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
I go to GYN dr. this Friday to find out results from the Bone Density test I took last week, I know I have Osteo. but am very informed about prescriptions and what they do to you, and I’ve taken good vitamins in last few years, so I am prepared what I’m going to take. Dr.. Whitaker has a great vitamin for osteo, it has everything in it. I am 75 yrs old. Last test I took 5 yrs ago, I was fine. But some prescriptions draw the calicum from your bones. Nexium?
I wish facebook had a “Don’t Like” button.
Hi Vivian, I just want to say “great job”. I was raised believing that milk is the greatest calcium for bone protection. I am 58 and small framed so I was told a few years ago that I am a prime candidate for osteoporosis. I used to drink a lot of skim milk but for some reason have stopped and I seem to be able to digest better. Now it all makes sense. Thank you for sharing this information with all of us and I will surely tell many about this. Once again thank you and thank you Sherry for giving me your website. Carmel
My thoughts. It was too long to post as a comment here, so I made it into a hub:
https://hubpages.com/hub/The-Anti-Cows-Milk-Myth-Haters-Lies-Lies-Lies-and-More-Lies
That is the most rambling, incoherent, and unsupported-by-fact RANT I have ever seen. Yes, some children do not have the proper enzymes in their gut to correctly break down the lactoglobulin in ANY milk, human or otherwise. Thankfully, we live in a day and age where we do have alternatives that, while they are significantly less favorable, will allow such children to live. Adults should not drink milk of ANY kind, human or otherwise. No mammal on earth (except us) drinks the milk of another species, and no mammal on earth (except us) drinks milk after weaning. There is evidence that the same held true for humans, as even still to this day, the overwhelming majority of humans stop producing the enzyme we use in infancy to break down those proteins shortly after weaning.
Well, my comment turned out to a bit too lengthy again. So I’ll let you know on another hub. Until I post it…later.
Stephan, my last thoughts on the matter have been posted:
https://hubpages.com/t/2671a2
Unless…=)
No mammal on earth wears clothes, no mammal on earth cooks potatoes…should we run around naked and eat raw potatoes just because all the other mammals do it?
dogs wear sweaters, and just because animals dont cook a potato doesnt mean they wouldnt eat a cooked potato, either way your argument is about as effective as chewing bubble gum to solve a math equation.
HEAR HEAR!
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! This can’t be! Then, oh my gosh, who’s going to drink the milk from this human milk producing woman who’s breasts are engorging with human milk?” if you would spend less time thinking of those “engorging” breasts and spend more time doing some actual research yourself, i might have actually finished reading that post.
Humans wernt built perfect, otherwise none of this would matter. theres a girl whos allergic to water for pete’s sake. stuff like that happens. no matter what the argument is anywhere or what anyone says milk isnt a REQUIREMENT for us to survive, just the vitamins and nutrients we get are, and if you find something that gives you those nutrients, eat/drink it. but none of that matters because again Milk isnt REQUIRED for us to survive.
I have a little girl who suffers from arthritis and has to have injections on a regular basis.
Can you tell me if anything can be done to help her?
Thank you
Is yogurt also bad for bones?
You can do some research on natural remedies like unrefined blackstrap molasses, apply cider vinegar, cod liver oil, and this list continues for arthritis, you might find the following to be quite useful:
https://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/arthritis3.html.
Whatever you find that you believe will work for your child, you can take it to God in prayer (who knows her body better than you and her?) or you could forget EC and just go in prayer about it. Or do something else.
Regardless of which route you choose to take, in the end you’ll still be the one who has to make that final decision for her. So all the best and excellent health.
If i have a bowl of milk with cereal,. How can i calculate what is offset by alkaline foods, or calcium supplements to render a nil or at least some residual positive effect calcium wise or acidity?
Eg if I eat one banana, is that enough alkaline to neutralise acidity and therefore calcium depletion? I eat nuts,seeds with cereal..all alkaline foods I use a teaspoon of alkaline powder in a glass of water..per day..what effect does that have Etc Etc
David
very good article
Hi, I was on Fosamax for about a year then my daughter in-law’s mom broke her Femer and her Dr. told her to get off Fosamax. I quit taking it and my Dr insisted that I start taking it again. she said I had more of a chance to break a bone without it. Against my better judgement, I started taking it again. I am so confused I don’t know what to do…. Help…
There is a new flax milk product on the market.
