Did you know that in Medieval England parents would tie rabbits’ feet around their babies’ necks to ward off illness? Doctors would also spit on wounds because saliva was believed to have healing properties.
Indeed, history is replete with unfounded health beliefs, and to everyone’s detriment, the milk myth is among the most tenacious.
Milk is much more than just a drink; it’s a cultural phenomenon that can be traced back thousands of years. And still today, the milk myth resonates loud and clear: in 2001, the average American child consumed 104 quarts of cow’s milk.
Milk depletes the calcium from your bones
The milk myth has spread around the world based on the flawed belief that this protein and calcium-rich drink is essential to support good overall health and bone health in particular at any age. It is easy to understand that the confusion about milk’s imaginary benefits stems from the fact that it contains calcium – around 300 mg per cup.
But many scientific studies have shown an assortment of detrimental health effects directly linked to milk consumption. And the most surprising link is that not only do we barely absorb the calcium in cow’s milk (especially if pasteurized), but to make matters worse, it actually increases calcium loss from the bones. What an irony this is!
Here’s how it happens. Like all animal protein, milk acidifies the body pH which in turn triggers a biological correction. You see, calcium is an excellent acid neutralizer and the biggest storage of calcium in the body is – you guessed it… in the bones. So the very same calcium that our bones need to stay strong is utilized to neutralize the acidifying effect of milk. Once calcium is pulled out of the bones, it leaves the body via the urine, so that the surprising net result after this is an actual calcium deficit.
Knowing this, you’ll understand why statistics show that countries with the lowest consumption of dairy products also have the lowest fracture incidence in their population (there’s more on this later).
But the sad truth is that most mainstream health practitioners ignore these proven facts. I know it firsthand because when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis, my doctor recommended that I drink lots of milk in addition to taking Fosamax.
Fortunately, I did neither, because I knew that…
Cow’s milk is custom-designed for calves
Thanks to our creative ingenuity and perhaps related to our ancient survival needs, we adopted the dubious habit of drinking another species’ milk. Nobody can dispute that cow’s milk is an excellent food source for calves. Weighing around 100 pounds at birth, a calf typically gains approximately eight times its weight by the time it is weaned. But unlike humans, once calves are weaned, they never drink milk again. And the same applies to every mammalian species on this planet.
Also, each mammalian species has its own “designer” milk, and cow’s milk is no exception. For example, cow’s milk contains on average three times the amount of protein than human milk which creates metabolic disturbances in humans that have detrimental bone health consequences.
It’s important to bear in mind that mother’s milk is excellent nourishment for human babies, but its composition is very different from cow’s milk.
Scientific studies show that milk increases fracture risk
Many scientific studies contradict the conventional wisdom that milk and dairy consumption help reduce osteoporotic fractures. Surprisingly, studies demonstrating that milk and dairy products actually fail to protect bones from fractures outnumber studies that prove otherwise. Even drinking milk from a young age does not protect against future fracture risk but actually increases it. Shattering the “savings account” calcium theory, Cumming and Klineberg report their study findings as follows:
“Consumption of dairy products, particularly at age 20 years, was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in old age. (“Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in the Elderly”. American Journal of Epidemiology. Vol. 139, No. 5, 1994).1
And the 12 year long Harvard Nurses’ Health Study found that those who consumed the most calcium from dairy foods broke more bones than those who rarely drank milk. This is a broad study based on 77,761 women aged 34 through 59 years of age.
In the authors’ own words:
“These data do not support the hypothesis that higher consumption of milk or other food sources of calcium by adult women protects against hip or forearm fractures.” (Source: Feskanich D, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA. Milk, dietary calcium, and bone fractures in women: a 12-year prospective study. American Journal of Public Health. 1997).2
Shocking statistics ignored by mainstream medicine
In the Osteoporosis Reversal Program one of the topics I discuss is the complete disregard of scientific evidence that discredits milk and dairy products as the best source of calcium.
One exception is Amy Lanou Ph.D., nutrition director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C., who states that:
“The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are the ones where people drink the most milk and have the most calcium in their diets. The connection between calcium consumption and bone health is actually very weak, and the connection between dairy consumption and bone health is almost nonexistent.”
Surprised? You shouldn’t be, because as I mentioned earlier in this article…
Milk is an acidifying animal protein
Like any other animal derived protein-rich food, milk has a positive potential renal acid load (PRAL) which triggers a protective biological reaction to neutralize all the damaging acidic protein before it reaches the kidneys.
The body is designed for survival, so it sacrifices bone density to protect the kidneys and urinary tract because the latter are essential to survival. And the most readily available source of acid neutralizer is in the bones. So even though milk contains calcium, it ends up sapping your bones of that crucial mineral. But that’s not all because…
Today’s milk is a processed food
Until the end of the 19th century in Europe and the beginning of the 20th century in the US, milk was consumed unpasteurized or raw. Later on, homogenization became the industry’s standard. These processes further alter milk’s chemistry and actually increase its detrimental acidifying effects.
Raw milk advocates claim that if cow’s milk is left “as is” it is a healthy and wholesome drink. It is true that raw milk is less acidifying than processed milk and that pasteurization and homogenization may cause a long list of digestive and other health problems, but I still don’t recommend drinking any kind of cow’s milk.
Nowadays, milking cows are given antibiotics and most are also injected with a genetically engineered form of bovine growth hormone (rBGH). A man-made or synthetic hormone used to artificially increase milk production, rBGH also increases blood levels of the insulin-growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in those who drink it. And higher levels of IGF-1 are linked to several cancers.
This should not be ignored, especially in view of recent information by Samuel Epstein, MD, Professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health, and Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition. In a press release titled “Monsanto’s Hormonal Milk Poses Serious Risks of Breast Cancer, Besides Other Cancers” (June 21, 1998) Dr. Epstein concludes that:
“Drinking rBGH milk would thus be expected to significantly increase IGF-1 blood levels and consequently to increase risks of developing breast cancer and promoting its invasiveness.”
Even though organic milk is from cows that are not given antibiotics or rBHG, if you truly care about your bone health and your overall health, you should…
Avoid drinking cow’s milk
As I explain in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program and contrary to mainstream recommendations, drinking milk and eating lots of dairy products are not the answer to reversing osteoporosis. And while in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program no food is completely off limits, I strongly recommend that you explore the different milk substitute options that I will list for you here.
