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
This is complete bullshit. Your body doesn’t take calcium from your bones to neutalize acids. Your kidneys regulate your bodies acid content. When you consume allot of acidifying foods the acid is buffered from bicarbonate ions in the blood. Your kidneys then produce more bicarbonate ions back into the blood. There is no involvment from the bones whatsoever. This entire article is psudoscience. The statistics showed a correlation between high dairy consuption and osteoperosis. It’s flawed logic to assume that dairy is the cause. Correlation does not equal causation. And you say avoid milk because it’s a processed food? What the hell is almond milk then? Do you milk almond trees? No it’s a proccessed food.
My thoughts exactly! Thank you so much, I was laughing about how absurd this article was.
Actually, James, you can make your own almond milk at home very simply and quickly. Watch a YouTube video if you’d like. I assume you are intelligent enough to look that up? You simply soak raw almonds overnight in water, pulse them in a blender, put in a “nutbag”, which is basically a cloth strainer, then pour the liquid in a container and store. Et voila, homemade, unprocessed almond milk. Dry out the solids in the bag and you have almond flour. Or ya, if you want, you can go buy the highly processed stuff at the store that has added flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, thickeners, and so on andiso forth.
Just like I can take a little bit of time to make my own homemade yogurt or you can go buy some Dora the Explorer brightly colored crazily flavored “yogurt” if you’re so inclined.
You’re obviously an expert on processed food.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22081694
Study that directly contradicts what you’re writing.
Gee look, the article is published by the government who would love for you to keep supporting the dairy and medical industries.
Nope, not published by the government. Just published on PubMed, which is the worlds most popular search engine for all scientific articles and research.
Grammatical error:
“cow’s milk contains on average three times the amount of protein than human milk”
Replace “than” with “as”.
This is interesting, I wish you had posted more references though!
The only thing that makes me skeptical a part from the lack of references is my own experience. When I was 14 I fell over snowboarding and fractured my wrist. When I had an X-ray it showed that only one of my bones had cracked and the other had BENT, the doctor was very surprised and said with the force I had fallen over with to cause the crack in the outer wrist bone (sorry not sure of the precise names) that it was very uncommon for the inner bone to not have a full break or at least a crack. He then questioned me about my diet and I told him how much milk I drink (about 4-5 glasses a day average) and he said that that explained it, I remember this so well, he said that that amount of consumption was what made my bones so strong and was why my inner bone bent instead of breaking/cracking. In the end it was actually detrimental that it bent because it made it harder/longer to heal than if it had broken, but still how could this have happened to me when I drink so much milk if milk actually weakens your bones?!
u recovered quick because u were still young. genetic differences also play a role, perhaps especially strong bones. we’re talking about older people here, who have perhaps already experienced problems with bones. milk is not the cure
To set the record straight, for AnimalsareGreat: Vanilla ice cream is made from the anal glands of a beaver, and a commercial chocolate cake is loaded with sugar,high fructose corn syrup and several hydrogenated oils.The frosting has even more sugar. Go ahead and check this.It will be 100% correct!
Vivian Goldschmidt why do you wear a white coat? Are you trying to look like a doctor and look important enough to dictate? Because i dont see a Dr in front of your name . . .
You didn’t mention that milk has way too much sugar in it, too. No one ever mentions that. It wasn’t until I went on a serious diet that I actually read the milk jug and was shocked. About 12 grams of carbohydrates and sugar. Basically half that of a soda. No one would think that half of a soda with added protein and calcium was healthy… I had to switch to sugar free coconut milk in my protein shakes, instead. And yes, skim milk has the same carbs and sugar as whole milk.
umm.. Soda’s contain way more sugars than that. You are certainly mistaken. And the calorie count of a jar of milk is very less, without added sugars, and that amount is generally used up in daily activities.
Kanwar. The milk in the stores today very well does have added sugars in it and just last year the milk industry was trying to get approved to add asparthame and make it an ingredient that didnt have to be labeled. Look it up.
I tried viewing your site with my new iphone 4 and the layout doesnt seem to be correct. Might want to check it out on WAP as well as it seems most cell phone layouts are not really working with your web page.
https://tincamera16.jigsy.com/entries/general/celebritybbmpinnumbers82
I love the fact that you mentioned all animal species feed their young milk and then are weened from milk! Hello people…. Hey I’m a Christian and American. You can drink what you like. However, a little bit of common sense goes a long way. Breast milk is for baby humans, and animal milk is for baby animals. My little one is allergic to milk protein and since I’m nursing I had to eliminate all dairy. Personally I have never felt better in my entire life, and not to mention I’m losing this baby weight;).