Have you tried it? We liked the vinalla best.
Hello Dr. Goldschmdt,
Thank you for your scientific insights and research to help all. One question, how do you feel about coconut milk? Is is acidic in our systems or alkaline? Would this help build stronger bones in your program?
Respectfully,
Pat
Please send to my home e-mail.
Dear Vivian I would really like to know on what evidence you base your claims about milk!
Hi Heidi,
My sources are cited within the quotes in the article.
People, she’s referring to cow’s milk not goat’s milk. I believe there is a difference between the two. I am lactose intolerant to cow’s milk but am fine with goat’s milk. If they are the same then why the different reaction? Anyway, the milk mentioned in the bible I believe is not cow’s milk. In those areas they drink camel’s milk or goat’s milk.
Is it true that Vitamin A cancels out Vitamin D? This has been told us by a medical doctor.
I have been confused about the milk issue for years. For all of my 50+ years, I have drank milk: 2-4 glasses per day growing up, one-two glasses per day as an adult. The last 20 years, I have drank only raw goat milk. Before that – standard processed grocery store brands of cow milk. I have osteopenia and have fallen and broken bones three times. Was this the fault of ALL the milk …….. or just the processed cow’s milk I drank the fist 30+ years of my life? My best friend’s 95 year old mother drinks 1/2 gallon of milk per day and she always has. She drinks raw goat’s milk. Her bones are strong and she has never broken one, even when she took a serious fall. She has always been incredibly healthy and is on NO medications. Pretty impressive at her age. However, last year she switched to regular grocery store milk and now has mucus and illness. Is the processed cow’s milk the problem? or just age catching up with her? Who knows? It’s very confusing.
not disclaiming the question you have what so ever but it did bring up a thought, why do people keep asking if milk is to blame for a broken bone? If enough pressure is inflicted to something in a bad way, its going to break. i speak loosely on this example so dont take it literal please but, if a pencil were to drink something to make its bones stronger, if you put your thumbs in the middle of it and your fingers on the tips and apply enough pounds of pressure with your thumbs its still going to break. same goes for a human bone, if theres enough weight or force pushed onto a bone in a way that it shouldnt be pushed, its highly likely to be prone to breaking during that situation. if someone falls down the stairs, they pick up speed, wen the pick up speed their body has weight to it and with the speed+Weight + whatever immovable object and or heavier object is in the way, the impact can very well break a bone, milk or no milk. there’s only so much a chemical compound can do to make something stronger, that is unless your Wolverine(X-Men) and have adamantium poured all over your bones, but quite frankly that sounds to dangerous to me.
Hello Vivienne and community.
I am just livid because my physician recently put me on Fosamax. I’ve only been on it for a month. I told him I was afraid to try any of the so called “bone” drugs and he replied, “You can’t afford NOT to take Fosamax as your spine is collapsing.
I’ve had three arthroplasties of the hip and one very bad knee fracture. They said that my hip joint was eaten away from rheumatoid arthritis (diagnosed at 16, now 61 what an irony in those numbers! ) but now they say it’s osteoporosis.
I know from what I have read here and from other research I have done that bones are continually repairing themselves. My Q is this: Am i too far gone physically to ever come back to good bone health? And from what I understand, I have very little cartilage left in any of my joints.
I know that $67 for your program is a very minimal price but because of economical inconsistencies I cannot afford it at this time.
I can save up for it but I get income once a month. Therefore I am SO thankful for the hints, tips you have given all of for free.
And lastly Sally Field, the actress is the spokesperson for Boniva. Even the rich and famous are getting sold a horrible bill of health!
How about organic cow’s milk?
Milk is throughout the Bible. I don’t think God would allow people to drink milk if it weren’t OK for us. The problem w/ milk now is it’s homogenized, pasteurized and full of antibiotics and hormones. I drink raw milk, grass fed. That is how God intended for us to drink it. I don’t believe it is bad for you when consumed that way. Man has messed up everything. And, of course moderation in everything.
Amazing…just amazing. I wouldn’t worry about osteoporosis if I were you – I’d worry about choking on an udder.
I agree, I now drink raw organic milk and my teeth no longer hurt. I no longer use fluoridated tooth paste either, and believe in the research of Ramiel Nagel who shows how to remineralise teeth with milk and horsetail tea for instance, amongst other things
What makes you think that God has ever written one single letter?
