Did you know that June is National Dairy Month? It was established in 1937 as a way to promote the supposed health benefits of milk and dairy products.
Yet more and more scientific data keeps bringing to light that dairy does not provide health benefits. In fact, a study further confirms the misinformation about dairy and offers reassurance that Savers are on the right track. Published in Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society, researchers set out to test the long-held misconception that dairy can prevent bone loss and fractures in women across the menopausal transition.
Today we'll take a close look at this fascinating study which further confirms that the Medical Establishment’s recommendations to drink milk for bone health have been wrong all along.
A Study On Dairy And Bone Loss
The authors of the study investigated the relationship between dairy consumption and three very specific outcomes: lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD), femoral neck BMD, and fracture risk. Their work is in part a response to the continued assertion from the Medical Establishment that dairy products offer bone health benefits.
The authors wrote the following about that assertion:
“The 2015 to 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommend that adults consume three servings per day of low- or nonfat dairy products or alternatives (eg, fortified soymilk). However, the relevance of dairy product consumption for longterm bone health has resurged as some observational studies have suggested consumption to be associated with an increased risk of fractures.”1
The researchers specifically looked at women across the menopausal transition, using data about dairy intake, BMD test results, and fractures from the participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Ultimately, they assessed 10 years of femoral neck BMD analysis of 1,109 women and BMD analysis of the lumbar spine for 1,097 women.1
They broke dairy consumption down into four groups based on servings per day:
- Less than half a serving
- 0.5 to 1.5 servings
- 1.5 to 2.5 servings
- 2.5 or more servings
The analysis of the data they used accounted for different outcomes due to race/ethnicity, age, height, weight, smoking status, physical activity, alcohol consumption, calcium use, menopausal status, and total caloric intake.
Synopsis
A study compared daily dairy intake to changes in lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD and risk of bone fracture. Researchers tracked the femoral neck BMD of 1,109 women and the lumbar spine BMD of 1,097 women.
Study Concludes That Dairy Doesn't Improve Bone Health
The findings of this study were so remarkably clear that the researchers put the outcome right in the title of the report: “Dairy intake is not associated with improvements in bone mineral density or risk fractures across the menopause transition.” The authors elaborate in the conclusion, which reads as follows:
“There was no evidence on beneficial effects of dairy intake on annualized rates of femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD loss or risk of fractures among middle-aged women, regardless of baseline menopausal status or method used to classify dairy intake.”1
Regardless of confounding variables (weight, age, supplemental status, etc) the women participating in the study received no benefit from consuming dairy products.1
All those years of advertising about the bone health benefits of dairy were (and are still) wrong. Furthermore, we're learning more about the adverse effects of drinking milk, and fewer people are consuming dairy milk at all. In fact, the biggest milk producers in the United States have recently declared bankruptcy, in part due to plummeting demand tied to increased awareness of the truth about milk.
Synopsis
The study authors found that dairy consumption does not benefit bone mineral density nor reduces fracture risk.
The Truth About Milk
As this study clearly concludes, milk is detrimental to your bones and builds on previous research on milk that has found that it negatively affects bone quality and overall health.
First and foremost, dairy milk is acidifying. Like any acidifying food, consuming too much causes serum acidification that triggers the body's natural mechanism for alkalizing its pH — pulling alkalizing calcium from bones.
That's the reason why studies have linked the consumption of dairy products and increased risk of fracture.2
Furthermore, dairy milk has been linked to health problems including:
- The development of multiple sclerosis3
- Increased risk of breast and prostate cancer4
- Triggering the development insulin-dependent diabetes5
- Allergic response6
In a pH-balanced 80/20 diet, 80 percent of the food should be alkalizing, and only 20 percent acidifying, so it's important to choose nutrient-rich and healthy acidifying foods. Dairy milk, produced commercially via processes that involve hormones, pesticides, and unsanitary conditions, is simply not a healthy addition to your diet.
Fortunately, there are more dairy-free alternatives than ever! The Save Institute recommends almond milk as a replacement for dairy milk in all your recipes and beverages. Other non-dairy milks are also acceptable alternatives, but unlike almond milk, they're acidifying (except for soy milk).
Synopsis
Milk is acidifying, and its impact on your pH results in bone mineral loss. Furthermore, milk is linked to many health conditions, including multiple sclerosis, breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, and allergic response.
What This Means To You
This study comes as no surprise to Savers. The dairy milk industry has spent decades spreading misinformation, even convincing the Medical Establishment to believe faulty data. We are finally seeing the broader understand just how unnecessary and potentially harmful milk is.
Switching to a non-dairy alternative is exactly the sort of diet and lifestyle change that the Osteoporosis Reversal Program teaches. There's no one single simple fix to living a healthier life and building stronger bones, but when you choose a natural drug-free path, every step you take improves not just your bone health, but your overall wellness and quality of life.
Stop Worrying About Your Bone Loss
Join thousands of Savers from around the world who have reversed or prevented their bone loss naturally and scientifically with the Osteoporosis Reversal Program.
References
1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32404792/
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8154473/
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065662/
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21557887
Hi Vivian !…I do not drink milk, but eat some dairy as greek yogurt, cottage cheese & some cheese… are these dairy products problematic for bone loss…and how often & how much dairy be consumed without a problem…Thanks !