But first, I’d like to clarify that unsweetened fermented or cultured dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, and sour cream are acid neutral. Yogurt in particular is chock-full of beneficial qualities. As is the case with milk, organic yogurt does not have rBGH, but even several of the most well-known yogurt brands have stopped using the bovine growth hormone (rBGH). You should call your favorite yogurt company to confirm. One more clarification: when I say unsweetened I mean without sugar or any artificial sweetener. However, you can add honey or stevia, a zero calorie plant-derived sweetener that is delicious and alkalizing as well. I like to carry around stevia packets in my purse so that I’m always able to sweeten food or drinks when I’m on the go.
The best milk substitutes
My favorite milk substitute is unsweetened almond milk, not only because it is alkalizing (as almonds are), but also because it’s delicious and tastes very similar to milk. I even cook with it!
If almond milk is hard to get, you can also try rice or soy milk. I strongly suggest consuming only organic soy milk to insure it’s not made with genetically modified soy. There is also some controversy about unfermented soy products, so try to use it in moderation.
What Else Haven’t They Told You?
What else have you been told about bone health by your doctor or other “experts” that is flat out wrong? What other “facts” (like drinking milk does a body good) are keeping you from optimal health?
Myths like these are a big reason I created the Osteoporosis Reversal Program. To give you the straight scoop on how to deal with osteoporosis the natural way.
I can help you take control of your future.
Learn more about the Osteoporosis Reversal Program here →
And remember, if you ever hear someone ask “Got milk?” smile and think to yourself “No, because I know better!”
And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share them with me and the rest of our community by leaving a comment below.
References
1 Cumming RG, Klineberg RJ. “Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in the Elderly”. American Journal of Epidemiology. Vol. 139, No. 5, 1994
2 Feskanich D, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA. Milk, dietary calcium, and bone fractures in women: a 12-year prospective study. American Journal of Public Health. 1997
What a cash cow, book selling, ignorant, fear mongering article. Loosely based on half relevant studies with little to no information. I know the FDA and industry as a whole can be incredibly corrupt and biased studies, and just plan BAD science. Are rampant among nutrition, such as the Canadian egg study that referred to the Yolk years of eggs, akin to pack years of a smoker. And measuring the respiratory disease against yolks consumed. The whole study was a fill in on your own questionnaire, who’s patient sample was from A RESPIRATORY AND HEARt CLINIC with patients ALREaDY receiving treatment. Your on that level…. If you had been nice and just voiced your opinion politely like a real person, I would of just glanced over and thought your heart was in the right place. But people like you is what makes attaining decent nutritional information from the Internet awkward.
Oh yeah on your points on acidity hahaha, I hope you are a vegetarian. But probably not.
Your writing style is horrible. It’s is completely un informative and unsourced. Ok so we know calcium needs a host of conditions to be absorbed correctly, fats also being vital for calcium absorption. Yet none of anything else apart from *countries with high dairy intake have more forearm and whatever* I dislike your writing style and personality so much I refuse to re read your garbage to reference your nonsense. What are the ages and occupations of these cou tries sampled? What is the mean occupation of said participant, or even hobbies, are they manual? Active? What was their life expectancy? What is the countries GDP. What other dietary resources are available to the country on a whole and in average that would affect your narrow minded scope of calcium absorption. What is the quality of the milk, is it pasture fed cows or cattle farmed ith synthetic vitamins and nutrients and other factors such as antibiotics and steroids. How well are these countries dairy farms and food quality regulated?
I was going to quote some of your points, I just can’t be bothered.
“Surprised? You shouldn’t be, because as I mentioned earlier in this article…”
Seriously? You speak like your in a manic episode, and I’d know that much. I’m bi polar. Horrible article, horrible author horribly misconstrued information. Horrible.
I don’t like your writing style 1) un and re are not spaced, and personally this article is very informative. Look at the facts before you say this author is a ” Maniac” or her article is “horrible” because what is said here is true. I have heard a lot about this subject so far and it is a real consequence to drink a lot of milk. By the way have you ever even read the article?
Yes, I am typing on an Ipad hence the mistakes. And when you have a single valid point to raise that does not involve grammar correction or spelling please come and let me know. Yes there are several studies suggesting the negative effects of dairy consumption, as there are several suggesting positive. Milk and eggs are one of the most complete foods on the planet. And unfortunately I did read her article, hence the outrage. Just because she references Journals in a very edited degree does not make it informative? Can you please quote me the solid information this article provides you with?
Not all Studies are equal, and everything can be used out of context and still be true. The fact you choose to dissect my spelling and grammar really does show you have nothing to say. I don’t care if you value my opinion, people are free to believe what they want to believe I just tend to not blindly believe what every person tells me, or use some anecdotal hogwash such as “I drank milk and still developed osteoporosis therefore milk is useless” And I am familiar with the studies she is referencing. It still has 0 validity towards her argument. She is not qualified in any way to be preaching nutrition. How about you go and have this conversation with a Dietitian and see what they say? I hope this was grammatically correct enough for you. I dare you to tell me I spelled dietitian wrong too.
wow, get a fucking life dude, it’s fine you don’t agree, the rest of the intelligent world does…it’s pretty simple science really, you’re not a fucking cow.
Oh and you have “heard” a lot on this subject. Well does fill me with confidence in your opinion. Believe it or not there is a real consequence to drink or eat “too much” of anything.
A lot of her points are just plain wrong also. For example a study on higher protein diets (up to 25% calorific intake being protein). Instead of the RDA of around 15% have studied to show inconclusive results to the effect of acidity on bone density. I’m not saying that calcium release to neaturalise body PH doesn’t happen but drinking milk in moderation is not going to be an acidity issue.
Milk is a wonderfully complete food, complete protein source, a carbohydrate content. As well as the minerals and vitamins to aid in maintaining strong and healthy bones. (Vit D, phosphorous, and ofcourse calcium). It’s also a source of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) again vital for healthy function of the brain and nervous system as well as the synthesis of red blood cells. Also source of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) a key constituent of many cellular processes in humans and animals and vital for the metabolism of energy from food. A keynote here is to know that riboflavin is also destroyed by light so all decent milk manufacturers will sell the product in an Opaque bottle.
Also apart from diet, another huge factor towards bone density is exercise, and specific forms of exercise at that. Ossification (the creation of new bone tissue). Is increased when we take part in impact exercise or strength and conditioning program’s. for example, running being an impact exercise and a compound full body workout in the gym being an example of a resistance program. And example of an exercise that does not neccacerily increase ossification is swimming.
It would quite literally be like me saying “swimming does not improve bone density therefore no one should swim”. That is my analogy of this authors “science”.
As you grow your bones only increase I density until roughly on average the age of 25, after this point it is important to ingest a decent calcium source to aid in maintaining bone density.
Yet none of these factors were even considered in this article, and 0 information givin on any such of these details.