This article is completely flat-out wrong.
Milk is acidic? Are you an idiot?
Yes you are, she doesn’t say milk is acidic. SHe says it creates an acidic environment in your body, which is true. When you take in animal protein your body increases the amount of acid in your stomach to help break it down more quickly. This leaves your body in an acidic state. It needs to be alkaline so it leaches calcium from your bones, thus her statement “milk is bad for you”…
what a load of rubbish, acid in the stomach has nothing to do with body PH levels. This article is full of absolute lies and some comments have obviously been posted by staff. You should be ashamed of spreading such nonsense
Yes it does. I was hospitaled recently for that and had to stay in the hospital 4 days
Well thought out, articulated response. I can see why you go by the alias “balanced opinion”. It may take me a while to peruse all the evidence you’ve listed, but bare with me. I’ll get there.
This article is absolutely retarded and you should feel bad for spreading new age bs concepts
Your name really suits you, has anyone ever told you that before?
also consider the bioaccumulation of radiation fallout from fukushima
Thank you for this! Nothing I haven’t herd before but its nice to know people are waking up. To all those who refuse to wake up and get angery at people who try to show you truth.. just keep drinking your milk, you deserve it.. although your poor children have no choice 🙁
Nothing I haven’t “herd”. HA! I get it! Herd! lol
What is wrong with feminist women these days and their outright hatred for being a woman?
Jesus Christ, why am I not surprised to hear yet another woman slamming the most important, complete, and nourishing drink in nature (outside of water)?
Which just happens to be a feminine drink as it is wholly produced by the female species?
Who or what died and made milk healthy only because of its calcium content? Common sense?
Milk is the most complete, complex food substance in nature. And only a self-hating feminist would not take pride in this fact.
It’s an insult to logic to compare milk to an almond (… please drink all the Breeze almond milk that you want — it’s delicious — just don’t be surprised that a straight-thinking male is utterly repulsed by what you’re saying).
Respectfully Jim,
the world was once flat. A little research is all it takes. Or are you tied to the farming industry ? 100 million pus cells per glass was more than enough for me. 45% increased risk of hip fracture in post-menopausal women (Nurses’ Health Study) in the milk drinking group, should also be more than enough, that “Got milk?” = “Got osteoporosis”. No other mammal drinks another species milk. When you think about it, it’s ‘udderly’ gross
Just because no-one has said it yet, THANK YOU for that pun.
No other species cooks food either. How is your raw diet? If you think humans aren’t different than other species then there is your first problem.
You sound like you have mommy issues.
LOL
Definitely.
I’m a feminist, and wouldn’t touch the stuff. And because I am a woman, and a mother, and one that breastfed my children, I fully comprehend the cruelty and absolute absurdity that goes along with ‘milk’. Why would you think that women would be more sympathetic to the dairy ‘industry’? I think women are more sympathetic to the poor mama cow, a mama that has had her baby taken away from her, a mama, that very likely has mastitis, which is a VERY painful breast infection, and a mama that cries and cries and cries for her baby, as she herself is likely sent to slaughter. ALL Mother’s milk is specifically ‘designed’ for her particular baby. There is no reason at all why we should need to nurse cross species, and still be nursing into adulthood.
Jim, why don’t you just crawl underneath a cow, jam an udder in your mouth and get your milk that way? Then maybe you would see how ridiculous it is for a human to be drinking milk from another species. Try it on a dog or cat, their milk is perfect too right?
I would just like to point out that your arguement on the hormones and antibiotics that cows are injected with is completely flawed. You see, the cows have to be INJECTED with them. These things can’t be taken oraly, which means it can’t be transferred oraly. Therefore the antibiotics and hormones they cows are injected with could not have any effect on the human health.
Another uneducated comment. If you are injected with anything, it then goes into your blood stream which then is routed to the rest of your body. Injecting something is simply a more direct way to enter your body vs. digestion. When you eat something it is digested then enters your blood stream. So basically injection does the same thing except stronger. look it up for hells sakes. I cant believe the stupidity of people sometimes, Jesus Christ….
Not always the case. Some medications are orally inactive and are neutralized by saliva or stomach contents. Some things can only be taken in through injections.
That being said I am against the hormones….
