Got Milk? Okay, Now Throw It Out!
         By Lisa S. Lawless, Ph.D., Holistic Wisdom C.E.O.

Like most Americans, I grew up hearing the powerful add campaigns that "Milk does a body good," and "Got Milk." I consumed milk and other dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and butter thinking I was doing something that was good for my body. Okay, maybe not as much with butter and cheese, but using dairy seemed natural and healthy. I was wrong.

Dairy products cause or contribute to asthma, hives, allergies, arthritis, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other problems. Would you believe that milk contributes to Osteoporosis!

Yeah, I bet you did not see that coming! The dairy industry sure has us brainwashed thinking that we are doing something good for our bodies, when really we are causing great harm.

The damage that dairy does, where to begin...

1) Galactose. Ovarian cancer rates parallel dairy-eating patterns around the world. One of the culprits seems to be galactose, the simple sugar broken down from the milk sugar lactose. Studies have shown that animals that are fed galactose go on to develop ovarian cancer. According to Boston gynecologist Daniel Cramer, women with this cancer often have trouble breaking down galactose. About 10% of the US population lacks the enzymes to metabolize galactose. Cramer says that "Since you can't tell whether you lack these enzymes (unlike lactose intolerance, in which there are clear signs of digestive upset), I just tell my patients they don't need dairy." Yogurt, cheese and other fermented dairy products, as well as those containing Lactaid, are the richest sources of galactose.

2) Pesticides. Pesticides actually concentrate in the milk of both farm animals and humans. A study by the Environmental Defense Fund found widespread pesticide contamination of human breast milk among 1400 women in forty six states. The levels of contamination were twice as high among the meat-and-dairy-eating women as among vegetarians.

3) Proteins. Perhaps the biggest health problem with cow's milk arises from the proteins in it: Cow's milk protein damages the human immune system. Amino acids, the units that make up proteins, are building blocks for all living cells. When protein in our food is properly broken down by the digestive system into amino acids, it does no harm to the immune system. Some food proteins, however, are absorbed into the blood fully undigested, provoking an immune response. Repeated exposure to these proteins disrupts normal immune function and may eventually lead to diseases, such as cancer.

Osteoporosis is primarily caused by calcium loss due to excessive intake of protein, not due to insufficient intake of calcium.

This point is very important. Most Americans get way, too much protein. Excess protein intake leeches calcium from the bones. Dairy products have lots of protein. Therefore, consuming more dairy products in an attempt to get more calcium can actually contribute to osteoporosis!

Cow's milk contains many proteins that are poorly digested and harmful to the immune system. Christiane Northrup, a gynecologist based in Yarmouth, Maine states that "Dairy is a tremendous mucus producer and a burden on the respiratory, digestive, and immune systems. If women eliminate dairy foods for an extended period and eat a balanced diet, they suffer less from colds and sinus infections."

The Institute of Medicine has declared that most Americans now need 1000-1300 mg per day of calcium to maintain healthy bones and prevent osteoporosis. This is an increase from the previous recommendation of 800-1200 mg. Naturally, the Dairy Council is going to be overjoyed at this recommendation, as most everyone associates calcium with cow's milk.

Guess What...

There is no need for animal milk in the human diet, other than human mother's milk for infants. There are many good non-dairy sources of calcium, not just tofu and broccoli as some news articles may lead you to believe.

Look at the facts in layman's terms. Americans eat huge amounts of dairy products: pizza, ice cream, and other dairy treats are heavily advertised and almost universally enjoyed. Yet, we have a high rate of osteoporosis. Now look at Asian and African countries, where people have traditionally eaten minimal dairy products. The people there have far lower rates of osteoporosis!

It should be common sense, but the government agencies are trying to confuse the issue. The Dairy Council lobbyists have the money, not the tofu or sesame seed lobbyists. Don't believe them. You can have strong, healthy bones without drinking a drop of milk, and without obsessing over how many milligrams of calcium you're getting from vegetables or other sources.

I don't expect you to take my word alone on this. Here are a few sources, each of which point to many studies confirming and explaining what I have said above:

Vegan Nutrition:
Pure and Simple Guide to nutrition and meal planning, by Michael Klaper, M.D.

The McDougall Program:
12 Days to Dynamic Health Health and diet program by John A. McDougall, MD
Solid facts and lots of recipes.

Eat Right, Live Longer- Guide to healthy living
by Neal Barnard, MD

Simply Vegan:
Quick Vegetarian Meals Vegan cookbook
by Debra Wasserman, with extensive nutrition section by Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.

A Vegetarian Sourcebook:
The Nutrition, Ecology, and Ethics of a Natural Foods Diet
In-depth discussion of vegetarianism, by Keith Akers.

For another great article by a doctor to his patients whom has done extensive research on this topic CLICK HERE

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