So please retail me with what you have “heard” that makes this article “true”
By the way check your spelling. I truthfully don’t care about your opinion though.
In this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYMExQNosTQ
Kate Rheaume-Bleue talks about her book “Vitamin K2 and the calcium paradox”, explaining that vitamin K2 is needed for distribution of calcium in the body and transportation to bones and teeth. Most Americans are deficient in K2 b/c it isn’t found in meat and milk products anymore, b/c cows used to eat grass and produce K2 in their bodies but nowdays are locked up indoors and fed GMO soy and grains. K2 supplement MK7 is derived from fermented soybeans and MK4 is derived from tobacco plant leaves. K2 supplements come as pills or caps to swallow, fluid, and sublingual to dissolve under your tongue. Besides K2 the body also needs magnesium and vit D for calcium absorption.
If cows milk depletes the bodies calcium, why is it our average height height increased significantly when we began cattle and drinking their milk?
Because cow’s milk is specialized by mother nature to support the health of a cow. A cow’s weight increases by about 8 when after it is weaned on milk. It’s trying to make us as large as a cow.
‘Mother Nature’ – are really including that in an alleged scientific discussion?
Growth hormones in milk, like rBGH. Have you even read the artilcle or what?
You do not have any credentials that you identify that has anything to do with nutrition. Plus you do not list or embed your sources so your work can be verified by the reader who may want to learn more. If milk was not good for us, God would not have designed the breats to supply infants with milk. Before anything else is said, I know the composition is not the same. Cow’s milk is fairly close to a humans though. This blog is illogical with no evidence to support your opinion.
We are the only mammals to continue drinking milk after we are weaned as a infant. We are also the only mammals to drink another mammals milk.
“you do not have the credentials that identify you that has anything to do with nutrition” LOL “god would not have designed…” so your god which probably doesnt even exist is a credible source? even if god did exist, guess what no other animal continues to drink milk as an adult….
Her point still remains that homosapiens produce milk for their infants through the female breasts. If milk was not meant for human beings, it would have no use in existence.
And she can mention God if she wants to.
Milk is good for us.. HUMAN MILK that is…as cows milk is good for COWS.. We are the only mammals that drink the milk of another mammals mammary glands.
My question for the nay sayers of this study is this: WHY does the AAP recommend human breast milk over formula for babies of COWS MILK is sooo good for us?
Meat is good for us…HUMAN MEAT that is…as cow mean is good for COWS…We are also the only mammals who cook and process food. Maybe you would rather eat your eggs and meat and veggies raw and unwashed right from the carcass’s of the animals you hunt/plants you find growing in your yard? While you’re at it, maybe also give up your house, clothes and job? You know, since we’re all going to follow the other mammals.
My question for the yay sayers of this drivel is this: WHY does your common sense lack the most essential trait @ sense?
KTHANKSBAI
You’re all still going to die. Maybe it wasn’t the milk but other things you were poorly doing to your health as well? Perhaps you all just needed that wake up call when your bodies started screaming “HELP ME, SOMETHING’S WRONG” to take the proper care in paying attention to yourself. Could it be a psychological thing? Just because you feel better does it actually mean that your condition has disappeared, or just that the symptoms have subsided? We all know that pain does not strike the same every time and every body reacts different even in different stages of illness. Everywhere you turn you have an article saying “don’t do this, do that instead”! And then you have another article pointing towards the latter! Its crazy and i’m quite frankly fed up. You say do your research and what good is that going to do when you don’t personally know those who have did the studies or their personal motifs??? Even the FDA allows some levels of lies on these food product labels! So, quite frankly you don’t know whats in these products even those labeled ORGANIC. Think about it, if they hide the truth about the non-healthy foods what makes you think they are telling the truth on these so called organic products? Organic foods cost more, so you know those people want to make their profit just as much as those who sell food for cheap. SO, unless you are a rich, ingenious, physician, substance farmer, that knows how to tailor your food to fit your bodies unique genetic compound; what you eat has a 50/50 chance of shortening your life versus prolonging it. Period. Eat EVERYTHING in moderation, drink water like a fish, and POOP often, that’s all I get from every health/diet article I read. Don’t form habits, good, or bad cause they all can kill you. I find the most unhealthy treat one can consume is listening to other humans who are thought to have a brain! We should all thank each other for killing one another with our so called KNOWLEDGE, way to balance out the population. Happy Living.
Oh, my comment was not directed to anyone it was just a general statement. If we all would stop lying to one another maybe we all would be better off. Its hard to know who to trust, can’t even trust your doctor cause so many symptoms are related to so many conditions until we don’t even know what to treat ourselves for. So listen to your body and try to be comfortable until you pass. Stop beating yourselves up and trying to be in perfect health when we were not created in perfect health since conception. Genetically, you do the best you can in taking the stronger dominant traits. So, continue to do the best you can while alive. Stress kills also. Good Luck Everyone
Thank you, Johnny Appleseed. While The pessimistic tone seems really strong at first, you lighten up and drive the point home with your notions of “Do the best you can”, “Listen to your body”, and “Don’t listen to everyone else’s ‘facts'”. I especially like the comment about not forming habits. It puts a fresh perspective on things. There is a health craze sweeping the nation and everyone is capitalizing on it, but few are actually getting healthier. Thank you for presenting a fresh perspective. I would have said the same thing, but I get tired of being “that guy” on these types of threads.
Just look at who funds the studies and research that say milk is beneficial for our health…the dairy industry! Who funds the “Got Milk?” campaigns? The dairy industry! Wake up! These people do not want you to drink milk for your health, they want your money.
Yes the Dairy Industry finances the Got Milk campaign. It’s an advertisement.
Milk is actually very beneficial for your body. It’s rich in protein and good fats and is a great post-workout drink to rehydrate. I’m not sure why you’re all hating on milk.
Oh for fucks sake. Even when the evidence is right under peoples noses… Still they prefer to bury their head in the sand. Honeslty I can’t believe your ignorance. Don’t believe the lies of the government when did they ever inform us and protect us, cigarettes, Asbestos, all so-called safe!!! Stop living in that bubble of yours, the governments are only after MONEY.
Thanks, that’s just what I was going to say 🙂
Haha all i have to say is….wow. Drinking a couple cups of milk post workout has been shown to increase lean muscle mass by up to 15% more than eating meat post workout. Take a tums or 2 everytime you drink milk like I do and you’ll be completely fine. Use your head people.