Thank you for this article. I have been an avid milk drinker all of my 50 years… and what do I have to show for it? Osteoporosis! Severe osteoporosis. Since diagnosis I have learned much about our diets, and one change (among many) that I have made is to stop drinking cows milk. I enjoy almond milk and the switch was easy. I am not anti-dairy, I still enjoy organic yogurt, sour cream, and butter. In talking with people since my diagnosis, I have found it to be like talking to brick walls- people have their diets ingrained since birth and are not into changing it. This will happen when they receive a health crisis I suppose. And yes- this info is not new, it is all over the www! Research for yourselves as I have- it’s easy!
Can anyone show me where to find any studies related to the claims presented in this article?
https://www.tcolincampbell.org/courses-resources/article/milk-and-prostate-cancer-the-evidence-mounts/?tx_ttnews
Forks over knives / forks over knives extended interviews good documentaries
https://www.notmilk.com/kradjian.html
Vivian…
I like this article/essay, whatever it is. And I believe that milk isn’t good for you for various reasons, but not that it’s particularly dangerous either. I believe this because I’ve been told this by what I view as a reliable source.
What would done this text so much better is if you had disclosed some reliable sources or just had some references. Most people are skeptical towards such information as this, so I believe this is necessary in this case. I see that there are some citing here and there, but why not put all your sources at the end of the text so the readers could have a proper overview of them..
Also I tend to uphold my natural skepticism when the arguer only seem to argue for one side. To me it feels more trustworthy if you also write about the positives sides of milk, e.g. that is high on protein and relatively cheap..
And also no soy for men. Look it up.
Fortunately we have the internet where we can find reliable sources in scientific and scholarly articles. But most of us who read texts like this want to avoid this.
But anyway, thanks for interesting information and a nice text.
No-one has mentioned in detail another ethical reason to avoid milk, the millions of 2-3 day old male calves that are redundant to needs as the world gobbles up THEIR milk.
How can you push such a strong argument without any specific professional references from journals, studies, or really any person at all?
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I drink milk only because it’s what was given to me in school and at home and I was told it was good for me (same as that we should have our 5 a day), it was just a given and what should be done. I have never questioned it or looked into why.
I think it’s worth looking at both arguments and the research behind it and make the decision of what you choose to eat and drink based on that. And if anyone hasn’t read the China Study or watched Forks Over Knives then it is definitely worth doing so.
THIS IS BULLSHIT!
I’ll believe you when I see some references.
I have been a milk drinker since birth, I have fallen of trees and 2 story construction sites, never have broken a bone in my body, not to mentioned my immune system, hardly get sick!!!
in the bible states that Israelites fled Egypt to go to the (LAND OF MILK AND HONEY)
that tells me that back then the drank milk!!! milk has been a part of my life and it always will be, so please people stop telling lies and rubbish about our milk!!!
Yes…if the bible hints that milk might be good, you should ignore any other facts regarding it. It is, of course, the best scientific study ever conducted and a very reliable source. Please keep screaming about milk because you feel threatened about some information that might or might not be absolutely true. Do your research.
Lots of references here:
https://www.notmilk.com/kradjian.html
Thank you for posting this! A lot of people are unfortunately ignorant when it comes to the facts about dairy. Most people don’t even realize that some of the best sources of calcium comes from vegetables and one cup of rice milk has just as much calcium as cow’s milk. Great Job!
I don’t quite understand the discussion on acidity. Milk’s pH is around 6.5 to 7. Gastric acid pH is around 1.5 to 3. If milk is acidic enough to sequester bone calcium because of an pH drop, then that’s saying all food that passes through the stomach sequester calcium from our bones. If this is true, then milk shouldn’t get the spotlight on this. Losing bone calcium may a biological phenomenon.
While I agree that milk as a calcium source is debatable (the form of calcium might not be readily used by our body), milk is still a valid affordable source of protein and fat that most people around the world need. Protein is heavily degraded in our stomach because of the acidic environment, breaking it down into amino acids for us to absorb. If there were indigestible proteins, we’d excrete them. There are dangerous indigestible proteins, but it is highly unlikely to find them in milk because it is a biologically-produced, biologically-ingested substance that is subjected by natural selection pressures.
Regarding rBGH (I don’t support Monsanto products, btw), you inject them in cows but they don’t get secreted in their mammary glands.
Calcium for calcium’s sake is not enough. You need Vitamin K to help incorporate it into bones.
