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
There’s a sucker born every minute.
Actually there is more value in cats milk then cow milk.. People believe anything but if you do your research you will find that cows milk is bad for you more then it is good.. Also take an elephant and a giraffe and they only nurse their young as babies. Adult animals do not drink it at all and they are huge animals …hmmm think about it..
Vegen Taliban. Wants us to not eat any animal products because she thinks it’s morally wrong. So she says that they are all unhealthy even though the human race has survived off animal proteins since we the beginning of our existence. And cures a bunch of studies from twenty years ago?? Bs I say.
i am totes way smarter to NOT drink milk, dudes. 🙁
i fell bad for the people that are vegatirain….
i am looking at you cara…
I drank a glass of 2% milk yesterday and when I stood up from the table, all my bones shattered. I’m going to eat some yogurt and hopefully they will all come back together.
I had a bowl of cereal yesterday and this morning when I woke up, I stepped out of bed and broke my hip! Really painful, I believe that if I eat yogurt maybe my hip will heal itself overnight, say no to milk! 🙂
Wow, those stories echo with mine. Two days ago I added a spoonful of milk to my coffee, although I usually don
for those who prefer some scientific info.. and yes dairy is one of the cruelest industries in the world, and then there is of course the allowable somatic cell count in your milk – yes pus that is allowed in your milk..
https://www.pcrm.org/health/diets/vegdiets/health-concerns-about-dairy-products
This article makes me wanna have a tall glass of milk with some cheese.
great……
mhmm puss milk yea !!!
My Uncle had a dairy farm is retired now.. Would never drink what he sold for profit.
Haha after reading this article and some comments, I drank a glass of milk. I am lactose intolerant but I never would stop drinking milk or eat yoghurt and cheese. Some people really are easy to convince.
I love milk and milk products but I know my sinuses get blocked if I over do it. I started using soy in my tea thinking it would be healthier and after a year of having 3 or 4 cups of tea a day with soy in, some of my teeth feel (rough) no matter how much I brush. I think the soy consumption maybe leaching the calcium from my teeth, don’t know, bit of a concern, so have gone back to cows milk.
FACT: All proteins are made up of Amino Acids. All proteins are acidic regardless of their source. This article is totally bogus.
Sigh. Don’t you wish you could make an off the cuff remark and that make it automatically true? Do your research. Milk is loaded with protien. You might think that is good but you body cannot process protien or amino acids without magnesium. So as you are loading you body full of useless protien the acid is damaging your bones.
I agree with you. Magnesium is rarely mentioned in articles explaining milk myth.
Sigh…Seems you didn’t do any research. Who told you that magnesium is needed to process proteins? Proteins are processed into peptides by the pepsin protease in our stomach WITHOUT the use of magnesium. Further cleavage is done by a bunch of pankreas enzymes. So your claims are totally bogus.
There are indeed some metalloproteases but I think they play a minority role in the digestion system.
Boom. Here is a new study that shows no correlation between animal protein and calcium loss. Do better research please. If you are an strength base athlete, you are gonna eat a lot of meat to built muscle yet powerlifters, bodybuilders, and Oly lifters are lifting huge amount of weights and their bone can support. Weight training helps support healthy bones. Those studies from the 90’s that you listed only prove that people are living sedentary lifestyles.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16373952
My response to this article:
In response to your article:
1. The burden of proof is on the one making the crazy claim, which is “Milk leaches calcium from bones.” -The author says there are many studies, yet hasn’t provided a link to even one.
2. The second point doesn’t really say why it’s bad for you or your bones. It just says that cow’s milk is really good for calves – nobody’s arguing that.
3. Regarding the increased fracture risk: Correlation does not imply causation. Just because two variables are statistically associated, doesn’t mean one of them causes the other. It could be that people that drink a lot of milk also drink a lot of soda and eat a lot of cookies – both sweet, acidic foods that could be causing the brittle bones. Also, just because milk doesn’t prevent fractures does not mean that it’s bad or unnatural to drink it.
4. More statistics that attempt to imply causation – But they do not account for confounding factors, such as countries that drink less milk, have a lower GDP, and thus die of other bacterial and viral illnesses before developing chronic conditions such as osteoporosis. Or perhaps countries drinking more milk get less vitamin D, which is important for absorption of the calcium.
5. Something about a Positive Renal Acid Load – No proof or link to study making such claim, and a quick google search on PRAL and dairy only showed a study done on infants – aka people who haven’t developed a complete acid-base buffering system. Moreover, I’m running into a lot of studies that claim “high protein intake” (eating lots of meat) is causing the metabolic acidosis and calcium leaching, not dairy protein (casein/whey) specifically.
6. Yogurt, the super beneficial food, comes from milk, and why is yogurt “good” according to the author? Because it’s acid-netural. And so the entire beef (no pun intended) the author has with milk boils down to the fact that it is an acidic substance. Yes, milk is very slightly acidic (pH = 6.7), but it is still not clear whether this slight acidity is directly linked to calcium leakage from bones.
I have not drunk milk since I was twelve y.o.
I have had any number of falls on ice, snow, dog poop and other wet surfaces over the years.
I have never broken any bones. When I took calcium pills, my legs cramped.
I drink lots of water and my bone density tests show that my bones have post-menopausal syndrome which is because I am over seventy. The Doctor says I am in no danger of breaking bones.
I drink milk all the time and have never broken a bone. I have had very physical jobs and fallen off a ladder. I’ve smacked my fingers with a hammer. Never broken a bone. Correlation is not necessarily causation. 🙂
Your bones have “post menopausal syndrome”? Just your bones, right?
Sheesh.
The dairy industry has never given us scientific proof that milk is good for the bones and therefore it is just sellerstalk.
Then why aren’t the 100’s of millions of people, who drank milk their entire lives, all suffering from Osteoporosis ? You say that they are losing calcium when they drink milk and yet most people have been drinking milk every day. By your logic they should all have extremely brittle bones by the time they are 20 years old. The people of Wisconsin should have the most fragile bones in the world…but they don’t.
I’m 44 now and I drank a ton of milk from the time I was 9 years old up until last year when I went vegan. I drank more milk when I was growing up than 99% of the boys in the world. When I was a teenager I was drinking 3/4 to 1 gallon of milk every day. My bones are very strong, I’ve led a very active life with sports, including football and the martial arts, and being in the military for 3 years and I’ve never broken a single bone.
There are more lies and half-truths in this article than there are facts.
Nearly a third of Americans over 65 years old has, or will have, osteoporosis. Countries with low dairy intake have fare lower rates of osteoporosis. Countries with higher per captia rates of dairy consumption also have far higher rates of osteoporosis and cancer.
Think about it… a mother’s breast secretions are designed to make babies grow as fast as possible. It is designed to stimulate fast, aggressive growth for a limited period during infancy. As you age, the LAST thing you want is a substance that accelerates growth in your body, hence the tumor and cancer connection with decades of drinking dairy.
You might try reading the China Study for more information on this topic and the dangerous effects on humans, especially adult humans, consuming a cow’s breast secretions. Or watch the movie Forks over Knives.
Michael, the osteoporosis statistic has been linked to the massive consumption of cola based drinks (Coca Cola) which actively prevents calcium from being absorbed. Yes, overconsumption of milk is bad. As is the overconsumption of any other product. Moderate amounts of milk are quite beneficial to the human body.
