Milk Does a Body BAD: 7 Surprising Dairy Facts

If you haven't gotten the memo yet, dairy is out.  Like bell bottoms and track suits, the once exalted dairy, in now a faux-pas.  Like many of us, you have probably heard that milk is good for you and building strong bones.  It turns out though, the National Dairy Council has had us all duped for decades!

Below are the 7 most surprising facts about dairy that will have you thinking twice before that next swig of milk or slice of cheese.

1- Most People are lactose intolerant

IBS, gastrointestinal issues, digestion problems, stomach pain, gas, diarrhea...Not pleasant, but those are the symptoms many people experience after eating dairy products.  Many people don't even realize they are lactose intolerant, and it is more widespread than you think: 95% of Asian Americans, 74% of Native Americans, 70% of African Americans, 53% of Mexican Americans, and 15% of Caucasians are lactose intolerant. That adds up to  and approximately 50 million Americans who can't digest dairy products.  

2- Dairy is linked to hormonal problems including acne and early onset puberty

Milk is the secretion of a lactating mother, meant to be a short term nutrient for newborns. Baby cows drink their mother cow's milk in order to grow into big, strong, healthy cows. Baby humans drink their human mother's milk to grow into tall, smart, healthy humans. Mammal milk contains the specific nutrients each species needs to grow into their healthiest adult self. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not resemble a cow. Definitely not sexy.   

Think about it.  Humans are the only mammals that continue to drink milk after infancy. Some people think cows naturally make milk. WRONG! Dairy cows are artificially inseminated in order to produce milk. These cows are pumped with hormones, which make their way into the milk we are drinking.  These hormones wreak havoc on our own bodies, and have been linked to acne, 8 year olds becoming women, and even cancer. Learn more: Dangers of rBGH

3-Dairy does not prevent osteoporosis

We have been bombarded with ads purporting that milk builds strong bones.  Then why do the countries with the highest dairy consumption- America, Denmark, Holland, and Sweden -also have the HIGHEST incidence of osteoporosis? And why do vegan, non-dairy drinking Buddhist nuns have a low incidence of the disease? Because they get their calcium from produce.   

Where do you think the cows get their calcium from, anyway?  They are herbivores, after all.  They get it from grass, which happens to have nearly equal amounts of calcium and magnesium.  Magnesium is a mineral found in chlorophyll (and all green vegetables) that is needed for our bodies to absorb the calcium. Unfortunately, milk has about 12 times more calcium than magnesium, so milk doesn't do our bodies as good as you think it does. Most of it just passes through without being absorbed, which is why it is better to get your calcium from green vegetables, which has more equal amounts of the two minerals.  Learn more: Strong Bones

4- Dairy if full of antibiotics

Since cows are mechanically milked over and over again, they often get sick and develop infections on their udders. So, they are injected with antibiotics. These antibiotics, as you can imagine, make it into your milk as well.     

5- Dairy can make you fat

Dairy products, especially cheese and ice cream, are high in fat and cholesterol. Too much of these things can lead to weight gain, and even heart disease.

6- Dairy is an allergen

In some people, dairy causes an allergic reaction. Our bodies see milk as in invader and so produce more white blood cells to fight off the invader, just like they would bacteria or a virus. This can explain why some people experience thicker or more mucus in their throats after eating dairy.

Wheezing, coughing, hives, chest tightening, shortness of breath, and eczema are some of the symptoms.  

7- Dairy can increase risk of cancer

Dairy has been linked in countless scientific studies to cancer and other serious health problems including: Leukemia, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Cataracts, Colic, Anemia, Intestinal Bleeding, Heart Disease, Arthritis, and Lymphoma

Conclusion

Ditch dairy for good.  Have no fear, you can still enjoy all the foods you love, in their non-dairy form.  Check out my recipes and reviews of delicious non-dairy alternatives!


Do you have a favorite non-dairy recipe or product? Share in a comment below!