I live on a dairy farm and let me assure you there are NO antibiotics in milk. If a cow is treated with antibiotics her milk must be thrown away. Every truck of milk is tested for antibiotics when it goes to the plant. If a truck tests positive for antibiotics the milk gets thrown away and the samples that the milk truck driver takes from each farm are tested to be traced back to the source. The farmer then has to pay for the entire load that was lost. Farmers have very strict standards that they must follow. If you compare a cup of conventional milk and a cup of organic milk there’d be no difference.
Is this the same Drug Testing Entity that Tested Lance Armstrong ?
Thank you for that clarification Allie 🙂 I am not involved in dairy production myself, but I am an animal science student who has studied it in depth. Every dairy farmer that I know and every farm that I have visited has shown me the extreme precaution they go through in preventing contamination of milk with antibiotics after treating their cows.
It should also be noted that it is in no farmers best interest to sell milk with antibiotics, because as Allie mentioned all of the milk is tested by a separate processing company who would charge the farm for the replacement should it happen to test positive. It’s much more efficient from an economic standpoint to keep the cows milk out of the bulk tank until long after it has been carefully tested to produce milk free of antibiotics.
It would be interesting to see the studies claiming detrimental health effects due to milk consumption. In my initial investigation via PUBMED (health/medical research database) I have not found any such study(ies). Until credible research (i.e. peer reviewed, double-blind randomized controlled trials) is presented, I will continue to advocate for milk as one of the BEST post exercise foods on the planet!
Here’s one for you to start: https://www.all-creatures.org/fact/fact-20080511.pdf
It’s a research published in Amerian Medical Journal several years ago.
This article lists plenty of studies:
https://www.notmilk.com/kradjian.html
And I am sure the PUBMED database has no underlying motives to keep you drinking milk to support the dairy and medical industries…
All that hyped up hippie BS flowing from backwater studies and unsubstantiated claims should have been a clear sign of propaganda.
Either way this was a fun read. I look forward to more joke posts in the future.
İ drink 3 liters Milk everyday, i have strongest bones, , i sometimes punch the walls full power , nothing happens.. or You can drink coke, soda, , . These kind of articles are just made up by big companies like pepsi, coco cola. Don’t believe this.
Of bigger concern is why you are punching walls.
Next you’ll be telling us we can’t eat wheat, or have to have an ‘alkaline diet’ or the next pseudo-scientific diet fad.
Watch this very interesting Ted talk about ‘Bad Science’ and then think about whether you want to believe a website that cites science to sell a product.
https://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_battling_bad_science.html
Nah,I’m happy with my milk, I’ll keep drinking it, don’t care what it does to me,we are all gonna die someday anyway, so what’s the fuss? trying to prolong our lives, it will only do the earth more problems, Overpopulation someone?
Just take the world map with countries with high and low milk consumption and superimpose it over the map depicting the countries with the high and low incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Milk-lovers – you will be unpleasantly surprised…
lol. Most vegetables were harmful to human health as well. Many were genetically modified through selective breading over centuries to get them to the point where they would not kill us or at least be better tolerated. So should we stop eating vegetables.
That’s because those countries had lower populations that exercised regularly, as in most of the people were sedentary. It’s like that in nearly every 1st world country: work and life in general requires less phyiscal work, so cardiovascular disease goes up.
I would be much more inclined to believe and support this if perhaps some of the studies you mentioned were actually referenced or at least hyper linked.
Did you actually read the article? The author lists four sources from the American Journal of Epidemiology, American Journal of Public Health, Amy Lanou Ph.D., nutrition director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C. and Samuel Epstein, MD, Professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health.
Based on your name it seems like you’re quite closed off on this subject, but if you decide to open your eyes there’s plenty of detailed studies out there if you do a quick google search.
For instance, here are 26 references to other sources and studies on this topic: (At the bottom of the page)
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/calcium-full-story/#calcium-from-milk
This article is not intended to be a one stop shop for all of the studies on this subject. If you want more information then perhaps you should make an effort to find the studies yourself instead of expecting it to be spoon fed to you.
Well said, USKiwi. I am glad you took the time to look at the references. 🙂 And you are right – I do hope this article inspires readers to do more research on the subject!
Some of this may be scientific fact for some humans, but, the human body is quite adaptable and may not apply to all. (How does one “milk” an almond, anyway?) I’m allergic to soy milk – makes my throat itch. I’m a happy healthy milk-drinking female for all of my 40+ years. I never had a cavity until I was in my mid-30s with very strong, white teeth drinking milk… My grandmother had Osteoporosis: she was never a milk drinker. Good luck to all you non-milk-drinking folks. I love milk.