You say its biased but what gives you the authority to say that. As a matter of fact the best studies ever conducted about animal products and its effects on the human body were done by Dr. Campbell. He was a dairy farmer he went into all of his studies biased, and left enlightened. Stop trying to justify your habits by dissing our facts. Until you have devoted your life to unveiling all the myths associated with modern food industry, then you can talk
Dr. Campbell found out he could make a lot more money selling books to fools than as a dairy farmer. His book is a joke.
Sorry, no sale. I lived in Asia, where recent generations’ dairy intake has gone up – as has their height, strength, and posture. I had never seen so many older adults with osteoporosis, and am betting it’s because dairy wasn’t huge there when they were young. Sick of made-up scary facts about food. Most of them can only be verified through “sources” already advocating some kind of alternative lifestyle. All the healthiest people I know consume dairy. Nice try, though.
Just want to put this out there… I’ve always been naturally very thin, but had cellulite on thighs and butt.. even as a 106 lb active teenager on swim team. I was raised to drink a glass of milk with every meal. At almost 30 now.. I’ve been avoiding milk and all dairy for about a year. My cellulite disappeared. It was like magic. I have no proof except for my own body, but fat cells seem to sit a bit different when you cut out milk. Just saying..
Studies that “prove” that milk is a bad source of calcium are biased, like most researches trying to discredit animal proteins in general.
You do not need just calcium to make bones, you also need fat soluble vitamins. Those researches have been done in the US, where milk is skimmed because fats are sssso bad! Cultures who drink full fat milk (northern Europe, Greece, nomad herder tribes all over the world, etc) do pretty fine.
That said, milk has other issues (caseins, lactose) that’s why I rarely have diary and in those cases I have full fermented yoghurt or kefir and aged cheeses.
Then there are ethical concerns, too, of course.
Agree. I lived in Asia, where recent generations’ dairy intake has gone up – as has their height, strength, and posture. I had never seen so many older adults with osteoporosis, and am betting it’s because dairy wasn’t huge there when they were young. Sick of made-up scary facts about food. Most of them can only be verified through “sources” already advocating some kind of alternative lifestyle. All the healthiest people I know consume dairy.
Wonderful, wonderful info!! I knew milk was generally unhealthy, but now I know why. In recent years, I completely omit milk and milk products from my diet since I have asthma – heard it was terrible for respiratory conditions. I am amazed at how much better I feel (not sluggish) and I have fewer asthma attacks and URI’s after making this dietary change! And also to learn I’m doing the right thing for my bones is even better reason to never go back.
The changes you are experiencing are most likely attributed to other factors that you have changed along with cutting milk and milk products out of your diet. While reducing cheese or butter intake is a great way to lose weight, cutting milk does not carry the same load at all.
Milk will not exacerbate your asthma, and I challenge you to find the actual vetted study that showed a correlation. This article is unbelievably bias and it is due to people “sounding smart” that we have public health issues such as the stigma against vaccinations. When reading articles such as this, ask yourself the following:
1) Is this a valid source on its own (a vetted journal article/review)
2) Is this article from a governmental regulator/site (aka a .gov site)
3) If none of the above are present, then are the references to the facts and claims they making present; if not then do not take it seriously because more often than not: It is not true.
If you follow the source of this article, the actual studies are not cited anywhere. In fact, the proper rebuttal to each point is made in the comments by a gentleman named Alan, with a Harvard source that counter the issues made against milk.
Continue the good work that has reduced your asthmatic exacerbation, I presume the reduction in milk product consumption was accompanied with exercise and overall better eating/lifestyle habits. However, do not criminalize a Vitamin/Mineral powerhouse such as milk.
For some power to my opinion, I have a Bacherlor’s in Honours Biochemistry from Concordia University, MSc in Protein Chemistry from Concordia University and am currently in my 2nd year of Medical School (McGill University) in Canada.
You sound smart and you claim to have credentials that would indicate that is the case, but the potential that this is not the case is greatly increased by the fact you would claim governmental regulators or sites lend credence to any argument. Then again, maybe I’m just too cynical 🙂
Hey, look! It’s another anti-gubment person who’s afraid of real science. You’re welcome for all those eradicated diseases, by the way. 😉
It’s hard to believe, so it seems like ill continue to drink milk 🙂
I never knew what a scam milk was! Wow! I used to drink a lot, but now my bones are safe.
Chrism: The writing is on the wall. Open your mind.
Dear Vivian
You mention that drinking milk is not good for your bones but it is OK to eat plain unsweetened organic yogurt. You have not mentioned anything about cheese. Should one stay away from Cheese as it is also a dairy product. Or do the same comments made in regard to yogurt also apply to cheese? Comments anyone?
Margaret
One thing to keep in mind is the correlation between Countries That Consume Milk vs. Osteoporosis is one filled with confounding factors:
For example, have you noticed that countries that consume milk also have higher life expectancy? Permitting people to reach the point of developing osteoporosis? Furthermore, these countries have people whom are more sedentary and less likely to be exposed to enough sunlight to generate Vitamin D – a Calcium absorbing and depositing necessity!
In terms of Cheese vs. Milk vs. Yogurt (Organic or Not); it all has to do with your body itself. Cheese is very heavy in terms of fat and gives you a tad more than you need, especially with the average person overloading food with cheese additives. If losing weight is not a concern for you, then eating cheese should not be either. Yogurt is always a good option for snacking, and probiotics are known to boost your immune system by adding some nice flora to the bacteria that live in your gut, so there’s no issue with Yogurt consumption either.
As far as Milk is concerned, it IS a great source of Calcium and energy for the day – in fact, milk is a great vector for the Government (a body that is vilified unjustly on this site) to add nutrients to your diet that you otherwise wouldn’t add, such as Vitamin D.
Do not shut down Milk as being dangerous, here are some questions you should asked for reading articles like this in the future:
1) Is this a valid source on its own (a vetted journal article/review)
2) Is this article from a governmental regulator/site (aka a .gov site)
3) If none of the above are present, then are the references to the facts and claims they making present; if not then do not take it seriously because more often than not: It is not true.
If you follow the source of this article, the actual studies are not cited anywhere. In fact, the proper rebuttal to each point is made in the comments by a gentleman named Alan, with a Harvard source that counter the issues made against milk.
Continue the good work that has reduced your asthmatic exacerbation, I presume the reduction in milk product consumption was accompanied with exercise and overall better eating/lifestyle habits. However, do not criminalize a Vitamin/Mineral powerhouse such as milk.
For some power to my opinion, I have a Bacherlor’s in Honours Biochemistry from Concordia University, MSc in Protein Chemistry from Concordia University and am currently in my 2nd year of Medical School (McGill University) in Canada.
I think this is really hard to believe, It’s shocking, it’s like reading an article about moon hoax. I told my friends about this but they would just laugh about it. But let’s be clear people. There is a 12 years
Thank god I have lactose intolerance. Sad for people who have been drinking milk daily.
john no
no, john. no.
If its true that the calcium leaves our bones because of the acid in the foods we consume, wouldn’t that mean that drinking orange juice or eating other healthy high acid fruits would also cause bone deterioration? Someone explain this to me.