Yikes! I would strongly recommend against the use of tums on a regular basis (or even at all). Heartburn is often caused by too little stomach acid, not too much. The pH level of the stomach is what triggers the closing of the esophageal sphincter. If the pH is too high, the valve won’t close, causing acid to go up into the esophagus. Your stomach acid is a major line of defense against pathogens, as well as essential for digestion, particularly breaking down proteins. I recommend the book “Why Stomach Acid is Good for You”
I gave up milk last October after watching From Farm to Fridge on youtube. My arthritic symptoms have all disappeared. I don’t miss it one bit!
I find a lot of the conflicting “evidence” difficult to digest… I have chosen not to drink cow’s milk because I have elected not to support an industry that is abusive to animals. I drink plant-based “milks” other than soy and take Calcium + Vitamin D tablets. Since I am a newbie Vegan, I am still struggling with getting the balance right, but after an accident last year which required an Xray I discovered my bones (age 57, female) were osteoporotic, meaning early stages of osteoporosis, and up until this year I had always drunk milk…obviously it was no help to me…
Oops, I meant my bones had evidence of osteopenia… (ie early stages of osteoporosis). I’ll be looking further into your work, Vivian…
The fact that your almost 60 years of age has nothing to do with it? My grandpa bought a Brand new car in 1948, we was not surprised in 1998 that it crapped out, after taking care of it and everything. we get old, we wear out, plain and simple, I am 30 years old but due to 13 years active duty Army, I feel like an old guy, not due to the fact I drink milk, but wear and tear takes its toll. It IS that simple. I
This article states in the first few paragraphs that cheese, but NOT MILK and yogurt, has a high PRAL. Calcium is neutralizing. Fruits and vegetables are not only neutral, they have a negative PRAL. If we eat too much meat or other protein, besides vegetable sources, our body takes calcium from our bones to balance the pH of all the acidifying protein. This calcium shows up in your urine. If you eat a neutralizing diet, high in fruits and veggies, organic milk is probably fine for you. I don’t drink milk anyway, but it is just plain wrong to say that milk is acidifying according to this study. Cheese is the real culprit.
https://jn.nutrition.org/content/128/6/1051.full.pdf+html
BEST #1MILK IS COCONUT MILK.Also coconut oil,and coconut flour help to keep people healthy.
humans are only mammals that drink milk all their life, why is that. I’m 56 years old and never like any dairy products occasionally very seldom yes but I eat lots of veggies and meat, so far I don’t even have a doctor and none of those symptoms described in dairy consumption, I know long time ago about milk, raw goat milk is a much better choice
We’re the only species that drinks milk our life for the same reason we’re the only species who has been to the moon, we’re the smartest animal. And milk isn’t bad for you take a couple tums when you drink it or eat some green veggies. Idiots!
Thinking tums fixes the problem because they have calcium in them makes you the idiot. Leave the science to the people who have studied it, all sources of calcium are not equal.
Hmmm, if you have to take Tums in order to consume milk (or anything) then perhaps we have a problem!
Personally Ive always thought milk was disgusting and hated when school (I like in the UK) forced me to drink it. We are not supposed to drink cows milk. Do you see any other animal drinking another animals milk? And why on earth do humans think its weird to drink human milk, you know the stuff we’re supposed to drink?
I find this totally INSANE and the advertising companies have sure got a lot of people whipped exactly how they want them: to line their pockets. Same with the fluoride issue… this stuff makes you ill in the long term. Makes me sick at how much junk we have around us to choose from and natural produce is disappearing fast….
PS Sugar should be as illegal as heroin…. kills a lot more people too. There, rant over 🙂
amethyst30 U are so Right, and I’m so glad u left this message. Because is the Truth and people need to hear it. We don’t suppose to drink or eat from any other specie. We don’t even suppose to eat other species. Dairy,Meat,&Flouride is Poison. People Need to learn to go with the Opposite of what dey been taught. Because it makes Moor Sense. I mean why would dey tell u the Truth. Dey gits no Money when u in Good Health. Dey feed chu dis shit so when u git sick u go to ur doctor, den dey feel u up with poison. Nature is the Right Way. I Eat only what Mama Earth grows. I been dis way for 2 years now. Don’t git sick no Moor, or go to doctors. Mama Nature is my doctor. Love&Peace
Sugar is Poison too. It clogs the Pineal Gland…
Milk has crack in it,,,im sorry the phR of milk chemicals property emulisfies the baking soda compounds of a+b and makes it addicting. Using fancy words makes me sound smart. I wish i could put a pic of someone else in a doctors outfit and post to make me sound smart. Eat your tree bark and twigs and berries because your still single and feel depressed about yourself. Cheers.
You stated that milk acidifies the bodys pH. This is confuted by this research;https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22081694
Eventhough this is just one artikel, there is furthermore no evidence that ca+ is responsible for the pH-homeostasis. There are different mechanisms as through the respiration or the blood-buffer itself who contribute to a stable pH of our body fluids.
There are many more points in this article who are just not true, to me it seems just like an advertise for people to buy your books.
Nothing else.
Excuse my bad english, this is not my mothertongue.
I love this article,and is struggling hard with my son who is 17 years old and got lymphobastic lymphoma. I know milk is cancer feed. Me took I am actually suffering from numbness and I know it is inflammatory of my bones. I wish i could quit milk and become real vegan, but need to know how to go about it. This site will help me more hopefully. Thanks Vimala
U can go Raw Vegan. It is all up to u. U have to have Will Power. U can Strengthen it one step at a time by substituting. Instead of cows milk use Almond milk (Blue Diamond) or Coconut milk. Something Naturally from a plant. It Dairy Free,Soy Free,etc. Dey have Vegan Cheese, dey have Vegan and Veggie burgers,dogs,Chicken patties, etc. in publix, in wholes food,etc. dey out dere u just have to look for it. My Health is my 1st priority. I’m Healthy/Heal-Thy Self. Nature is the Way. Meat,Dairy,Sugar,Flouride, and Processed Food are only going to make things worst. If not now I guarantee in the long run. ACT NOW, NOT LATER WHEN IT’S TO LATE. Love&Peace
Another thing is. Make sure u look at Ingredients. Know what chu putting inside ur body. Dere is a lot of MSG’s and GMO’s.
Make ur health important to U. Because if its not to u. it’s not to anyone else. U are ur Own Healer. U just needed to know how. And Nature is How. Love&Peace
It is laughable how statistics are used these days. What were all the variables of the study? What were other factors. Did the study include correlation to activity in sports to fractures. Do countries that have less fractures have less organized sports? Do countries with less fractures have less media representation of physical activities. Do countries with less fractures have less people reaching elderly age, where bones become more brittle?
I’m not saying anything about milk. However, the use of studies without first understanding ANYTHING about the study itself is irresponsible and you should be ashamed.