You may be allergic to soy milk, but I’m allergic to bloviating. You need to go back to school if you think you can extrapolate the experiences of two people to the entire human race.
I applaud this article, as the data is overwhelming in favor of a lower animal protein based diet (<10% of DV), including dairy; yet the American Dietary Council, National Dairy Council, USDA, and other self interest groups withhold valuable information about the foods we eat. Yes, I did INCLUDE the USDA. No other countries allow companies to hide behind the use of (rbST) rBGH ( A.K.A. genetically engineered E. coli ), GMO feed and other chemicals to increase the production of a substance that is stripping the vary nutrient (Calcium) from the body as it claims to be 'benefitting.' At the end of the day, 'Free Will' allows people to make their own decisions on nutrition, and those selecting the optimal plant based diet are not only getting the protein, calcium and other vital nutrients needed from plants, but will live longer, happier and healthier lives because of those sound choices! I feel that everyone should read: 'The China Study,' by T. Colin Campbell, to learn more on the truth about protein, as the proof is in the data!!
This is a terrific article, Vivian.
Regarding all of the negative comments, it’s interesting how angry the un-weaned carnivores become when they’re presented with facts… similar to how southern whites reacted in the 1960’s when their Jim Crow laws were being struck down.
I don’t know whether it’s more ignorant or arrogant to equate people disagreeing whether or not they want to drink MILK to Jim Crow laws and other forms of mistreatment based on race. #FirstWorldProblems, anyone?
Plus, you’re probably better off getting your point of view across by not degrading people with differing opinions to “un-weaned carnivores”. Please, check your pretentiousness at the door.
I’m a proud unweaned carnivore, survival of the fittest. While Vegetarian/vegan alternatives are probably healthier. I’m happy with my milk, steak, pork, beef, and chicken. *assuming you are a vegetarian or a vegan with that hateful comment. Your way is probably better but you don’t see me insulting you.*
Just wait until your steak, pork, beef, and chicken starts to be radiated, and lets see what your body thinks about your diet plus the pasteurized milk. You are being fed rubbish, and you are proud. Good for you.
Just wait until the vegetables that you love is all contaminated by chemical fertilizer, pesticide, and injected hormones. and don’t forget, it’s not environmentally save too. As someone who lives in a tropical country, covered with rain forest, I’ve witnessed how this “Environmentally Save” vegetable eating thing actually destroy the rain forests.
also read up on wise traditions and sally fallon.
I grew up on an organic dairy farm. Our cows arent fed antibiotics and live a great life. I drink raw milk and support drinking raw milk! I have a great diet that balances out my pH. Ihave a touch immune system and believe that growing up with cows and coexisting with them has made me the compassionate person i am. I support drinking raw milk!
Suzanne,
I assume you are aware of the fact that cows have to be continually bred to produce milk, and their babies are taken away and routinely become “veal”. As a compassionate person, I wonder how you feel about that? I assume you have an argument for that, but whatever it is, I”m not buying it.
Cow milk is for baby cows.
Giraffe milk is for baby giraffes.
Human milk is for baby humans.
No exceptions! Cows did not evolve to fill a nutritional gap in the human species!
At last, humans are starting to realise that just because we CAN, doesn’t mean we SHOULD.
Leave animals alone and live a more natural, cruelty-free life.
I personally won’t be buying the product on this website but it would be a complete fool who tries to say it’s natural and healthy to drink milk extracted from another species.
All that “scientific evidence” is a load of crap. The fact that it is being disputed by experts shows that the data must be inconclusive at best. I would rather rely on some hard evidence from my own life. I drink about 2 gallons of milk every week and I have never broken a bone, despite having taken some pretty hard falls. I am 6’4″ and 200 lbs of lean muscle mass, and I can easily dunk a basketball. How do you explain that if milk is unhealthy and weakens your bones?
You need to read ‘The China Study’ &/or watch Forks over Knives, if you want more data on the benefits of a plant based diet. The proof is in the DATA!
Excercise in itself strengthens bones immensely and by what you write I take it that you do that a lot. So it is possible to have strong bones even when drinking milk but that doesn’t mean milk is making your bones stronger. It just means that your lifestyle in general may be good for your bones and without milk they could’ve been even stronger.