Understanding ph in the body isnt as simple as that. The ph scale is based on how the body handles acidity, not strictly whether the food is acidic or not. Animal protein, tho not acidic, atleast in the case of milk, leads to a lower ph in the blood, which forces the body to respond with calcium or magnesium or iodine or what have you to put the ph of the blood back into the proper range of 6.8-7.2.
This reply is false, your first clue should be that he thinks the Blood pH is 6.8-7.2 (It SHOULD be from 7.35-7.45), what he is describing are SERIOUS problems you could see with somebody in shock or diabetic keto-acidosis!
As far as Carson’s original question. for a healthy person the pH regulation of the stomach is more than a match for the consumption of milk itself, and acidic drinks such as orange juice will be countered by a chain of metabolic responses to counter the acidity once your stomach contents enter the duodenum (The region of the intestines right outside of the stomach).
FYI We are not the only ones that drink other animals milk. Orphaned animals drink from any lactating mother that will let them. LOOK IT UP.
Not past the common 7 months of breast feeding. And this is due to the animals need for nutrients, most certainly not because they have the urge to seek milk elsewhere from their species, milk nolonger becomes a staple in their diet past a certain age, either, so your comment is irrelevant. The principle arguement is why do we ingest milk from cows that are forced into pregnancy but we dont treat our wives that same way? They produce milk specifically designed for us. Why not force them into being pregnant and then milk them for your neighborhood.
Joe,
That comment is totally absurd! We don’t treat animals by human standards. This does NOT constitute animal abuse, either. People leave their dogs outside with a doghouse for shelter or put them on dog runs. This is not cruel to dogs. People have different needs than animals. As for keeping women pregnant for their milk? How absurd is that!? Actually there ARE women who donate their breast milk to hospitals for sick or premature babies. With having three children, I was in a constant state of lactation for over five years. What did I do with my excess milk? I put it in the refrigerator for my older kids to drink. They LOVED it! Most 5 and 6 year old children are NOT breast fed. However, my kids loved my milk and drank it in cups with their breakfast or lunch. These arguments are ridiculous and smell of people over obsessed with treating animals as human equals and NOT whether humans should consume milk.
Ok, answer me this, have you seen and understand the life of an artificially inseminated cow or pig? Do you believe being in a constant state of pregnacy for 7 years as something any living thing would enjoy? And your arguement of lactating for 5 years is completely irrelevant, and the reason is, you were lactating, not producing 5 consecutive children while being made to endure sub standard living conditions as well as substand nutrition. And seperate to that,, i have provided the science behind the non dairy arguement, so do yourself a favor and broaden your feeble mind by do some research
Thanks joe. It’s an uphill battle to educate people to a level where they can embody true empathy for the entire living world, not just the human world.
Hi there, im from sweden and ive worked with cows a bit and let me tell you this: the cows that i worked with were friendly, curious and quite frankly they seemed perfectly happy actually im bold enough to say that they were happy.
We are the only species that drinks milk after infantcy especially another species milk.
The only reason they stop is because the mother is no longer able to practically provide for their children’s nutritional needs solely through their milk. Can you imagine how aggravated your mother would be if she was your and your siblings only source of nutrition, even into adulthood. And what would happen to you when your mother died? You wouldn’t have had time to adapt to solid food, and would die from lack of nutrition.
I know right ewww
The thing we all should keep away from is Bull$#!t. There’s plenty of it floating around here. Hey does anyone still try for a balanced diet, exercise and plenty of sunshine? There will always be persons in the community that have osteoporosis from genetic causes, just have to play with the cards you are dealt. At 43 years of age, using Fosamax for 7 years gave me 12 years without more repeated fractures so I was able to enjoy many active years. Been off it for several years and bone density is now rapidly deteriorating again, so – just got to be careful, try something else for a few years and just get on with enjoying the good things that I have.
I find some of these so called counter arguements on here troubling. To preface my comment, we should all understand that if you do not support this claim based on faulty science, then please, provide science that proves otherwise. The truth is, there is none. The NIH has made the following clear:
Animal foods provide predominantly acid precursors, whereas protein in vegetable foods is accompanied by base precursors not found in animal foods.
So to put this to rest, this article makes an absolutely scientifically correct claim. Milk raises your ph, which in turn does exactly as the article claims, your body respondes with an acid neutralizer, calcium. Seperate to that, modern dairy cows are treated terribly and injected with antibiotics, and hormones to counteract the troubles that accompany the fattening process of feeding the cows an unnatural corn based diet. These are irrefutable facts. Good informative article.
In Europe there are strict laws against using antibiotics in dairy cows hormones are also banned in Europe and were never used in milking cows. As for your claim that cows are treated badly show some proof other than cherry picked youtube videos, any dairy farmer I know treat their cows very well.
Well, the american humane society reports 83% of dairy cows are restricted from grazing, 30-60% are fed substandard diets of slaughter waste, 63% receive artificial bovine growth hormone, and almost all dairy cows get their tails snipped without medication to help with pain. Do you believe those practices are natural? Are they ethical? Would you allow your children to recieve medical attention with total disregard for their comfort? Maybe lock them up all day restricting their movement? Thats all not considering the worst offense of extendes artificial insemination. Would you keep your wife pregnant for years on end? These are all unnatural and cruel.
Your statistics may be true for a small rogue number of farms, but it in no way is the standard for the bovine industries. I know a dairy farmer and have been to the farm many times, and I can tell you that the animals are treated with consideration and kindness and genuine care for their overall well being. The facilities are kept so clean you could eat off the floors. There is no stench of urine or other smelly unmentionables. The animals themselves are very well kept, clean, fed only the best, they are never overworked, their health is a primary concern so they are monitored and treated promptly if needed. To many farmers, the animals are an extension of their families, they work effortlessly to continuously improve the comfort of their herds. It’s a shame that there have been immoral and cruel instances where animals were abused, but your average dairy farmer is just as upset as you are or maybe even a little more. These farmers and their families name each and every calf and are present for each and every birth. I have personally attended a Wedding where the guest of honour was the favoured cow. A happy animal (humans are animals too) is a productive contributor for the benefit of all life no matter where it lives or what is produced. More research and care goes into caring and providing for the animals than we do for ourselves and families. A dairy farmer would never alter the nutritional make up of the herd’s diet based solely on one viewpoint without first reviewing all raw, relevant data as well as analyzing whether the results will serve any positive benefit.
Joe,
I’m not going to say one way or the other about this article, as I have not looked up this information. With that said, there is something that bothers me about your comment and makes me “feel” that you aren’t really understanding what you are talking about. Anyone that knows anything about chemistry knows that acids actually LOWER your pH and bases RAISE your pH.
So your comment, “Milk raises your ph, which in turn does exactly as the article claims, your body respondes with an acid neutralizer, calcium.” is false.
Raising your body pH would NOT induce your body to release calcium from your bones. LOWERING your body pH would. So are you believing everything you read that’s negative about certain foods OR do you actually know what you are talking about? Hopefully it’s a simple mistake.
Like I said, I haven’t researched the topic. I’m not an authority on “milk” even though I’m not a milk drinker. But there are way too many people out there that believe everything that they read without doing the actual digging into the research. Something I WILL be doing about milk. My biggest milk drinking kid has broken the most bones. Coincidence? I don’t know.