I must agree. I am less concerned about what is said about milk and more about what is true and how it is “proven”. Ever since I started looking into the pros and cons of milk, I’ve seen nothing but “Studies Show”, but nothing about the complete study: how it was done, who it was done on, other results, or most importantly, Counter evidence.
Cannot believe some of the crazy comments….all of a sudden we have people that think they are doctors….been on board with Vivian for
several years, and her advice stands well with me.
I have had improvements on my bone scan as proof. Before I met Vivian
they were poor. I certainly did not want to go on those meds. Actually,
I tried it for 2 months, with bad side effects.
Vivian’s “Save Our Bones” helped me, and many others. Keep up the good work and keep the emails coming.
Many, many Thanks, Allison
Thank you for your encouraging words, Allison! I am genuinely glad that you have found improved health on the program.
I am a doctor. Calcium is not a major player in blood pH homeostasis, and pH is not a significant part of calcium regulation. Somebody just made that up.
No one needs to be a Dr. to see what and when some food or drink is bad for their body if they pay attention. I know people that just do not believe it even when it happens time after time, just because some Dr told them they should not worry about and keep prescribing some medicine that far from helping gives them more problems to go back to the Dr again . Are you one of the doctors that still recommend fluoride?
I Love ur comment. This is Very True. Keep giving dem real Knowledge/Know before u walk off Ledge. Love&Peace
Anyone interested in this should put “Milk Osteoporosis” into the search engine at the Cochrane library which is the finest resource on the Web for evidence-based medicine. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cochranelibrary/search
There is little or anything there to support the original article.
This is pretty interesting.. I just found out that my ob/gyn I’ve known for years is a vegan. I’ve been having some weird health issues, and told her that I rarely eat meat and may just give it up and see if anything changes and that I was trying to get more veggies into my diet. She told me if I changed my eating habits, it would probably help with most of my problems. She also told me about the studies showing casein is a carcinogen… She’s one of the smartest people I know, so I knew it would be worth looking into..
Isn’t amazing how defensive people get when you put something that challenges their core beliefs? I gave up milk many years ago after reading something about casein … I have been ridiculed and criticized many times for my decision so it’s refreshing for me to read this. I feel so much better without it, no mucus and a clear head was the biggest difference I found, and nowadays all the steroids and antibiotics that animals are being injected with, I am so glad I made that decision. Thanks for sharing.
Good for you for making your own health decision, Karen! Bravo.
Your own health decision… based on inflammatory and poorly-researched articles like this one. Maybe you should drink sheep’s milk.
maybe you should drink shut7hoursup
Keep doing the Right thing Karen. I Love when people Help dey self to Good Health. Love&Peace…
The fact that you provided articles is much appreciated. Are these in the public sector, or are they in password protected databases. If they’re available, please link me!
That comment was directed at the commenter below me who had articles disproving that milk is harmful. I think my bones are fine with milk thanks.
Dr. Epstein’s 1996 paper mentioned in this article was a beneficial study for it pointed out issues in the Food and Drug Administration research. Saying, that IGF-1 in rBGH milk MAY be a potential risk factor for both breast and gastrointestinal cancer, however Epstein admits that currently “critical information on a wide range of potentially adverse health effects of IGF-1 is still unavailable” and suggests further research. For this article to base its argument that rRBH milk increases risk of cancer is un-scientific, for newer papers have found no link. In fact both Chagas et al 2012 and Parodi 2005 concluded that milk does not increase the risk of breast cancer. Chagas et al 2012 goes on to say that milk among other dairy products actually reduces the chance of breast, bladder and colon cancer, nor does it increase the risk of prostate cancer. The study suggests that the recommended daily allowance of milk and other dairy products is safe and in fact beneficial. Parodi 2005 provides evidence from more than 40 case-control studies and 12 cohort studies, all supporting no association between dairy product consumption and the risk of breast cancer.” For Vivian Goldschmidt to base her argument against cow’s milk on such out of date evidence is highly misleading.
Furthermore, Schuette et al 1982, Hu et al 1993, Heaney et al 2003, McCabe et al 2004, Baran et al 2005, Jay and Forrest 2010 and Josse et al 2012 are all studies which show a beneficial effect of cow’s milk on bone health. Additionally, Tavani et al 1995 and Chan et al 1995 both found that dairy products did not have a significant negative association with hip bone fractures. The papers mentioned in this article on fracture risk in relation to calcium both suggest further research into their findings about the negative effect of cow’s milk on bone health. Feskanich et al 1997 suggests it may be something else in women’s diet or the milk’s protein. Newer research has established that it is not the milk’s protein, nor its acidity, for although dairy foods are of animal origin they are actually alkaline ash. Whereas other animal products including different kinds of meat, fish and eggs have predominantly acid-forming elements and are prone to produce acids in the body. This links animal protein and non-dairy animal protein to urinary calcium excretion. However, Jay and Forrest 2010 and Schuette et al 1982 both found that a high-protein diet with adequate calcium, fruits and vegetables is beneficial for bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Therefore it is not the acidifying proteins found in milk which reduces calcium in the bones as milk is ash neutral but non-dairy proteins and animal meat, which causes increase calcium in urine. This can be compensated by increasing calcium intake.
Of course there are many studies which find no evidence that milk increases bone density and reduces fractures: Lanou et al 2005, Weinsier and Krumdieck 2000 and Owusu et al 1997. However, these papers do not say that milk increases fractures just that cow’s milk has no affect on bone health. Even so the evidence behind milk reducing the chance of cancer and providing essential vitamins and minerals for those with poor diets far out ways the potential neutral non damaging affect milk may have on bone structure (Weaver et al 2009).
Thought I would re-post this so people who can’t be bothered to sift down about 100 comments do not have to :P.
Whether you consume cows milk or almond milk its not going to change the fact that we all will die someday because it is a part of life. The way I see it, eat and drink what you want and enjoy life and if you feel that giving up cows milk will give you a better quality of life, then more power to you and that is your choice. However Preaching and jamming these facts down peoples throat isn’t helping anyone and is a waste of your breath. My friend’s boyfriend is a vegan and has been pressing the argument above on me every time I visit them and it’s getting very old. I understand that he is just concerned about whats best for me and my health but I feel that if I choose to consume milk, eggs, meat etc. I will do so because it’s my choice and I will do what makes me happy.
Mallory– Seriously????? I would hope that you are really not that shallow and grossly ignorant… but maybe you are… Too bad.. You have alot to learn.. maybe you can start by not acting like a 4th grader!
you are awsome…agreed!
