sincerely,
Kasra

Answer
Hi Kasra,

Great question!

I would definitely not recommend drinking that much milk, especially if it's not organic. First of all, non-organic milk is loaded with hormones (both natural hormones from pregnant mother cows and artificial hormones that are fed to the cows to stimulate their mammary glands to produce more milk). These hormones can disrupt your normal hormonal function, leading to all kinds of symptoms like acne, sleep problems, congestion, sinus problems, and more.

I'm guessing that your headaches may be due to a sinus infection or congestion, possibly caused by drinking so much milk. If you head hurts especially when you tilt it down toward the ground, then you know that's your sinus that is causing the pain.

I would recommend drinking water, especially before and after workouts to help replenish your body. Remember that your muscles are 70% water and if you're even a little bit dehydrated, your muscles will not be able to perform nearly as well.

If you want to get extra protein, then you can do a protein shake. I don't recommend whey protein either, so I would use a good vegan or plant-based protein shake.

I hope that helps!

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Wishing you wellness,
Tom

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