People, seriously. You need to put on your big girl/boy panties and take responsibility for your diet and research this info. There are MANY articles out there published by scientists that have PROVEN facts on this study. It’s not a bunch of bleeding heart activists whining over the treatment of animals. I won’t lie, my family loves milk, cheese, yogurt and a host of other dairy based items. Since learning about this (through other sources) about a month ago, my family has changed their whole diet and the way we look at foods. At first it was awkward, especially when I craved a big chunk of cheese, but we actually have been loosing wait and feeling better.
Do your research before you comment. Thank you.
Alright, so I see you’re basing all this on the fact that milk has a pH of 6.5,which is, by the way, almost neutral, being so close to 7. Other beverages and foods such as orange juice, coffee, BANANAS, lemon juice, tomato juice, vinegar, all have even lower pH than milk, which makes them more acidifying, as you say. Lemon peaks at 2, orange juice is 3, bananas are 5, while tomato juice is 4. Should we stop consuming all of these acidic foods because the same effect might happen? Are all of these foods destroying our bones?
I’m sorry, but your theory just doesn’t convince me. I’m not a fan of milk, I don’t drink it, and quite frankly I’m concerned about my calcium intake because I don’t. On the other hand, I find it very hard to digest dairy products, but that could just mean that I’m lactose intolerant, and not all people are. And while it does sound like common sense that no other animal drinks the milk of a species other than their own, and during infancy, maybe we’ve evolved and adapted. Take a look at dogs. They’ve been living around man for eons, and over time, adapted from being carnivores to becoming omnivores, because humans are omnivores by nature and whatever they left behind, the dogs ate. Wolves are carnivorous by nature, yet dogs eat just about anything they can find (their own feces, and the feces of others, mind you. My grandma had two dogs and a cat, once the cat defecated on the ground, and the dogs scared her away from it and ate it.), and they still live up to 14 years on average, which is normal for a dog. So to say we shouldn’t drink milk just because the other animals don’t do it, you just can’t claim it to be entirely true.
Acidic foods do not cause the body to become acidic, just like basic foods do not cause the body to become basic.
They said *animal protein* causes this.
The proteins in animal tissue tend to contain more of the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine than the proteins of plants. This means that your body produces more sulfuric acid (battery acid!) when it burns animal protein than when it burns plant protein. As a result, eating animal protein produces an excess acid load in the body.
Dogs eat their own feaces because their digestive system does’nt fully process the food they eat, so the food is only partially digested …why waste a meal!
Hey Vivian, did you go to Hollywood Upstairs Medical College, too?
No, Dr. Nick, she did not go to Hollywood Upstairs Medical College. She has an MA, Masters of Arts, but not an MD. Or a Ph.D., or an M.Sc., or even a B.Sc. which are a selection of degrees one should have if they are to begin spouting anti-Milk BS.
Ha! Well said! Those are the degrees you should have when talking so “scientifically” about such an important subject. Since I have heard this “debate” on milk I have been in search of solid concrete evidence linking these claims to milk. The only things I find so far against milk are “shady and sketchy to say the least. Can some one site me to a creditible source of info here? Not someones blog who knows arts, maybe some one or better yet an actually reputable authority on science?
So stupid (I’m not referring to the article with this comment, though the article is false as the author is taking quotes out of context). I’m reading the comments and all I see is, “Other animals don’t drink milk from other animals”; “People can be lactose intolerant so milk is unnatural”; “The food industry is disgusting”; etc.
While other animals don’t drink other animals’ milk, animals also don’t cook their food, don’t make giant complex houses, don’t drive vehicles they made themselves, etc. Why can’t people understand that humans are just a different kind of species?
People can be lactose intolerant, yes. However, since when does being allergic to something you eat make this food suddenly unnatural? My friend is allergic to oranges, almonds, peanuts, milk, watermelon, and carrots. Are we just going to look at milk and point it out as the guilty subject? People can be allergic to a wide-variety of things, but that doesn’t change anything when it comes to what’s natural and what’s not; especially for very different humans.
The food industry keeps you alive. Farmers keep you alive. You realize you can get organic food, small-farm food, etc. right? We have a dairy farm down the road from us that doesn’t use hormones, or other injections. We don’t buy from them, because let’s face it: healthy, all-natural food is too expensive. Cheapen the price, and maybe people will buy this special snowflake food! Otherwise, the lot of you are treating big dairy and food corporations as devils when not all of them are! You’re putting all of them in a huge bin, which is ignorant to say the least.
To close, I see comments like, “Cutting out dairy has helped me so much,” and “Dairy has done nothing wrong to me.” Okay, so what? You realize every human is different, right? We’re not all affected by one thing and another. We’re all unique including our digestive systems. Milk may help others, however, it may worsen others. Is that so hard to understand? If you think you’re better off without milk, then go ahead and keep living that way. However, other people are doing just fine; I’ve never broken a bone when I’ve thought many times that I should have. But again, uniqueness also seems to be a factor many of us haven’t even considered.
Not only is milk bad for your health as proved by scientists and doctors, it is also one of the most cruelest industries on earth. Cows are continually artificially impregnated (raped) to enable them to get pregnant and produce milk. When their calf is born, he or she is taken away from his mother and not allowed to drink her milk – because he can’t drink his own mother’s milk that we want to steal and sell to humans? That makes no financial sense! Cows often scream for days on end for their baby that was taken away. How would you feel if someone took your newborn from you and used you as a milk producing factory? Boy calves (bobby calves) are considered a waste product of the industry and used for veal, leather or simply dumped in the trash. Girl calves will take their mother’s place when their mother finally collapses from all the unnatural milking and torture. Cows can live 20 years, but dairy cows live 4-6 years before they are spent, at which time their bodies get dragged to the house of slaughter. Isn’t this just the most complete and utter exploitation of motherhood and disregard for life? You only have to type “dairy cow investigation” into youtube to find hundreds of videos and evidence showing extreme abuse on dairy farms. Do you really want to be a part of that? For something that isn’t good for you to begin with? I mean, are we all still babies that need milk? When are we going to grow up and start taking responsibility for the consequences of our actions. And NO – it is not Satan’s fault if you get cancer or osteoporosis – it’s your own fault for consuming animal products when you are actually a herbivore!
Not sure where do you live and how close are you in dairy production, but you give me a picture of person who has never been in straight contact with it.
Let me clear some facts in Finland.
Dairy
1. Unhealthy life for animal = Lower quality&quantity
2. The calf can drink her mothers milk
3. Healthy cow lives long = more profit/cow
4. Pumping them full of drugs, will affect the quality of milk
5. Our neighbor Russia, accepts only unprocessed food to be imported there = Less processing = More healthy (tastes better too)
And about humans
1. Were are not 100% herbivores
2. Eating salad is good for you
3. But you need meat.
You can try to consume vitamins to compensate, but you need to have animal fat to make digesting system to be able take them in use.
I eat about 85% of my food as herbal base, but also I eat wish and game.
About milk.
1. Good amount of milk varies between people. In Finland our digesting system has developed to be able to process animal milk, especially cows because of our need for vitamin D and calcium. (No sunlight in winter)
2. This article writer is making a lot of assumptions.
3. So do you (watching youtube videos does not increase credibility.)
I have a lactose intolerance (very weird in here) but it manifests only when I consume processed milk. Anything else goes down with no problem. Fresh milk is no problem and it also verifies the fact that it is not dangerous to humans. But as I told, “danger” varies.