Plants were not designed for mankind either. Stop eating food
LOL. Reminds me of a SIMPSONS episode where fat Tony has a milking place where they milk rats for the school milk supply. ICK. WRONG. But funny.
If chocolate milk weren’t so amazing, I would care about this article.
I noticed that you use almond milk. Every version of almond milk in my local stores has a form of calcium added to it. Do you have any opinion on whether or not that supplemental calcium is beneficial?
Almond milk does not taste like regular milk…
Robert, the calcium added to almond milk is calcium carbonate, which is not a very bioavailable source of this mineral. It’s in fairly small amounts in almond milk, which should not cause any harm. It’s no substitute for a plant-based calcium supplement, however!
You can read more about calcium carbonate and why it’s not a healthy form of calcium here:
https://saveourbones.com/calcium-heart-attack/
and here:
https://saveourbones.com/beware-these-two-supplements-can-hurt-more-than-help-your-bones/
This page is entertaining! I’ve just finished reading it and I guess there’s two factions: Matt and Vivian. Love each of ’em. One for entertainment and one that I support.
“Doctors would also spit on wounds because saliva was believed to have healing properties. Indeed, history is replete with unfounded health beliefs…”
That belief is not unfounded. There is good science to back up that saliva does in fact have healing properties.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080723094841.htm
I am a marshalartist on average I drink about 2to3 liter of milk &IT dose not weaker my bones IT gives me strength
Ive been drinking raw milk. What about the calcium in it?
Hello!
I am vegan so I know pretty well the plus health factors that come with a vegan lifestyle. Congratulations for the book and for the whole “saveourbones” program!
I wish you more followers and as a result – more people in good health!
All the best,
Maria Nikolova
/Mia Nikolova/, Vegan
Sofia, Bulgaria, EU
“…plus health factors that come with a vegan lifestyle”?!? You are doing serious damage to your body, there is a reason why WHO has recognized the vegetarianism a mental illness.
Can the trolls please go somewhere else.
I have met people with past cancers, that were told they would die soon, but instead of having doctors force feed them their pharmaceutical propaganda, they switched to alternative programs, most were switching to all raw organic vegan diets. Needless to say their cancers reversed and they are still alive and kicking!
! Seriously?! Do some research you idiot. Animal products cause illness. How can eating natural, plant-based foods be a bad thing?
As as for vegetarianism being a mental illness, this is laughable at best.
Animal products are not a virus, they do not cause diseases, humans need a balanced diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, grains and lean meats and fish, vegetarianism and vegan-ism are just fads, bring your vegan ass to the gym, lets see what you can do.
All the vegans/vegetarians I have ever met are unnaturally skinny and look malnourished. I don’t mean to sound cocky, but I can pretty much guarantee I am in better health than you and I eat meat multiple times a day. I also drink 2 gallons of milk a week. Would you like to compare physical capabilities? Because I would be willing to bet that I can run faster, jump higher, and lift more weight than pretty much any vegan. As far as meat causing illness, that is only if it is carrying harmful bacteria and is improperly cooked.
In your case, the excessive milk consumption seems to have sapped you of personality and made you awkwardly aggressive. But no doubt you can lift big rocks.
Yoda, thank you for having such a great sense of humor. You couldn’t have said this better. LOL
Anyone (Vegans) who has an attitude toward food that causes them to turn up their nose at chocolate cake and ice cream must be mentally ill! How can cake and ice cream be animal cruelty?
brilliant! best response so far 😀
What you’re saying is just anecdotal. And been you a vegan doesn’t qualify you to say the “plus health” benefits of vegan lifestyle, because you maybe really biased. Have you searched for the loss of calcium in a vegan or raw vegan diet?
Seems to me that if you are going to list some research done than it only makes sense that you actually give the actual study. As someone who grew up with dairy cows, we as human do not drink the milk that they provide for their babies or at least we didn’t use. Our milk is totally different than the milk they drink. Also could someone please tell me where we are all of a sudden getting all these almonds that are needed for everyone to switch to almond milk. Just saying seems like a large all of a sudden needed increase in grown of the almond.
If we got rid of the dairy farms that would free up a ton of grazing land that we could grow almonds on…. problem soved
Seeing that Vivian never respond with a proper answer to the people who are bringing good arguments against her claims suggest that she is very narrow minded / uninformed / trying way to hard to sell her book…
Just someone else looking for an opportunity to catch a lot of fish with a “revolutionary program”…
And the life-stock industry does not sell their junk with everything they got? What is your argument here? The life-stock industry frequently admits how dangerous their products are for humens in processing (plants, supermarkets and kitchen) and eating it. Subsequently they come always up with new ways to increase the safty, radiation, new chemical processes, etc.