The Bible is a collection of books written by Jewish prophets to justify the invasion of Canaan and the wars to keep the land.
Why don’t you consider all the evidence – God INSPIRED the Bible and used the writers as “secretaries” – making sure they said what he wanted man to know – and prophesy is being fulfilled to the letter today and everything in the Bible that touches on science is true even when it was written before man knew certain things – such as it referring to the Circle of the Earth when man thought it was flat. It’s logical that God would give us a guide for living!
amen.
This is in response to what you said about God not writing the Bible, the Bible was written by men inspired by the Holy
Spirit, all are
Gods words. God does talk to people. People just aren’t quiet enough to listen, or don’t understand its him talking to us in our spirit and mind.
This is science, how about you keep myths out of it? Including any deities.
my personal experience with milk. i grow up with raw milk from local farmer until i was about 14 years old then switch to store milk i developed chornic sinus problems. i try stonefield organic milk still pasturize, i try unsweeten almond breeze still sinus problem i recently found a health store that sell raw milk needly to said sinus problem are at a minimun now. so don’t talk raw milk down. i try all the stuff in local grocery stores even almond breeze. if i couldn’t get raw milk i would use almond breeze because pasterization milk cloggs your arteries all around bad choice. you body absorbs more calcium from green vegetables
My wholistic health care practitioner has advised me to not eat nuts and seeds because they contain phytic acid which blocks the proper absorption of iron, zinc, calcium and other minerals. I have stopped drinking nut and soy milks and returned to organic skim milk. With osteoporosis at -3.8 in the lower spine at age 57, I’m confused with what would be best to drink? Will milk harm or help? Thank you for a reply.
Get a regular doctor, not a BS “holistic doctor” that does not really help you.
I am a 71 year old male with osteopenia. My doctor said to take plenty of calcium supplements. However, my research has informed me that Vit D, vit K, Magnesium, Boron, Zinc, Potassium, and several other things are also required to strengthen bones.
I have been an avid milk drinker all my life. I just love the taste and the satiating feeling I get from a glass of cool milk.
For many years though, I had gastro intestinal problems, bloating, heartburn, IBS and etc.. Then several years ago, I switched to raw goat’s milk as my neighbors started raising milk goats. The GI problems disappeared. Raw goat’s milk was the only change to my diet, thus I attribute that to be the reason. Raw goat’s milk and the goat cheese, and kefir has many essential elements for digestion such as: enzymes and probiotics. It sure straightened out my digestive problems!
My neighbors have since gotten out of the business, but gave me a nanny. So, I will be getting my much loved milk and byproducts from my own goat from now on. She will be mated in the fall for the first time and I can go back to goat milk. In the meantime I am drinking Organic 2% cow milk. I do think milk was intended, by our Creator, to be a part of our diet. As the Bible says: the promised land was a land flowing with milk and honey. BUT, I think the milk was goat’s milk. Even in today’s world, more people on earth drink goat milk than drink cow milk. The US and Euro populations, however are the exception. Could it be the economic feasibility of producing cow’s milk??? [ That’s a retorical question, LOL ] Thank you for listening I do believe Vivian is onto something here and plan to follow her advice. After all, if it don’t work folks, we have a year to ” get the money back’. So, if she is just trying to promote her idea to make a buck, she wouldn’t give us a year to try it out, 😉
Thank you for listening, Winfield
I will be 56 years old in December 2011 and I drink milk every day. I particularly drink it warm with a little honey at night before I go to sleep. I have never, ever had a broken bone or a fracture. Accidents do happen but I wouldn’t blame every fracture or broken bone on the consumption of dairy products. That’s just irresponsible. I happen to look a good 20 years younger than my age and I believe that my body benefits greatly from milk, eggs and even red meat. All things in moderation. That’s what I learned growing up and I believe it is true that it’s not what goes into one’s body that defiles them but rather what comes out. I’d think twice before I believed everything that is posted on this web page as factual. Case in point…the Dutch people eat cheese pretty much every day and they are known to be the tallest nation in the world. Cheese is dairy and yes, it does build strong bones. One thing I will not consume is soft drinks, colas, or carbonated water, nor will I use artificial sweeteners or margarine. These unnatural foods are the real dangers in the grocery stores.