But honestly, go out and see and try things by yourself….
1, YOU TUBE IS NOT A RELIABLE RESERCH RESOURCE
2, not all farmers are the horrific sadists you make them out to be
3, if there is so much evidence AGAIN NOT YOU TUBE to support this please supply a reference list so others can check the research for themselves. otherwise what you are providing is JUST YOUR OPINION
If you read the “Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in the Elderly”. American Journal of Epidemiology. Vol. 139, No. 5, 1994.
The actual conclusion regarding that was that animal fats led to being overweight, which in turn had a negative affect on bone density. Other factors observed were smoking, physical activity, and weight.
Both the quote from the American Journal of Public Health and the one from Amy Lanou are taken out of context to imply milk is detrimental to bone health. In actuality, they state that milk is neither detrimental nor beneficial.
Yeah, I’m 55, and have osteoporosis (again) after discontinuing Fosamax a few years ago.
My diet is good with high fibre, vegies, fruit, fish, lean meat etc plus heaps of exercise (both cardio & weights). I surf every day but now have to avoid the larger waves and keep clear of aggressive surfers (as now I will always come off second best). Everything is super-perfect except for my bones. Have been getting heaps of fractures since age 22.
NOTE !! — I have a TWIN brother who eats poorly but supplements his diet with plenty of beer, milkshakes and greasy fat hamburgers. He has a sedentary job and does little exercise. The result? He has excellent health and REALLY GOOD BONES – so do ALL my peers who share his poor lifestyle. Does one conclude that diet has no effect on bone health or do bones fare better when the body is neglected?
Finally someones got their head on straight. We should market human breast milk rather than cow milk but everyone would just think thats crazy…
I see that you are female, you want to volunteer for this great idea?
If milk is so bad for you , then why give it to children at school and babies and everyone else for that matte. Don’t you think that if milk is bad for you they would have taken it away from the market already.
You’re right. Because so many people believe in outdated information, it must be right. So many people just can’t be wrong…. and look at cigarettes and all those old “9 out of 10 doctors smoke Marlboros” ads. Doctors are always right….
Hi Kendal. You are right. We are carrying on with practices which are very outdated and detrimental to our health and our planet, all in the name of palate pleasure, tradition and profit. It makes no sense. Yes our ancestors ate meat, but we are not Neanderthals and cannot keep looking to the past to justify our cruel and barbaric present.
if “they” cared about what was bad for you they would have taken cigarettes, alcohol, processed foods, hormone and antibiotic filled foods, and genetically modified foods off the matket. but they dont so they havent. theres only one thing they care about and thats money. if they can mass produce it and the people want it, its going to be sold to us
Hi Terni. You are right. In a world where money and profit comes first, our health, the environment and everything else will always come secondary to that. “As a vegan I’m not really interested in discussing what type of diet our caveman ancestors ate, or whether God put animals here for us to eat, or if we can obtain enough protein from a plant-based diet, or if humans are biologically herbivore or omnivore. These are tired arguments. What we should be discussing is how we can move forward and evolve as a race. The killing of billions of animals every year for food and clothing has helped put this planet and its inhabitants in the crisis situation that we’re now faced with. And veganism offers a solution. Global warming, the declining health of our population, polluted waterways and depleted soil, fished out oceans, starvation in poor countries, species extinction and rain forest destruction are but a few of the problems that can be addressed and remedies if more people embraced a vegan lifestyle. This is why being vegan is so important…if offers viable solutions and compassionate answers. It saves lives….not only animal lives but very likely our own. The human race has baked itself into a corner, veganism offers a way out. Lets move forward” – Rich Lysloff
Please “Veganisim” is not a cure all to our global problems. Don’t you think if everyone gave up meat today, a hell of a lot more land would be needed to farm veggies for all the new vegans? I mean come on, the solutions to the worlds problems doesn’t fit into that one tiny box. Sorry. Its way bigger and way more complicated then that..
is it possible that u r that much stupid??? probablly the milk did that to ya, … made u that much stupid. u idiot!
The dairy industry is powerful. The last thing they want to do is to have people stop using their products. So what do you think the motivation is?!
Your grammar is horrible.
Take off those blinders! If smoking is bad for you – why is it legally on the market. If alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana – then why is there a liquor store on every street? If GMO’s are proven not to be safe – why does 90% of the food on your shelves contain gmo’s? And why did Barack Obama sign the Monsanto Protection Act? If microwaving your food is not very good for you – then why can you buy one day or night? If fluoride is bad for you – then why is it in your toothpaste and in your tap water? If aluminium is very bad for you – then why is it in every antiperspirant on the market? DO YOU REALLY STILL THINK THERE IS SOME UNKNOWN PERSON OUT THERE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH? You are mistaken. It is your own responsibility to educate yourself about what you put into your mouth and feed your children. If you die from cancer one day caused by gmo’s for example, you cannot say that you didn’t know. Ignorance about what you eat and where it comes from and what you do to your own body is not an excuse, just like ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
I’m just gonna’ note that most GMOs ARE safe.
indeed ignorance kills!
I’d just like to applaud everyone leaving sensible, polite and thoughtful comments. It’s only through our own research, study and investigating that we should draw conclusions, inn all aspects of our lives. Let’s hear all sides of the argument but leave out the rude and derogatory language.
For my part I’d say that cows milk is designed for calves and to my knowledge no animal on the planet drinks another’s milk into adulthood?
Truvia is ok. But honey still has sugar. I think honey tastes better but you shouldent add lots of honey because it is less processed.
Oh and I notice that while they point out that your body regulates blood acidity by removing calcium from your bones, the exact same chemical that causes the osteoclasts increased activity putting more calcium from the bones into the blood also causes more calcium to be taken up from the urine and GI tract. Also the system is based on the blood calcium level so if you had been drinking milk then you would have a higher blood calcium level anyway and so your body wouldn’t need to add anymore. I’m sorry but this article is just the most agenda driven, one-sided piece you could imagine. It is doing nothing short of intentionally decieveing you.
Just out of curiosity, what do you think the “agenda” is? Informing people of the possible adverse affects of drinking milk to improve their health doesn’t seem like such a bad agenda. The dairy industry has spents billions upon billions of dollars pushing their agenda and brainwashing society to think they must drink milk. Aside from the relative lack of any practical value in an adult human’s diet, there is actually emerging evidence that seems to suggest a causal relationship between dairy consumption and hormone driven cancers such as prostate, testicular and breast. The rates of these forms of cancer have skyrocketed in Japan over the last 50 years, which coincides with their adoption of a dairy-heavy diet.
is this satire or a serious post? Honestly can’t tell. Surely people are aware that all protiens no matter what their soucre are transported around your body as an acid. You also have carbon dioxide dissolved in your blood which makes it acidic. So by this theory everyone should be devoid of calcium. Second, your body needs vitamin D to facilitate the uptake of calcium. Your body produces this in your skin when exposed to UV radiation. The reason there are more cases of bone problems as you move away from the equator is because UV intensity goes down as does total sun light. The reason more dairy is consumed there is because they have more bone problems not the other way around.