I’m surprised by the amount of lazy and stupid people who make such statements before taking less than 1 minute to find these studies themselves.
https://www.vegsource.com/news/2010/12/new-study-increased-milk-intake-does-not-protect-against-osteoporosis-but-does-promote-ovarian-and-p.html
Has listed several studies with links for you lazy bums to get started if you are even at all interested in reading in the first place.
That link you found is full of Weasel Words Like: Many studies, Scientist Say, etc. Also, you’re linking a vegetarian source. Of course they will tell you why milk isn’t good for you, that’s their philosophy.
It’s great to see how social media brings out the best in people to people communications.
Bring on the insults!
I’ve done a ‘quick’ review of the scientific literature as advised and vegsource.com does not qualify to be held up in this regard.
However. vegsource.com does reference other scientific literature, and one in particular, draws this conclusion:
“Our conclusion is that in our meta-analysis of cohort studies, there was no overall association between milk intake and hip fracture risk in women but that more data are needed in men.” © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Interesting conclusion in their abstract.
Maybe good advice is to take a cold shower before submitting a post.
I would like more information on the research that has been done that supports your theories, so that I can read them for myself. I do not believe a study that only involves women( no men) is accurate, as we know women are prone to suffer from osteoporosis due to a decrease in Estrogen levels as we age.
So we are reading about how milk is bad and then there is a product being sold as an alternative? Mmm a bit suss I think. I thought the key factor to calcium absorption was vitamin D levels. If you stay indoors to much you get less vitamin d so caladium absorption drops. Western societies with increased office workers and less outdoor leisure time would equate to lower vitamin d. Milk is awesome.
So your saying cow’s milk is meant for a cow? Who would of thought.
Vitamin D3 isn’t the only useful vitamin for great bone health there are others that play a big role such as magnesium and vitamin K2 mk7. K2 is a vitamin that we dont get often in our diet and its very good for bone health it comes from fermented foods usually miso which i suggest is bought in organic forms, they sell at vitacost for really cheap. Get your calcium from vegetables thats the best way. Dairy is awful for you of course in moderation of raw goat cheese or milk if you find would be okay since its more alkaline.
Its common sense! But it just literally hit me today. Cows produce milk for their infants. Why are humans drinking it?
Cows produce meat to move their bodies around. Why are humans eating it? Chickens produce eggs to develop their young why are humans eating it? Just cause somethings intended purpose wasnt to be eaten to humans doesn’t mean it can’t be.
But many animals eat other animals for meat, and a lot also consume eggs of other species. We are the only animals that drink the secretions of another species, and we are also the only animals that consume milk past childhood.
The maasai smear milk on their skin to keep bugs off and the drink directly from a cow milk mixed with blood to survive in the jungle, non of it is boiled etc and they live to over a hundred mostly without any of the issues being discussed here. The problem isn’t milk, boy if only the milk could defend itself… The problem is humans and their various weak bodies … There is nothing wrong with drinking whole natural milk. Ask yourselves this . How is it that the Maasai are the skinniest folk out there who have no ailments and yet they consume a mixture of raw ow milk and blood and eat meat? Twenty years ago there was no 2% milk on the shelves or a variety of various milks? … There is nothing wrong with milk… The is everything wrong with people… And money
“Just ’cause something’s intended purpose wasn’t to be eaten by humans doesn’t mean it can’t be.” You’re right, it doesn’t mean it can’t be. But don’t you think maybe it means that it shouldn’t be? I mean after all, people can enslave or kill other people, but that doesn’t justify actually doing it. I’m just saying that maybe nature is intended to work in a certain way, and we shouldn’t be so cocky as to pretend we know better.
You guys are all idiots ! Here is the bottom line. The bible. In there you will find what GOD has outlined as “ok” for the top animal (man) to prey on. That’s where the food chain begins and you can all read what is edible there and what isn’t the rest of these a regiments are just good entertainment and I cannot stop laughing. The answer is in the “King James Bible “
Jack, you are the idiot. Leave your magical 2000 year old book out of talks on science. But while I have you here, Lev.25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians? And what do you think a fair price for a 25 year old Canadian would be? How about a Mexican?