You can make your own almond milk in a blender. I got this out of the Fit For Life book by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond and have used it on and off for years – but didn’t realise till I read your article how I can help my bones with it.
1/4 cup raw almonds
1 cup cold water
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (optional)
Blanch almonds by adding them to large frying pan containing 1 centimetre (1/2 inch) boiling water, allowing them to sit in water as it boils for about 30 seconds. The skins will loosen noticeably. Drain and pop skins off. Place blanced almonds in blender with 1 cup cold water. Run blender at high speed for 2-3 minutes until a thick white milk has formed. If you are going to drink almond milk straight, strain it through a fine sieve. If there is a lot of pulp, you have not blended long enough. If you are going to use the milk in a shake, there is no need to strain.
Julie, thanks so much for sharing. I never immagined it will be so easy to prepare at home and that it will taste soooo good!
Hi. Got a Q.
1.) Where can you buy raw almonds?
I often eat a Hershey’s Almond bar simply because there are almonds in it and I’m a chocoholic. 🙂
May I humbly suggest quality chocolate – it will be much more enjoying.
Hi Vivian,
I would appreciate your help and expertise,and
would like to know what I can do to increase my
bone density with out the use of perscription drugs. I was recommended to take Fosomax 70mg(one pill a week) I took it and ended up with
muscle spasams through out my body, heartburn,
upset stomach, headache. I could not lift my
arms, and still have a stiff neck,its better now
as I could not move it back and forth or sideways. I looked at the pamplet at the side affects and I had them all. I have never been in so much pain to was excrutiating. I will go the natural route from now on. I am through with perscription drugs.Please advise me
and thank you for your information.
Gay
thank you for the info.i for one do not drink cow’s milk bec i am lactose intolerant and have always tho’t th cow’s milk is only good for calves ha! anyway i will try to educate other people abt milk.once again thank you!
I know several people who can drink raw milk and they are lactose intolerant but tolerate the raw milk just fine.
Being an active senior I doubted the need for me to take Fosamax because of the side affects. With my doctor’s permission I stopped taking Fosamax but I have a bone density test coming up this year. I feel I can get enough calcium in my diet with organic skim milk/OJ and other foods plus a supplement. The article on cow’s milk was most interesting to me for that reason. I will consider other sources after reading this article.
I put a couple of drops of alkaline body balance
in my protein milk drink. Could that get rid of
the acidity ?
C.Y.
You quote: “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.” Do you happen to know which countries are these?
Thanks for the interesting article.
Thankyou so much for all the information about the Milk Myth – very interesting!I am so glad that for reaons of personal taste, I have avoided milk in food most of my life. Soy is definitely one to watch out for – a lot of mothers put their children on soy milk as an alternative to cow milk!
I never drank milk but now get raw milk from a local dairy and crave it. If you can get raw, you might love it as I now do.
Seriously people! This person is trying to get you to spend your money on their product. It is really unsafe to believe claims made by people like this. Reliable information is NOT obtained by someone trying to sell you their “solution” to a “problem” they are creating. Reasearch REAL sources before making a decision about this!
I am now 32 years old, we learned all of this in our 8th grade health class… I was a skeptic until I broke my leg last year. My orthopedic surgeon (who is world renowned) told me to avoid milk and dairy products. He just confirmed what I guess I already knew!
Seriously, Erika real sources are where her info comes from;Scientific Studies! She is trying to sell you her compiled knowledge to inform you of things you have obviously not researched. Do you feel the same is not true of milk producers. Get real!
You might want to check on this sources
https://www.bmj.com/content/308/6934/939.abstract
Conclusion : Frequent milk consumption before age 25 favourably influences hip bone mass in middle aged and older women.
https://www.ajcn.org/content/76/3/675.short
Conclusions: In growing children, long-term avoidance of cow milk is associated with small stature and poor bone health. This is a major concern that warrants further study.
this is such an uneduacated passage. i hate it when there is no actual research background supporting the claim. there should be numerous studies done arriving at the same result before this pathetic claim can be put on the internet and be found by a simple google search. stupid stupid stupid.
Thanks so much for all the very helpful information you share freely. My daughter has been nursing her son for 13 months now, although weaning him presently to morning and evening feedings, as she has gone back to work full time now. I am wondering what you would suggest she give him if cow’s milk is not recommeded? I have also heard some comments on soy milk not being very good either. A lot of juices are questionable as well. I would appreciate your recommendation in regard to what might be best for her to give him to drink so that he would have strong bones, etc. Thanks so much.
