Milk is not strictly Paleo to begin with. It is high in carbohydrates, and when you drink the skim, fat-free stuff, you lose the fat that helps slow the digestion of those carbs so they don’t cause a spike in blood sugar. Milk also contains a number of fat-soluble vitamins. If you’re not consuming fat with them, your body can’t use them.
Paleo and Carbohydrates
Given the fact milk is already high in carbohydrates, we can’t condone adding more sugar to an already sweet drink. Consuming foods high in carbohydrates causes a spike in blood sugar, which then leads to a crash, leaving you feeling tired and cranky. You crave more carbs to get your blood sugar back up and it leads to a vicious cycle.
Paleo and Insulin Levels
Spikes in blood sugar also result in corresponding spikes in insulin. Insulin is a necessary hormone that helps us digest sugar, but it also promotes the storage of nutrients as fat and prevents the breakdown of fat for energy. Chronically high levels of insulin lead to insulin resistance: your cells get so inundated with insulin that they stop accepting it and your pancreas has to produce more insulin to compensate. Insulin resistance is a precursor to all sorts of chronic health issues, including diabetes and heart disease.
Don’t believe that chocolate milk is a bad idea? Just ask the Fuming Fuji.