Although we all die for me it´s important to live as long as possible but be productive and feel good without painful disease that cripples us. It´s a fact that the western diet which is based primarily on animal products makes us in the U.S. probably the least healthy people on earth (#1 in obesity and and diabeties in children). I am an American living in Mexico and now Mexico became #2 in the world in both these categories, since they gradually adopted the western diet. Most vegetarian and vegans once consumed animal products and now feel better for it. They can judge from personal experience. Most western dieters never experienced the other side, so all they can base their decisions on are conflicting studies that support their style of life. To know if a a diet free from animal products is the best for you…you really need to experience it.
lol no ones jamming facts down your thought lmao you choose to read this artical now eat it and sthu!!!!
Quick! All aboard for the next big thing!
Eggs are healthy –I mean bad for you– I mean healthy– bad for you–!!!
Meat is healthy –I mean bad for you– I mean healthy– bad for you–!!!
Dairy is healthy –I mean bad for you– I mean healthy– bad for you–!!!
My sister *slap* my mother *slap* my sister . . .
Here’s an idea: Eat good, natural food and stop trying to TELL EVERYONE ELSE WHAT TO EAT AND HOW AND WHEN AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS. Just a thought.
Right on the money, salute to you.
Our grandparents drank milk all their lives, ate saturated and trans fat yet they lived longer than their grandsons…. My grandmother used to cook in animal fat and she lived to 90 something years old.
You do realize that you just made a completely idiotic statement– right????
Similar to something as stupid as… Oh my Mommy smoked 12 packs of cigarettes a day and lived to be 130..Therefore… cigarettes aren’t a problem..
Jesus.. please get educated…
What’s hilarious is that you insulted his intellgience and yet, at the same time, your statement about cigarettes doesn’t work for you.
Some people have been smokers their whole lives and never experienced any cancer / heart / lung / mouth / nasal related problems.
So, basically, you’re right on the money and you are agreeing with his point.
Good job!
😀
There a cons and Pro In drinking milk. I found this interesting article in a vegetarian site.
Cow’s milk is the food source for a calves… and they will only drink it until weaned.
Humans are the only animals to drink the milk of another species, and we are also the only species to drink milk past infancy. Just a little perverse when you think about it, doesn’t it?
Unfortunately a lot of what we know about cow’s milk and dairy is in tune to the song sung by the dairy industry. Most of us have strong attachments to milk due to the emotions they capture during their marketing when we were children. There is a growing community that believes dairy products are considered a separate food group (instead of being included with the other animal products) not because of their nutritional advantage, but due to the lobbying of the dairy industry.
Sure dairy taste delicious, but sometimes conventional thinking really can leave a sour taste in your mouth.
https://vegetarianbody.com/should-dairy-moove-over/
Well-put, Michael!
That’s not true at all. Kittens will suckle off dogs. I’ve seen pigs suckle off of a tiger. You’re statement is simply not ture.
We are also the most intelligent species on this planet.
We are not savage animals running off of complete sub-conscious action and reaction.
clearly we are not the most intelligent species
It is interesting that you villanize milk while touting soy milk as an alternative. While all pasturized milk is very unhealthy for you, real raw milk from your local organic farmer is healthy and nutritious. The fact is – know where your food comes from. I bet you don’t know how or under what circumstances your “almond” milk was made?
BTW – 99% of soy grown in the US used to make your precious “soy” milk is GMO – genetically modified organism – shown in studies to cause cancer. Please do your research and don’t scare and inflame the public with unfounded and dangerous ideas.
Think and do research for yourselves people – don’t believe everything you read on the internet – especially this site.
The author of this article mentioned all of your arguments…
Where are you getting your statistics? I don’t believe 99% of soy milk is GMO. My local grocery store (not a health food store) offers a wide variety of soy milk. At least half of the containers say that the milk IS ORGANIC.
The whole genetically modified seed causing cancer thing turned out to be flawed. I believe there were issues with their controls in that study. Seeds have been genetically modifying themselves for thousands of years and there is nothing wrong with eating them calm down. It is pretty much just a marketing tool now but you’ll be fine whether you eat and apple that is “genetically modified” or “organic.” rBGH and all those hormones and antibiotics are a different story though. Probably a good idea to stay away from that stuff.
Soy in general is bad for you and very high in estrogen. Soy is subsidized and is a major ingredient in most of the unhealthy processed foods that are made.
First of all a big thank you to you, my dear, for the info!!!!! Secondly, I must admit I am stunned. A couple of months ago, I stopped drinking milk, but when I informed my doctor of my decision, I was told to go back to drinking milk immediately, and his reason for that was “Vitamine D” not “Calcium” if I remember correctly. After a lengthy discussion and reasoning, finally I was recommended to use “Lactaid” instead of milk.
What do you think of lactaid? Is it any better than milk, or should I stop?
Thanks,
Mohammad Popal
Vivian thanks to your advice/research I now only drink almond milk and make sure my natural plain yogurt contains whey.
Wait a minute! WHEY is a milk product!
Whey is a milk product. WOW.
It is a matter of overtime, and the results show where animal protein results in high cholesterol, blockage of arteries, and heart disease. It is not the way to get calcium. There are certain plant foods that do have calcium such as Broccoli. Raw almond nuts, (10 only) eaten at times, give calcium, and vitamin E. We get the facts from the true Nutritionists, and experts like Vivian who has studied extensively and who seeks to help our world. I thank God for her, and appreciate all her kind, loving and caring efforts to “not take away from us” but to help us. She is spending time, to give us beneficial information which are facts.
Correlation does not mean causation. Modern milk products may be detrimental to health, but consumption of dairy products in general was widely used among traditional societies of the past, both in Africa and Europe, with no history of causing health problems.
The argument on animal protein and calcium excretion is speculative (a hypothesis not a fact) and another explanation to the observed correlation between calcium secretion and animal protein, could be that those same proteins lead to a greater calcium uptake in the first place.
Funny but in the past when I drink milk I got diarrhea.That is an intestinal disorder.I stopped drinking milk long ago. Now I tend to agree with the finding that milk is not for humans but for baby cows.I have been drinking almond milk without any side effects.
This is mostly due to a lactose intolerance…
just because he states a fact doesn’t mean he’s arrogant. I’ve been taking a statistics class and one thing my teacher repeats to our class over and over is that Correlation does NOT mean causation. In order for causation to actually be found, they are going to have monitor people who drink cow’s milk VERY carefully. Like the whole broken bones thing; maybe those who weren’t drinking cow’s milk took OTHER additional precautions to avoid injury, did you think of that? it seems to me that’d make sense. You care about your diet, you’d care about your health, obviously.