If you don’t believe me then you can look at the instances of bone problems before the marketing and push for health benefits of dairy and compare them with after. If what this article is saying was true then there should be a large increase in the occurance of reduced bone density in young and middle aged addults. (the reason I have selected only these age groups is because activity also has an effect on bone mass. If you lead an inactive life then your bones will deteriorate and old people tend to be signifficanlty less active. This voids them from particiaption as they add a 3rd variable which is not under consideration)
Also do some research on The affects of Dairy in Japan. They only started drinking it after American influence and they have a lot of statistics for before and after.
I’m not going to tell you what they say on the matter because people need to learn to do proper research on this stuff, not just google it and hit the top 5 results.
Thanks bloke. We need more of you around!
What about The China Study?
There is a big difference between animal protein and plant protein. Plant protein is by far more compatible with our bodies. If you do not care about animals or your health, surely you care at least about the environment? Farming animals for food is very detrimental to the environment. The amount of crop it takes to raise one bull could feed a whole village. Factory farming is responsible for more than 50% of greenhouse gasses. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. All the antibiotics and growth hormones which are injected into these animals all end up in the environment again.
If you’re going to start an article, don’t use good luck charms as an example of unfounded beliefs, that one is obvious and unrelated to nutrition. Also, don’t use saliva on wounds as an unfounded belief too- that one is actually incredibly founded, due to the fact the chemicals in saliva act as a disinfectant and clean wounds, but by this point I already had a good idea of what was coming in the article.
See, what I don’t understand is that I drink loads of milk- full cream Jersey Cow milk, almost every day. I drink it in my coffee, I have it with my cereal. It doesn’t give me a bad stomach, or have any adverse affects. I don’t have acne, I’ve never broken a bone, fractured a bone, had respiratory problems, digestive problems… I think too many people nowadays are tying their own genetic intolerances to the whole human race and branding us with the same conditions.
If you’re allergic to nuts, yes, nuts are bad for you. Don’t eat them, they can cause all sorts of problems. Does this mean everyone should avoid nuts? No. If you’re lactose intolerant, or have some form of allergy, then by all means, don’t drink milk, but no single theory accounts for every single person. An incredibly large portion of the world drinks milk, and not every single one has acne, asthma, or breaks a bone. My sister had infantile asthma, then grew out of it, and she doesn’t even drink milk! I on the other hand love milk, and have had no adverse effects from it thus far. Considering I’ve been alive and chugging it for about 20 or so, studies say I should have had one of MANY problems by now. Genetics contribute more to your nutritional requirements than anything. If your ancestors have eaten or drank something, then your body will be more physiologically predisposed to accept those substances. It’s one of the reasons that the food or water in other countries can cause illness or gives you a bad stomach, it’s not that humans aren’t MEANT to eat or drink those things, it’s just a difference in what your body is naturally used to. The same goes for milk, many people enjoy milk and live long healthy fruitful lives. Many of the longest lived people in the world drink milk, and alcohol and do things that you aren’t supposed to do, and they break convention by surviving much longer. As I say, it’s down to YOU as a person, not solely what you eat.
Don’t get me wrong, I get the health craze which is currently coming along. “Healthy” Alternatives to food and drink are commonplace in todays society. Vegetarianism, Veganism, many theories abound around what you’re supposed to eat. Being an avid gardener and farmer, I personally enjoy a heavily organic vegetarian diet. I’ll eat fish once in a while to switch things up because I get bored of Quinoa and salad. I only really lack the finalities of Veganism due to that and my milk intake. Now I’m sure you could argue this is why I don’t suffer any real problems with my health, but at the same time, if milk were the sole cause of the health problems then something should have occured by now. Scientific studies say this, they say that, they conflict and we get massive arguments about silly things like whether milk is good for us. For every study AGAINST milk, there are just as many FOR it. The choice is entirely up to the people, but going so far as to call it a myth that needs debunking is ludicrous. Allow people to make the choice for themselves and see what works best for them, rather than poke them with the “YOU MUST NOT DRINK MILK OR IT WILL WEAKEN YOUR BONES” stick.
It’s just a suggestion though, you can do whatever you want as an alternative to milk if you don’t like it. I’m just saying that if you really do suffer and can target milk as the source of the problem, then stop drinking milk, but if not, don’t put the blame on it and attempt to misinform or mislead people 🙂
The fact is, there is actually more evidence that proves there is little to no benefit to consuming milk beyond infancy than there is that supports it. That’s not even taking into account the studies that show there may actually be adverse affects to consuming milk, especially the the majority of milk now on the market, which comes from cows pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. Sure, it’s true that someone could drink milk their entire life and not suffer any negative consequences. There are also people who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day for 60 years and don’t get emphysema or lung cancer–that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
I have to agree with Andrew regarding milk….i am 66 years old and love milk…i have drunk it all my life, at least a glass a day..as well as in tea,coffee,cereals etc ..i am told i have very good skin for my age,..no wrinkles, healthy bones, ive never suffered any debilitating illnesses, and although just a little overweight in the past 2-3 years it is due to my love of chocolates and a glass of Baileys…not my love for milk….I have listened to so many comments totally against milk, that i feel i had to balance the adverse comments with my own…i am a lover of milk and i feel it has done me no harm in the many years i have drunk it…in fact just the opposite. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions,of course…but for 66 years milk as been a huge part of my diet and ive suffered no ill effects…in fact just the opposite.
I have an aunt who smoked those big tabaco cigars for over 70 years. She died at the ripe old age of 93. Just because my aunt lived almost a century despite of being a regular smoking does not mean smoking wonk kill other people. Perhaps your body can tolerate milk with no ill effect but that does not mean others can
t
I LOVE MILK!!!!!!!!!! ITS NOT BAD
Rob, if you think milk isn’t so bad go here. https://www.mercyforanimals.org/dairy/ Thank goodness people are trying to show us what really happens in the animal industry-things you would never do to your dog or cat or do yourself to any animal so why is it okay to pay people to hurt animals for you??
Amongst a long list of things most of these cows have milking machines hooked up to their sore boobs; I think at least the ladies can relate. Some, in addition to being inflamed are bleeding or infected. Can you imagine? Stop torturing animals when it isn’t necessary.
There is plenty of nondairy milk, butter and even ice cream out there that is much better for you and tastes good. If given the choice, based purely on taste, I will still pick “original” almond milk on my cereal – it both tastes better and is creamier than cow’s milk, has as much calcium and isn’t full of antibiotics and hormones.
I will only say that when I switched my Achilles tendons stopped being tight. I had no idea the two things might be related until someone told me. I didn’t need sleeping pills to sleep any more either and my skin is much smoother on my face.
Go ahead and hug a tree, join PETA.
We grown ups like to have a reasonable amount of milk, and bacon too.
Stop spreading hippie lies and unfounded claims.
I like to bash PETA and tree-huggers as much as the next guy, but even if you have no regard for how the animals are treated, are you not concerned about the hormones and antibiotics they are pumped full of in order to keep the milk factory going? I drank milk for the first 30 years of my life, but I have a hard time believing that anyone who has done acutal research into what they are putting into their body would make the informed decision to keep drinking milk.
It’s funny you talk about spitting lies when the person is saying we abuse animals for our own gain.
That isn’t quite a lie is it? It isn’t being a hippie that makes people care about the well being of other creatures, it’s being more than what the human race should be by showing proper compassion for the life around us.
