Cow Milk, No Thanks

I take the overall health of my patients very seriously. Keeping them informed of health dangers is one of the ways I can guide them toward more optimum health. One of the health dangers high on that list is the milk found in the dairy section of the grocery store.

Drinking milk and consuming high amounts of dairy products is almost a national pastime for most Americans. After all, what’s more American than an ice cream cone? Or a cheeseburger. Or a grilled cheese sandwich. And of course we’re all familiar with the famous “Got Milk?” ads.

Is There a Need?
For decades we have been inundated with American Dairy Association ads in an attempt to hammer home the point that “we never outgrow our need for milk.” When in fact, there never was a “need” in the first place.

As with most areas that are concerned with our food, the bottom line is not health or nutrition, but money – clear and simple. In the past, their main focus was that dairy products provide the calcium needed to build strong bones. More recently their ad campaigns focus more on weight loss – if you can believe that. Losing weight by consuming dairy products is a pipe dream. Nevertheless The National Dairy Council, has spent more than $200 million promoting that concept since 2003.

The entire U.S. dairy industry, which includes cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts is worth $70-billion a year. Add to that the fact that subsidies for our dairy farmers are estimated to be nearly $15 billion or equivalent to over 40% of production costs. One doesn’t have to be very smart to see that money is the determining factor for convincing the public that dairy products are safe and good for you. The truth is dairy products are neither safe nor good for you.

What’s In It?
Most cow’s milk has measurable quantities of herbicides, pesticides, dioxins (up to 200 times the safe levels), up to 52 powerful antibiotics, blood, pus, feces, bacteria and viruses. Because the determining factor here is money, various hormones are given to dairy cows to increase their production.

The hormone rBST (Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin) is injected in about 20% of U.S. dairy cows to increase milk production. Due to lack of space in this article, it’s impossible to cover all the problems with this practice. Suffice to say that rBST milk is supercharged with high levels of the natural growth factor (IGF-1), which is readily absorbed through the gut. Excess levels of IGF-1 have been cited in well-documented scientific publications as causes of breast, colon, and prostate cancers. Additionally, IGF-1 blocks natural defense mechanisms against early submicroscopic cancers.

This means not only does rBST milk open the door to possible cancer, it actually prevents the body’s defense system from warding off early cancerous growths. It’s a nightmare in the making. T Colin Campbell, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, said that “cows’ milk protein may be the single most significant chemical carcinogen to which humans are exposed.” Now add to this the list of other diseases that can be traced back to high dairy consumption such as heart disease, diabetes and anemia.

But what about the claim that dairy products supply the body’s need for calcium? This is faulty reasoning due to the fact that calcium must be partnered with equal amounts of magnesium in order to be absorbed. The problem is most Americans are notorious low in their magnesium intake. This means even if dairy products were beneficial in providing calcium, without magnesium the body will absorb precious little of it. However, that same body has no problem absorbing all of the harmful ingredients that come with a tall glass of cold milk.

Seeking Alternatives
What are the alternatives to dairy? As with any diet change, my advice is always to take it slowly. Never try to eliminate every dairy product from your life all at once. And always attempt to replace rather than totally eliminate.

In Europe people intent on improving health are turning to soymilk in record numbers. This trend is also taking hold in the U.S. Other alternatives include almond milk, oat milk, rice milk, pea milk, quinoa milk and even hemp milk. At any health food store, you will also find a wide variety of ice cream and frozen dessert alternatives made with soy and rice. Choosing organic cow’s milk is yet another alternative to be considered.

Health or Illness – It’s a Choice
While some may complain that these alternatives are too expensive, my only comment is: “Have you considered the price of illness?” No matter how chemotherapy is administered it comes with an exorbitant price tag. How about heart surgery? Or blood pressure medicine? Or any prescription for that matter. Medical bills have been known to bankrupt many a family.

Compared to illness, the price of wellness is a bargain. Especially when you factor in the stress, loss of productivity, and compromised quality of life that comes along with illness.

I encourage all of my patients to invest in good health. And eliminating most or all of the dairy products from your diet is a great way to begin.