Andreas… please… you are as ignorant as the day is long…. dangerously so!!
Is he really? Your reply was empty and provided no real intelligent response to his statement.
Perhaps you ought to re-think your plan of action next time to call somebody an idiot.
That or you can cut off your hands and not reply to anyone as you just did, ever again.
yup
Hi Vivian, just want to say thank you again for all the information. I stopped drinking cows milk and started making my own almond milk, also started drinking organic coconut milk, just wanted to know if coconut milk is a good substitute to take as I love the taste of it.. Thanks
Vivian, I stopped using milk products about 5 years ago, because of pain in a hip joint. The pain subsided, and gaining the knowledge that you give I am so happy to be a vegan. Thanks a lot for your efforts in spreading facts about healthy living . Rosemary
You are most welcome, Anna and Rosemary! I am glad you are part of the community. 🙂
Vivian, take 2 tums everytime you drink milk and then all this information is completely useless. Soy milk will cause cancer, not cows milk, 90% of the soy grown in the US is a genetically modified crop. And btw, places where they drink less milk have less sports because the countries are less developed, that’s why less people suffer from bone fractures. Your information is very skewed.
I use sweetened Almond milk which I prefer to the unsweetened one. Apart from the extra calories is this still better for you?
Hi Lynette, unsweetened plain almond milk is better than the sweetened, moreso because sugar such as brown and white sugar is bad for one’s health, and heart. As a substitute for sugar, you can get organic pure maple syrup, and/or unsulfered black strapp molasses, or liquid Stevia as natural healthy sweeteners. I use the almond milk in one minute rolled oats, with a few dates, and a squirt of Maple syrup, and two Tbsp., ground flax seeds for breakfast.
Some of the almond and soy milk contain carrageenan and it is bad for you,look it up..also Vit A Palmitate is bad for the bones….silk unsweetened has no carrageenan but has palmitate…carrageenan is even in toothpaste..why do they put that crap in our products..
Naturopathy says, A food product in its natural state is the best. For example milk is best, Curd (Yogart) is better and buttermilk-preparations are good. Now some scientific research hypothesize [does not prove]that yogart may be better than milk. There are studies that proves milk is good. For hip-fracture, as in all physical troubles,only material food can not be the sole causation. Multi-caution and multi-rfects is an accepted principle of Logic (Scientific Method); Scientific Method provides only probable truths. If dairy, (that is, animal product) is acidic and not good, then meat is also not good diet; Human’s teaths [no Cannines] and intenstines are not custom-built for flesh food; So The Human should eat only organic vegitarin food. Science and doctors are confusing entities. not
For god sake, take a look in the mirror at your teeth, which incidentally look like that of a wolf (meat eater) and not a cow (veggie ). Also our stomachs are closer to that of a dog (meat eater) than that of a chimpanzee (veggie). If meat (and milk for that matter) were bad for us we would have stopped eating it long ago.
Aahhh yes, just like smoking… if that were bad for us, we woulda stopped a loooong time ago… That’s some great logic (rolling eyes)
Hm, have you ever looked at a wolf’s teeth? Our teeth don’t look anything like a wolves, just Google it. I encourage you to do some research about the similarities between humans and herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. I think the information you find will surprise you, whether you accept it or not is up to you.
James… you just make it up as you go along, huh??
Chimpanzees are NOT vegetarian. They most definitely consume meat, even cannibalizing their own species. LOL!
Many thanks I have stopped taking milk and am passing the message on to my relatives, Eleanor
My daughter-in-law gives her girls (aged 3 and 4 years) milk, and I am not too sure how she might respond if I told her of your recommendations!! I think I will forward your article to her and see what happens.Thank you very much.
Re/ milk: I’ve cut my milk consumption in half–to 1 and a half glasses a day, but find it hard to stop craving more animal protein from other sources. I use almond milk to put my calcium intake up to the equivilent 3-4 glasses a day. When I tried to cut ALL milk, I felt a craving-to up my protein, some from fish, some from nuts, seeds, legumes, and grains. I allow myself 1 oz. of lowfat cheese a day, but cannot go lower. I understand that one needs about 55 grams of protein a day. If I try to go lower, I hunger for it.
Some authorities say that you cannot absorb the calcium well from other sources of it as opposed to milk. I eat a very healthy diet, high fiber, vegetables, greens, and fruits.
What do you say? What are some reasonable sources of calcium?
Joyce
How about eggs? eggs are dairy product but an article recommend to take more than 5 eggs a week to have enough Omega 3 fatty acid and vitamin D. Should I take more than 5 eggs a week??? thank you
eat as many eggs as you want. They are nothing but nutritious and contain only good colesterol. Try not to worry so much about your diet as long as you are eating real food. Try to limit those tv dinners, mcdonalds and things like that.
To me Almond Milk has a horrible taste.
I have been drinking raw goat’s milk—is that as detrimental as cows milk?
I was hooked on goats milk for a year or two until a dietician showed me the high sodium content in goats milk compared to cows milk. Since I control my blood pressure naturally, I elected to limit my intake of goats milk to about a litre every two months. I stopped drinking cows milk some 15 years ago and my respiratory health improved greatly.
ive got ospreosei hurt all over
i am on sterolds made me put on such a lot of waight when i come off of them
will i fill betteri only con plained because i couldnt lift my arms up arms not bad, but the rest of me stiff all over its since being on sterolds they make me so tire iam buying armond milk does that help dont like cows milk
thanks june
How about Goats Milk ?
Why do you never mention strontium? I take 680mg a day and my bones are getting stronger! Bones are also made up from strontium, not just calcium!
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/529691_10152529517250144_960046693_n.jpg
learn the truth about milk.
Oh, I’m not drinking milk! Don’t want to — I find it not a good food for humans. My point is that research shows that eating “non-acid” foods does *NOT* change your blood PH. You don’t get “metabolic acidosis” from eating red meat, etc. Vivian touts a list of alkilyzing foods, but the research says that doesn’t “help” our body’s PH. That’s what’s confusing — all the contradictory rhetoric and research. As my research said in an earlier post, “The alkaline diet hypothesis is not supported by scientific evidence.” Not supported… Sigh.
I am far from the only one who believes in the now-proven scientific fact that pH levels have a huge effect in the body! 🙂 World-renowned scientists and doctors like Lynda Frassetto, Debbie Sellmeyer, and many others from around the world not only believe that foods have an effect on pH levels; they also study it in-depth. 🙂
Have you read this recent post? In it, I write about a study that shows the importance of a pH-balanced diet with regard to bone health. Here it is if you’d like to read it:
https://saveourbones.com/use-this-double-weapon-against-osteoporosis/
Thank you for your reply, Vivian, but the National Institutes for Health (NIH) claim that foods do *NOT* change our body’s PH. Here is their link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22081694
I still don’t drink milk, and I love the Dencersizes, and I feel your program is doing a lot of good. But the science is so contradictory…..