If you are devoid of the ability to emphasize that’s fine, but making fun of people who can just makes you look sad and very unintelligent. It shows you are a person who can only look into the box, and would never even consider what could be around it.
Yeah that ‘mercy for animals’ title doesn’t seem bias at all….
Did u get your degree from Pacific Western?
Quick summary: “Limiting dairy food consumption can lead to low intake of many nutrients, including calcium.” Wuthrich, Schmid, & Sieber, 2005. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. (see article title below).
Interested in this topic, I did some research… I have been researching nutrition for 20 years, but my doctorate is in Clinical Psychology. I have a respect for science and “correlation does not equal correlation,” neatly packaged as it might be. As I am trying to take in 71 grams of protein and 1200mg of calcium per day, milk seems to offer itself as a really top-notch, ‘go-to-food.’
I found this article which seemed to address my issue and quite a few other commenters concerns. It was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (2005), so it is both recent and peer reviewed. It was a review of the literature and there was a mild (mild, people, mild!) criticism given to selection of studies, but still, the study helped me feel more comfortable that nutritionists haven’t ‘black-balled’ milk, and neither will I.
Wuthrich B, Schmid A, Walther B, Sieber R. Milk consumption does not lead to mucus production or occurrence of asthma. J Am Coll Nutr 2005;24(6 Suppl):547S – 55S.
The conclusions are as follows:
(summary and conclusions from the literature review):
The belief that milk consumption leads to an increased mucus production is present among some members of the public. The following conclusions can be drawn from the results of the different investigations:
1. People who believe that milk increases mucus formation are more likely to report changes in sensory perceptions related to mucus after drinking milk than those who do not hold the same belief.
2. In a double blind trial, symptoms of increased mucus formation were detected by healthy adults after consumption of both cows’ milk and a non-milk beverage with similar sensory properties.
3. Furthermore, persons who were convinced of mucus formation due to milk consumption showed more respiratory symptoms. It is possible that aggregation after mixing of an emulsion such as milk with saliva can partly explain this sensation.
According to different investigations the consumption of milk does not seem to exacerbate the symptoms of asthma and a relationship between milk consumption and the occurrence of asthma cannot be established. However, there are a few cases documented in which people with a cow’s milk allergy presented with asthma-like symptoms.
(my comment below)
Further…my concerns were addressed as well (read below). I will be drinking milk, eating yogurt, cheese, and consuming my kale smoothie! Even, so…I will still struggle to reach my goals for 1200mg of calcium and 71g of protein per day! Sheesh!
below: Other Findings of the study
According to Australian studies, subjects perceived some parameters of mucus production to change after consumption of milk and soy-based beverages, but these effects were not specific to cows’ milk because the soy-based milk drink with similar sensory characteristics produced the same changes.
In individuals inoculated with the common cold virus, milk intake was not associated with increased nasal secretions, symptoms of cough, nose symptoms or congestion.
Individuals who believe in the mucus and milk theory report more respiratory symptoms after drinking milk.
In some types of alternative medicine, people with bronchial asthma are advised not to eat mucus-forming foods, especially all kinds of dairy products.
In rare cases asthma can occur in patients with confirmed food allergy against cow’s milk proteins.
People with asthma are sometimes advised to abstain from the consumption of dairy products, but research shows that consumption of milk does not significantly change various lung function parameters.
Limiting dairy food consumption can lead to low intake of many nutrients, including calcium.
(study findings above; my comment below)
I really feel it is hard to separate fact from hype and misinformation from those with just enough information or interest to be pretty dangerous (this goes for those in my field too). The truth is that nutrition is still an early science where correlation remains king. We still have much to learn. And I do not disagree that there are other ways to get calcium and protein, but neither will I denigrate it to a “harmful” or even “neutral” food. Not just yet anyway…
And despite Matt’s choice of language; he does have a point about Vivian’s failure to respond. However, another commenter urges to prove the superfood status of milk. I champion anyone to find that article; I would really like to read it and more on the “proven” bioavailability of milk. –That’s what I would really like to know more about.
Best!
According to Australian studies, subjects perceived some parameters of mucus production to change after consumption of milk and soy-based beverages, but these effects were not specific to cows’ milk because the soy-based milk drink with similar sensory characteristics produced the same changes.
In individuals inoculated with the common cold virus, milk intake was not associated with increased nasal secretions, symptoms of cough, nose symptoms or congestion.
Individuals who believe in the mucus and milk theory report more respiratory symptoms after drinking milk.
In some types of alternative medicine, people with bronchial asthma are advised not to eat mucus-forming foods, especially all kinds of dairy products.
In rare cases asthma can occur in patients with confirmed food allergy against cow’s milk proteins.
People with asthma are sometimes advised to abstain from the consumption of dairy products, but research shows that consumption of milk does not significantly change various lung function parameters.
Limiting dairy food consumption can lead to low intake of many nutrients, including calcium.
Author Conclusion:
The belief that milk consumption leads to an increased mucus production is present among some members of the public. The following conclusions can be drawn from the results of the different investigations:
1. People who believe that milk increases mucus formation are more likely to report changes in sensory perceptions related to mucus after drinking milk than those who do not hold the same belief.
2. In a double blind trial, symptoms of increased mucus formation were detected by healthy adults after consumption of both cows’ milk and a non-milk beverage with similar sensory properties.
3. Furthermore, persons who were convinced of mucus formation due to milk consumption showed more respiratory symptoms. It is possible that aggregation after mixing of an emulsion such as milk with saliva can partly explain this sensation.
According to different investigations the consumption of milk does not seem to exacerbate the symptoms of asthma and a relationship between milk consumption and the occurrence of asthma cannot be established. However, there are a few cases documented in which people with a cow’s milk allergy presented with asthma-like symptoms.
Did it ever occur to you that these people might believe that it increases mucus precisely because it does? Because that is their experience, and it actually does for them? That study proves nothing. Use logic. There is a reason these people believe it increases mucus.
I am a skeptic, I don’t know what to believe, but I tend to be wary correlational tests being used as “proof” of one thing or another. Remember the age old saying: Correlation DOES NOT mean causation.
Here are a couple of snippets from the article that bothered me:
“Consumption of dairy products, particularly at age 20 years, was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in old age”
This simply means that there is a RELATIONSHIP between the number of hip fractures and the amount of milk consumed. From this data, you CANNOT conclude that drinking milk causes hip fracture in old age. There could very well be a third confounding variable that they are not accounting for.
“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 doesn’t mean that the milk made their bones more fragile. That would be implying causation, and we all know correlational studies can’t do that.
“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.”
This study’s conclusion is WRONG. The hypothesis is : “higher consumption of milk or other food sources of calcium by adult women protects against hip or forearm fractures.” A correlational study CANNOT address this hypothesis. It cannot prove that one thing protects another thing, it can only show ASSOCIATIONS. Technically, the hypothesis should be “higher consumption of milk or other food sources of calcium by adult women is NEGATIVELY ASSOCIATED with hip or forearm fractures.”
There are TONS of correlational studies that are pretty much meaningless. A common example is “taller people are associated with higher levels of happiness”. There is nothing you can really conclude from this besides the fact that there is an ASSOCIATION. Does being tall make you happy? Does being happy make you tall? A correlational test cannot answer that for you. There are MANY other factors that are related to happiness and being tall is just one of them. It would be INCORRECT for me to conclude that being tall makes you happy.