Please don’t let that child be deprived of cow’s milk just because of this author. Most of her claims only apply to older people that have already been afflicted by osteoporosis. Cow’s milk will help your daughter’s son grow stronger bones. Do a google scholar search if you don’t believe me, or look at the study I linked below.
Hi Margaret,
If you haven’t already, please download and read my free Ultimate Calcium Guide. In it, you’ll find a list of foods that contain calcium. Dairy products are not a good source of absorbable, readily available calcium.
5 or 6 years ago a bone doctor x-rayed by back and informed me I had a curved spine. He said it was probably from an accident. Now I learn it is not. could this be from Osteporosis? I hve ben told I have Osteoporosis. Can my spine be made straight if I increase my bone denisity?
It’s probably from the polio vaccine.
Can my spine be made straight if I increase my bone denisity?
As a lay person I don’t think so. You were probably born with it curved. My was dx at age 16 and I’m 72 and still have it. Just my 2 cents.
Raw goat’s milk (and I believe raw cow’s milk would be beneficial or OK, too) with carrot and barley powder in it. (Available from the AIM company… you can actually find it on my website: http://www.tendayshealth.com
While the benefits of milk consumption declines as you age, milk consumption at an early age up until your mid-20’s or even older have been proven through research studies to improve bone density and overall health. Some say this is “propaganda”, but published research studies are factual, based on actual evidence. This article does cite some research studies… but you conveniently left out some important information when citing them. For example, the study about no decreased fracture risk in women was done for women around the age of 40. Also, that was just one study. There were multiple studies that disagreed with it when I did some research of my own. If you look at children, there are several studies that show little to no consumption of cow milk produces weaker bones and poor stature.
Here’s a few studies you left out in your article.
https://www.bmj.com/content/308/6934/939.abstract
Conclusion : Frequent milk consumption before age 25 favourably influences hip bone mass in middle aged and older women.
https://www.ajcn.org/content/76/3/675.short
Conclusions: In growing children, long-term avoidance of cow milk is associated with small stature and poor bone health. This is a major concern that warrants further study.
While some of the information you’ve presented is true, please don’t give people only part of the truth. When I was younger I would believe articles like yours citing research studies and conveniently leaving out important bits. Now I’m at a research university and I know better. Let’s help people maintain healthy lives – not fill them with propaganda and lies.
Couldn’t have been said it better. I had to take an AP English course in high school to learn about all the types of fallacies articles (and other media) such as this try to include to seem more amazing. I don’t think one should have to take an AP course to be educated on how to think critically and realize when things just aren’t right. Plus…does a site that’s clearly trying to sell a book to you on the side really seem that credible?…really?
I’d like to read more on why Milk Is Not Good For You.
Although,I’m not the least bit suprised why Vitamin D Milk isn’t Good for You. I’ve had digestive problems in the past with Milk and have switched to Silk-A Natural Soy Milk and haven’t had any further problems. I use it in recipes, cereals, and drink it by the glass-full with no problems what-so-ever.
I know many people who can drink raw cow’s milk w/o the symptoms they get from the junk from the store. Try to find a local farmer who produces raw milk. It’s delicious. I’ve never been a milk drinker and now crave the raw milk. It’s yummy!
Raw Milk – caused to have Strep Throat, Scarlatina, and Rheumatic Fever, which landed me flat on my back in bed (no sitting up and bed pan only), on 5 Feb 1944 ’til along about May or June. That’s why Pasteurized and Homogenized milk was accepted. My heart murmur didn’t show up until years later, after my several flight physicals and on down ’til some where with in the last 10 years. I started taking Gelatin Caplets for bone & joint, due to broken finger nails. Over the years the nails became stronger and then the caplets were hard to find and for the past 2 years weren’t available at all. My nails had been a pitiful mess this past year and so I did a search and found K-Mart had 650 mg 2 daily, under their own label. I’m on my 2nd bottle now, although the nails aren’t back to where they’d been, they are getting better. I was told last May I was now at risk and given a prescription for “Fosamax”. A few years back I’d taken “Actonel” for a short while and woke up in the middle of the night with a nose bleed I couldn’t stop. I called a friend to take me to the ER and a box of Kleenex from which I was taking tissues out with both hands trying to keep up with the blood so it wouldn’t get all over my clothes and the car and… I read the label later and it mentioned it might effect sinus. I’ve had problems with my sinus for decades and never wanted to take any other vs.
