Why?
Here are just a few reasons – for a more comprehensive review of the reasons why I am totally against diary consumption see here
You are six times more likely to have a heart attack as a milk drinker.
There is a strong correlation between dairy consumption and breast cancer rates particularly in the Scandanavian countries.
Why would you drink something that contains the same growth hormones as humans (IGF-1).
That also contains antiobiotic residues and traces of paratuberculosis.
Milk has also been linked to ovarian cancer as Prof Jane Plant has stated. It has to do with the break down of lactose into Galactose which is broken down again by enzymes in the blood. When you exceed the enzymes capacity to break this down you get a build up of Galactose. There has been a direct link between these levels and ovarian cancers. Unfortunately this happens very early as after the age of three we lose those enzymes required to break it down. For more information go here
Consider that cows milk also contains 20% protein compared with breast milk that only contain 1.2-2% protein and you can understand how easy it is to exceed the body’s enzyme capacity. We are simply not designed to drink other organisms’ milk!
The World Cancer Research Product found a strong link in numerous studies showing the detrimental effects of diets high in calcium and prostate cancer. In addition “several studies showed that high calcium down regulates the formation of 1-25 Dihydroxy Vitamin D (3) from Vitamin D thereby encouraging cell proliferation in the prostate”.
Cows Milk does not prevent bone disease either (1).
A study published in the January, 2001 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the diets of 1,035 women, particularly focusing on the protein intake from animal and vegetable products. Deborah Sellmeyer, M.D., found:
ANIMAL PROTEIN INCREASES BONE LOSS
In her study, women with a high animal-to-vegetable protein ratio experienced an increased rate of femoral neck bone loss. A high animal-to-vegetable protein ratio was also associated with an increased risk of hip fracture.
“Sulphur-containing amino acids in protein-containing foods are metabolized to sulfuric acid. Animal foods provide predominantly acid precursors. Acidosis stimulates osteoclastic activity and inhibits osteoblast activity.”
MEAT EATERS HAVE MORE HIP FRACTURES
Sellmeyer’s remarkable publication reveals:
“Women with high animal-to-vegetable protein rations were heavier and had higher intake of total protein. These women had a significantly increased rate of bone loss than those who ate just vegetable protein. Women consuming higher rates of animal protein had higher rates of bone loss and hip fracture by a factor of four times.”
Milk has been called “liquid meat.” The average American eats five ounces of animal protein each day in the form of red meat and chicken. At the same time, the average American consumes nearly six times that amount (29.2 ounces) per day of milk and dairy products.
Pasterurised milk was fed to a calf for three weeks and it died again implying the role of enzymes and their importance.
Cows milk has been shown to inhibit calcium absorption. The UK consumes 40% of all the diary in the EC yet has one of the highest rates of osteoporosis.
Cows milk is abundant in Casein.Not only is this wood glue behaving like glue in the intestines but the Autism Unit at the University of Sunderland has found increasing levels of the peptides in the blood and urine of the child.
A 1992 Study in the journal Paediatrics recommended against the use of cows milk in formula fed infants. It stated that “the composition of cows milk i.e. high in calcium, phosphorous and low in vitamin c may decrease the bioavailability of iron from other sources…it is not suitable”
The study also reported a loss in 30% of intestinal blood in infants fed whole cows milk.
How to Transition
Goats milk on the other hand as a study in the Univeristy of Granada in 2007 concluded that the milk had a “a higher bioavailblity of iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium and better levels of the parathyroid hormones”.
I would recommend Breast Milk before weaning to Goat’s Milk formula.
Coconut milk may proven an even better option as it has the closest fatty acid profile to that of breast milk. It is a common practice in Polynesia.
Rice Milk is another suitable alternative.
Almond milk is another suitable alternative.
(1) For a critique of the this position on bone disease please go here
John Lark Sept 2010
