Do You Want Health

Posted by monica on April 28th, 2008 in Is Milk Healthy, Natural Health Tips

Many people are firm believers that cow’s milk is the “perfect food” and you will never be able to change their minds. But is milk healthy? Parents should educate themselves about milk allergies and lactose intolerances with their children in mind.

One main reason why cow’s milk isn’t that great for you is that it was made for cows, not humans. Humans are the only mammals that continue to drink milk after they are weaned. Secondly, if you are not consuming magnesium along with cow milk, you are not benefiting from the calcium. Thirdly, if you consume something with iron in it, your body also cannot uptake calcium at all. So, red meat and a glass of milk, is not a great idea.

The reaction of the immune system to milk proteins and milk products is called a milk allergy. These signs and symptoms can range from constipation, diarrhea to runny nose and ear infections and even skin rashes. They can appear while the child is an infant. Milk allergies can be life threatening to infants if not recognized soon enough. Infants who develop milk allergies are usually put on soy milk by the family doctor.

Lactose intolerance however can shows up a couple of years later and is caused by the body not being able to break down the milk sugar lactose. This primary affects the digestion, and causes symptoms such as bloating, gas and loose bowels. It occurs only after drinking milk or eating dairy products.

If a child or adult is found to have a milk-allergic, please be aware that “milk-free” labels can be misleading. They still can have milk protein in it. For example, some soy cheeses claim to be milk free but may still contain milk protein. So read the labels very carefully.

How Healthy Are Dairy Products? We need milk because it contains protein, calcium, energy rich foods, right? Listen to Professor Veigh as he explains scientific findings that clarify facts about milk. At his site, click on the Media tab, then Abundant Life, then Video, then Life At Its Best, then scroll down to “Udderly Amazing”

Harvard School of Public Health, on the Consumption of Dairy Products (2005):
“The recommendation to drink three glasses of low-fat milk or eat three servings of other dairy products per day to prevent osteoporosis is another step in the wrong direction. … Three glasses of low-fat milk add more than 300 calories a day. This is a real issue for the millions of Americans who are trying to control their weight. What’s more, millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of milk or dairy products give them stomachaches, gas, or other problems. This recommendation ignores the lack of evidence for a link between consumption of dairy products and prevention of osteoporosis. It also ignores the possible increases in risk of ovarian cancer and prostate cancer associated with dairy products.”

Scary Dairy Tales

Truth about strong bones and milk

Got Sick Kids?

Natural Health Tips: Milk: food for babies.