Fermented dairy products are not the same as milk, Monica. While plain, unsweetened yogurt is alkalizing, the rest of those foods are acidifying. So it’s not about quantity, but rather, what’s important is making sure you balance them with alkalizing foods 🙂
Curious what you think about grassfed organic milk and/or kefir regarding bone healthy use? I have heard grassfed organic dairy is the way to go if you want dairy. Also isnt kefir akin to yogurt so should be good?
Thank you!
Jeanne, organic milk from grass-fed cows is a better choice than regular milk but still can have detrimental effects on your bones and your health. On the other hand, kefir is fermented, so, as you correctly wrote, it’s akin to yogurt.
The link below takes you to an article about how fermented dairy increases immunity and contains recipes for bone-healthy dips using yogurt:
https://saveourbones.com/boost-your-immunity-this-fall-with-these-3-bone-healthy-dips/
Enjoy!
How about plain Greek yogurt? Is that as bad as milk? I rely partly on Greek yogurt to achieve adequate calcium intake together with vitamin D supplement. I know that calcium supplements can cause calcification of arteries. Therefore as recommended by my physician, I try to get enough calcium through my diet vs supplements. Thankful for your input!
Monica, plain unsweetened yogurt is a bone-healthy food, and it’s actually listed as a Foundation Food in the ORP.
Does cheese have the same effect on the body as milk???
Judy, fermented dairy products such as cheese, can be included in a bone-healthy diet if consumed in moderation.
I unfortunately agreed to the Prolia injections. After a year and a half, I did not take the fourth shot. Within 6 months I fractured 2 vertebrae. Is there any safe way to get off this drug?
I’m sorry that you’re yet another victim of osteoporosis drugs, Jane! A recent study has shown that discontinuation of Prolia (denosumab) actually increases fracture risk. You can read about the study here:
https://saveourbones.com/save-our-bones-bulletin-vitamin-c-trials-for-covid-19-patients-new-insight-into-bone-stem-cells-denosumab-study-finds-increased-risk-of-fracture/
I suggest you follow a pH-balanced diet, exercise on a regular basis to strengthen your bones and manage stress to prevent high cortisol levels.
Is Flax milk good for your bones? I am drinking it to lower my blood pressure and to improve bone density.
Flaxseed is a good source of bone-healthy vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols, Marcia. You can read more about this topic here:
https://saveourbones.com/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-flaxseed/
Would please answer me to this email address please
We’re delighted to answer your question via email. Please check your inbox within the next 48 hours.
I have been drinking almond milk since I’m with you. I do use yougard and home made cheese and curd from cow milk, is it good or not ? Please advise me.
Are you still recommending whey protein, a dairy product?
Please advise. On your enthusiastic advice, I drink it daily in a smoothie. Thank you.
Yes, whey protein is rich in many valuable nutrients. You can read more about it here and get a delicious recipe with whey protein:
https://saveourbones.com/how-much-protein-do-you-need-to-build-your-bones/
Hi Vivian, many thanks for emails,very helpful and uplifting, I only take a moderate amount of milk in tea etc. but here in U.K I pay extra cost for half fat organic milk (certified) .The cows are out on grass 80 days through out the summer,just indoors in bad winter months, it is noted that when they first come out in spring they kick up there hooves and run around with glee, Would this milk be more value in moderation ? again many thanks for all your help and advice, Regards Eileen
I am so confused. My concern regarding almond milk, etc, is the type of calcium added. Is it better to choose one with no calcium at all? Is Tri-calcium phosphate ok? I know Calcium carbonate is a no-no. And what about yogurt? Help!
The addition of inorganic calcium to non-dairy milk is not ideal, but much less detrimental than drinking cow’s milk. Tricalcium phosphate is manufactured by treating hydroxyapatite with phosphoric acid and slaked lime.
If you’d like to avoid it altogether, you can make your own almond milk, oat milk, or any other nut milk with a blender or food processor and a few basic ingredients.
And yogurt is a bone-healthy food, that also boosts your immune system.
If the cows are not injected hormones and antibiotics, then you’re not consuming those undesirable ingredients. And clearly, free-range cattle are healthier than their locked-up counterparts. I suggest, however, that you switch to a plant-based dairy alternative.
Clearly, this study demonstrate that all the dairy products are not efficient for good bone health.
But the design of this study is incorrect, because it is necessary to discriminate between types of dairy products.
A few years ago, studies in Sweeden and USA have showed that some categories of dairy products are detremetal for bone health, whereas some others are cleraly beneficial, including general health.
Going to finance studies which do not discriminate between fermented dairy products (yoghurts, kefir, cheese…) and non fermented (milk and some soft cheese) is wasting money and spreading fake news.
Yet, it is true : it is difficult to change one’s mind, when one has claimed for monthes something which eventually is not completely correct…
Good apetite !
You’re making a good point. Fermented dairy, such as yogurt, is a bone-healthy food 🙂
Thank you for this article. It affirms what I have believed for about 23 years. When I reached age 50, I became untrusting of animal milk, especially cow milk, because I learned that the dairy industry fed hormones to cows in order to produce more milk. All of that added hormone plus the cow’s natural hormone is passed into the milk that humans are consuming. I decided that it was dangerous for humans, especially women, to consume hormones when their bodies were naturally decreasing hormones. I claimed then that dairy hormones were a cause of breast cancer. We stopped consuming dairy milk and as soon as almond milk came on the market, we started consuming it in place of dairy milk. At age 73, my bone density is a +.03.
Thanks for sharing your story, Doris.