Vivian, I would like to know if you know anything about Zometa(zoledronic acid) injection. I had cancer on my sacrum bone and had this injection for months. Is there anything I can do naturally to help? Thanks for your reply. Carolyn
What about low-fat raw goat’s milk?
I am not the least surprised. I am one of those who do not and cannot drink milk without suffering the consequences. Milk is for babies. That a grown cow will not drink milk after it’s weaned should be a caution to us. The only animals that drink milk after they are weaned are those that have been corrupted under human care.
Add to that the shenanigans of Monsanto, and milk, as we know it today becomes a potent poison
https://www.nontoxiclivingchoices.com
SO TRUE!!!
Hey,
Have you heard of the “Got the Facts on Milk” Milk Documentary?
This is an awesome documentary trying to get the truth out!
‘Got the facts on Milk?’ is a comical feature documentary that questions the much publicized health benefits of milk. Film maker Shira Lane takes a road-trip across America to get the truth on the unchallenged perceptions of milk. Addressing myth, truth and all in between, the film becomes a humorous yet shocking exposition that provokes serious thought about this everyday staple.
Join Shira and friends on a journey to the arbiter of all things health related, the USDA in Washington DC, on their mission to get factual answers to common milk misperceptions. We peek into milking farms, advertising campaigns, lactose intolerance, cancer, hormones, heart disease, diabetes, milk derivatives, dairy funded school programs and the empowered multi-billion dollar dairy industry.
Is milk all we have been told it is?
Prepare to be surprised by the responses from top-notch scientists, researchers, farmers, and every day people in this inquisitive feature documentary into a product that is embedded into the very foundation of our culture, nutrition and lives. You will hear powerful information that may change your life forever.
LEARN MORE HERE
Go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730342331/got-the-facts-on-milk-the-milk-documentary
almond milk is bad for bones also soy milk cheek it out more closer . rice milk is real good if made from brown rice. barbie
Please inform us on Where You Got Your Information that Almond Milk is bad for your bones??? Almonds are sopose to be Very Good For You.
Although I find some of what you are saying interesting, it is all based on circumstantial evidence. Now, I admit that I have not read your book, but how can you write against decades worth of research and proven studies without citing a single study or a specialist? Now you have study a study on the elderly, but it is a proven fact that too much calcium, especially past the age of 40 is detrimental to bone health and causes osteoporosis. I do hope you cite more research in your book. Type into any reputable medical website (or even google for that matter) studies proving the benefits of calcium. Type in studies on how calcium is bad for bones, and you really won’t find anything beyond this article.
That’s exactly the point. The propaganda has been so effective that when a contrary opinion is expressed, even with solid research behind it, people disregard it. They are too comfortable with long years of lies. It’s like telling them they have to go back to school to relearn everything because all they have been taught is wrong. People take it personally. But that is a dangerous approach; after all it is health we are talking about.
Remember until a few years ago, the experts got it wrong on ulcer too, until an Australian doctor set them straight-he won an award for it too.
So there is nothing like an absolute truth when it comes to health.
Remember, most body of knowledge consists of what we don’t know.
Just watch nature. Ask yourself-Why is it that no other creature, except man, drinks even its own milk after if is weaned?
There are facts as far as our knowledge carries us. And and facts and truth are not necessarily the same.
Fact: The sun moves moves from east to west as confirmed by our eyes..
Truth:The earth is the one moving around the sun!
https://www.nontoxiclivingchoices.com
I’m sorry but man has never done things as nature intended. No other creature creates medicine to fend off viruses either. Humans are a superior race. No other animal would have the means to continue drinking milk after being weaned anyways. They can’t harvest it from another animal without killing it.
And the issue on ulceration you bring up doesn’t apply in this situation. That was related to the cause of ulceration – there was no actual evidence to support what many experts believed to cause ulceration at this time. It was still a mystery. This is about the effects of calcium on bone density. Numerous controlled studies have been performed with factual results. It’s not a matter of opinion or hypothesis.