Your body is designed to maintain an optimal pH level which cannot be altered by the food you eat. Your body will do what it needs to to ensure homeostatis. The fact that you are saying food can change your pH proves that you do not know what you are talking about.
Another great book is Alkalize Or Die by T.A Baroody which everybody should read (in particular the ignorants claiming they know it all). As for the cow’s milk – we’ve all been fooled by dairy industry and pharmac.corporations, all going hand in hand and their only purpose is profit, not people’s health!! I never liked milk anyway. The ones that defend the animal’s milk consumption should also think about the “compassion”-aspect towards the animals being brutally exploited and slaughtered!! The dairy industry is as bloody as the factoryfarming (meat) industry – all the animals end up in slaughterhouses after being exploited and tortured from the day they were born to their (horrific) deaths… it’s sad that most people rather look away and laugh at the ones that try to do something good. Finally, it’s not all about the pH and Ca++ in the milk, but the way of life, it’s about people’s mindset, compassion (horribly exploited animals) etc… Go Vivian, hopefully more people will open their minds and realize they’re just puppets of the big corporations misleading propaganda and their own blindness and selfishness…
I see you recommend soy milk.That is a serious no-no.
Spend time researching soy. It’s far worse than cow’s milk.
I hope you have already moved on from low [saturated] fat diets too.
There’s research out there that says milk and beef and other “acidifying” foods do *NOT* change the PH of our blood. It’s very confusing when there’s such contradictory research. 🙁 Here’s what I found recently:
From: https://www.nutritionj.com/content/8/1/41
Abstract
Background
The acid-ash hypothesis posits that increased excretion of “acidic” ions derived from the diet, such as phosphate, contributes to net acidic ion excretion, urine calcium excretion, demineralization of bone, and osteoporosis. The public is advised by various media [and Vivian here on this website] to follow an alkaline diet to lower their acidic ion intakes. The objectives of this meta-analysis were to quantify the contribution of phosphate to bone loss in healthy adult subjects; specifically, a) to assess the effect of supplemental dietary phosphate on urine calcium, calcium balance, and markers of bone metabolism; and to assess whether these affects are altered by the b) level of calcium intake, c) the degree of protonation of the phosphate.
Conclusion
All of the findings from this meta-analysis were contrary to the acid ash hypothesis. Higher phosphate intakes were associated with decreased urine calcium and increased calcium retention. This meta-analysis did not find evidence that phosphate intake contributes to demineralization of bone or to bone calcium excretion in the urine. Dietary advice that dairy products, meats, and grains are detrimental to bone health due to “acidic” phosphate content needs reassessment. There is no evidence that higher phosphate intakes are detrimental to bone health.
And from another website (citation needed!):
The bottom line is this: no food or beverage is able to change the pH of blood, also known as systemic pH, and food cannot cause metabolic acidosis or metabolic alkalosis; life threatening conditions that can only result under extreme conditions. Calcium balance and therefore bone health, is not affected by ‘net acid excretion’, or the amount of acid that is lost in urine. The alkaline diet hypothesis is not supported by scientific evidence.
with all this scientific BS in the last few decades are we really that better off. People being sick and unhealthy are more so then what they used to be. If my body wants milk I’ll drink it. Apart from sleep deprivation and a few headaches from incessant computer use (self-inflicted) I have not been sick in months and when I do get sick it last a day and I’m fine for another few months. Trust you body if you have an urge for milk trust it. Steer clear of truly unhealthy stuff like the urge for chocolate. To conclude most unhealthiness is the shit we mix with the milk not the milk itself – much could be said about most things. Coffee is my poiso
*poison.
Trusting your body is certainly NOT a good way of ensuring health. Bodily urges are not always, and often in fact aren’t, due to what it needs to be healthy. Imagine the desire for chocolate or sweets for example. And of course if you are used to drinking milk, and have had good experiences (i.e. have enjoyed the taste as a child) then of course you’ll crave it.
Bad advice.
Oh, dear. Now I’ve read about studies that show milk does *not* leach calcium from bones, and an “alkilyzing” diet doesn’t help bones either. Here’s what I found:
From: https://www.nutritionj.com/content/8/1/41
Abstract
Background
The acid-ash hypothesis posits that increased excretion of “acidic” ions derived from the diet, such as phosphate, contributes to net acidic ion excretion, urine calcium excretion, demineralization of bone, and osteoporosis. The public is advised by various media to follow an alkaline diet to lower their acidic ion intakes. The objectives of this meta-analysis were to quantify the contribution of phosphate to bone loss in healthy adult subjects; specifically, a) to assess the effect of supplemental dietary phosphate on urine calcium, calcium balance, and markers of bone metabolism; and to assess whether these affects are altered by the b) level of calcium intake, c) the degree of protonation of the phosphate.
Conclusion
All of the findings from this meta-analysis were contrary to the acid ash hypothesis. Higher phosphate intakes were associated with decreased urine calcium and increased calcium retention. This meta-analysis did not find evidence that phosphate intake contributes to demineralization of bone or to bone calcium excretion in the urine. Dietary advice that dairy products, meats, and grains are detrimental to bone health due to “acidic” phosphate content needs reassessment. There is no evidence that higher phosphate intakes are detrimental to bone health.
ALSO:
The bottom line is this: no food or beverage is able to change the pH of blood, also known as systemic pH, and food cannot cause metabolic acidosis or metabolic alkalosis; life threatening conditions that can only result under extreme conditions. Calcium balance and therefore bone health, is not affected by ‘net acid excretion’, or the amount of acid that is lost in urine. The alkaline diet hypothesis is not supported by scientific evidence.
————–
It’s hard to know who to believe…
Well you can believe this. Calves drink their mothers’ milk until they are weened and they STOP. Babies drink their mothers’ milk until they are weened (or before) and they STOP. My point is even if you drink the milk of the cow at a certain age you need to STOP! Also Mammals drink the milk of their mothers’ and after that they depend on water and nutrition from food…Don’t you think that we, as mammals, should do the same?
No
Philosophy gave us the geocentric world view, fine for the ancient Greeks but ill stick with modern science!
The only truth is to look at the hard facts from studies and not a persons blog. This author has a masters in art? this has nothing to do with nutrition or scientific study or such. The only way to live a healthy life is to follow your doctors instructions and facts found my multiple studies.