Long story short, you cannot make assumptions from correlational tests. They are only helpful for scientists to decide whether to further investigate relationships between two variables. Correlation DOES NOT MEAN CAUSATION.
Remember that just because a study is published, it does not mean that there aren’t any mistakes, confounding factors, biases, etc. Educate yourself on different test analyses and the kinds of conclusions you can make from them.
Thank you! One of just a handful of sane people here who actually knows smth about scientific studies!
It seems that most of the “don’t believe this article” comments are not from people who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, so why are they even reading this? It looks to me like someone directed them to the article, hoping to discredit it. I was once told by my ob/gyn that all post-menopausal women should take a calcium supplement, and I began having heart palpitations, which stopped when I discontinued their use. Another doctor told me to cut way back or even stop dairy, for many of the reasons given here. my husband quit drinking milk and he stopped snoring because he stopped having issues with mucous, which dairy causes. Check out Kymberly Snyder’s “Beauty Detox Solution” (she is a clinical nutritionist) and “The Calcium Lie” by Robert Thompson, M.D., and see what THEY have to say about milk consumption. The proof is out there. I’m strongly considering starting the SaveOurBones program. I’m convinced that this is a strong program that can help me fight the osteoporosis I have recently been diagnosed with.
You can debate as much as you want but if milk is beneficial and does not have the negative acidifying effects that are proposed then the statistics are incorrect, it also means that our body’s are comfortable processing cow’s milk which we know to be false as our body builds a tolerance towards milk. We also know there is a vast number of people intolerant to dairy and lactose, I am unaware of intolerance to vegetables which we were designed to eat so it would seem likely there is nothing wrong with the person with the intolerance but simply with the common diet.
I’ve been a doctor for 27 years. I’ve studied here in the US and abroad.
This article is nonsense. Humans have been drinking cows milk for a very VERY long time. Somebody is lactose intolerant and they say milk is bad?
Every person reading this should know this person is a quack.
They shouldn’t be put down tho. Made to shut up and everybody know they are badly informed.
Milk is very healthy. They only it is bad is if you have a aversion to it.
So drink a lot of milk.
Being a doctor makes you an expert on THIS subject? There is extensive science on this subject widely available for anyone to see.
If DanMD is so sure of his comments, why didn’t he share his actual identity along with the research he has that proves milk consumption is ok and healthy for everyone? Come on, Dan MD, tell us.
He likely works in the dairy industry.
Since when does being a doctor equal being an expert on milk? Have you studied it? Do you have any idea what you’re talking about? The obvious statement: ‘humans have been drinking milk for thousands of years’…ya…AND? Does that make it okay? Please. Dig a little deeper. Pull out all the stops and dazzle us with your information, doctor.
Sure, drink plenty of milk and become your regular client. LOL
The fact you’re a doctor doesn’t make you a nutrion expert. As i recall correctly, doctors all around the world is given app. 30 hours of lecture in human nutrion. Never take nutritional advice from a doctor. EVER.
I notice beneficial changes when I cut dairy out of my diet. I’m not lactose intolerant and have no other health issues, but things I thought were normal like killer monthly cramps go away without dairy. I’m definitely not going to be drinking a lot of milk….
And just because humans do something for a long time doesn’t make it good for us….
Thank you, random internet Doctor, what would we do without your opinion
good points there. I checked on the net {for more info|for more information|to find out more|to learn
https://dumm.co.uk
Does milk have conjugated linoleic acids? Those are suppose to be healthy to be bones, am I right or wrong?
As someone who experienced how drinking cow’s milk can damage the human body, I can’t thank enough to the author for spreading the word. Milk and dairy industries and their lobbies are so powerful, they don’t let this information reach the masses.
Such a wrong article. While milk may not be the best source, there is no reason to be so negative about it.
ALL extremes are bad.
https://www.nutritionatc.hawaii.edu/HO/1997/9.htm
Do you have any thoughts on organic oat milk?
Whoever wrote this article should be put down, or at least put into pasture. All they wanted to do was to pull a bunch of BS and try to scare the public. Why do you think infants have milk? Because it is a highly nutritive source of vitamins, protein, and calcium. Proteins are made of amino acids. They are not acidifying in the human body. Proteins are proteins and they are ALL made from the same stuff. I hate reading this completely uninformative BS. People, read a biology book!!!!!
They specifically say the cow milk is different than human milk. Human milk is what infants should be drinking. Not all proteins are the same. they are lots of differing attributes when comparing things like soy, whey, and casein protein. Besides, I do not think they are singling out the protein as the bad thing, but the cow milk in general that is acidifying. There are also several broad studies specifically referenced so you can feel free to check them. scare tactics usually use vague references. I believe this article to be a good representation for the argument against cow milk.
Unless you are an expert on the subject, and has been doing extensive research on this particular subject (which does not sound like by this comment) you are in the completely wrong mind to come here and say someone should be put down for writing such an article, buddy.
Is ignorant people like you who will drive this world into its grave, and is not until all natural resources are gone that people will realize.
Keep on drinking your cow milk, keep you mouth shut until you have something significant to say. Maybe when you get your bone disease you will have time to read that biology book.
I’ve been vegetarian for 25 years, consuming very little milk&dairy products, healthy diet with probably more than the average consumption of fruit and vegetables. However I’ve just been diagnosed with osteoporosis -3.1 hip density. I’ve also taken vitamin D for about 6 years. I’ve been advised to take the generic equivalent of Fosomax. My mother had osteoporosis so genetics could have played a part.
I would like to go on the Saveourbones diet but my bmi (19) only just creeps into the ‘normal’ range so I can’t afford to start losing weight. I am quite confused at the moment, wondering just what to do for the best.
Excellent article on dangers of acidic animal protein. As an alternative, you mention almond milk. I have been using almond milk every morning for the nutritional benefits. I now find now that Phylates in nuts and seeds, which are not digestible by humans, will bind with minerals and other nutrients in the stomach and cause those nutrients to be passed, possibly leading to mineral deficiencies. After the body has disbursed nutrients from food, tossing back a handful of almonds as a snack probably is a good thing, but using almond milk in addition to other foods(like my bowl of oatmeal, strawberries, blueberries, flaxseed, etc) may be counter-productive. Can you comment on that and/or provide an alternative to the alternative?
Thanks again for the excellent article.
Harry
How about Coconut milk?!!!
Yes! This was the best question yet!
Thanks for getting this info out, Vivian. (Wish you could eliminate the ranting from the angry know-nothings above.) The Harvard School of Public Health has done studies that back up what you are saying about milk being bad for bone health. Incidentally, the sugar alcohol, xylitol, is actually alkalinizing in the body and some studies indicate that it is also good for bone health. I also use almond milk and it’s very easy to make (and so much healthier than those on the market). Just blend 1 cup almonds (best to remove skins if you can) with 3 cups water and strain through a nut bag. I use a bit of xylitol to give it that touch of sweetness that makes it taste more like milk.
Hello everyone,
There is a very good book on nutrition called ‘The China Study’ by T. Colin Campbell MD.
It has a very interesting chapter about milk.
Seeya