The large corporations. Drugs. sugar.milk. etc have a lot to loose with this type of news. Any research that has ben done gets hushed up so as not to effect the market share. * Please read the book and as you research you will find other links and other books. Try this publishing company. “www.cancerdefeated.com” dedicated to bring all research to the eye of the public. Look at their books and do some research with an open mind and you will find that the allopathic hospital based medical establishment is making some big mistakes. lots of good people work there but the money talks . For the last 24 years The Royal London Hospital has a plant based compound that knocks out some cancers in a few weeks. But many attempts to publish it is blocked by the big firms. So the only place you an use this cure is in London.
hi Vivian, I read the article on how bad milk is for you but what about yogurt?? no good?
I always remember the commercials from the 70’s that show people in Soviet Georgia who live (according to commercial) to be over 100 and they practically live on yogurt.
So what about that I am confused yogurt or no yogurt?
Plain, unsweetened yogurt (and other fermented dairy products) are just fine!
What do you consider “unsweetened”?
I eat Trader Joe’s Greek non-fat yogurt. It has 13-14 grams of sugar.
I eat 3-4 a day for the probiotics and to try and get my calcium from a food source, as the supplements constipate me.
Now I’m wondering if I’ve been eating too much calcium trying to get 1,000-1,200 mg a day.
(I’m 41 and have osteoporosis. All lab tests are normal, but a year of vit D-3, K, and calcium did not improve bone density.)
Thank you.
Hi Ed,
Check the ingredient list. If it doesn’t have added sugar, it’s unsweetened. There may still be some natural sugars in the product.
New research has shown that HFCS: High fructose corn syrup. cane sugar are very hard to digest and metabolise in the liver. The carbohydrates for potatoes etc is converted very easily and the body uses it. but HFCS & Sugar causes big problems leading to Diabetes. high blood pressure and some forms of cancer. .. Just count up the amount we consume over a day with all the processed foods. we have a lot of correcting to do to balance our bodies.
I have been making soy milk from stratch in the past two years. I buy the yellow soy beans in local stores (US stores and oriental stores). How do I know they are not genetically modified soy? US is the biggest soy proudce country. I heard they are all genetically modified soy beans. Unsure if this is true. But please tell me how to tell non-genetically modified soy.Thank you very much.
Just be careful of the amount you consume. the soy proteins mimic the female Estrogen. makes a mans beard stop growing. he becomes feminine. And can effect the prostate. Have a balance . also other milks have sunflower oils vegetable oils.. known by research to effect the retina of the eye over a long period of time. Moderation is the key. Some milks are based on water. .
Now I know why as early as an infant I was always intolerent of milk and could never drink it without vomiting.
And my oldest Son, could not tolerate it either from the day he was born.
Thanks for this information and all your wonderful information and I do believe that every disease can be solved with eating the right foods.
Thanks a lot Vivian, you have helped me immensely.
Sincerely,
Teresa C.
Lactose intolerance. it,s a type of sugar.
What kind of exercises can I do to strengthen my forearms ?
They have a dismal T-Score of -3.8
(from -3.6 a little more than a year ago)
I’m a runner, I take 2 Yoga classes a week
and swim once a week. My femur is normal but my spine is also below normal.
Are eggs bad for the bones?
I am curious what you think of organic milk. Also my sister was not a milk drinker yet she did break her hip with the osteo. also, do you need to acquire a taste for almond milk?
I love Almond milk. It,s the Almond icing on wedding cakes I hate. The Milk is very mild just a bit grainy.
Hello Vivian.Your information is quite shock to me because i drink raw milk everyday.When i read this i’m really afraid.Can you give me some pieces of advise.I’m 19 years old and i started drinking cow milk when i was just 5 years old.I consume 200ml milk per day(sugar free and low fat).Thanks a lot
Thankyou Vivian for this excellent information.
Ihave always believed humans were not meant to drink milk from another species. Can you imagine drinking from a cows udder?? Well it’s almost the same, except that it is bottled and we are led to believe that it is NATURAL. Common sense should prevail. I have not consumed cows milk for over forty years, and have eliminated dairy products from my diet. I have no health problems.
What about oat milk? Is this just as good as rice and almond milk?
Oat milk is just fine, Diana. 🙂
I’M HAPPY TO HAVE FOUND YOUR SITE.I’VE HEARD MILK WAS NOT GOOD FOR YOU AND NEVER DRINK IT.I USE ALMOND MILK.THANK YOU TOR ALL YOUR WORK.