The Truth About Cow's Milk

Does milk help prevent osteoporosis?  Is it a good source of calcium?  How much should we drink?  Should we drink whole, 2%, 1%, or skim? 

These are the most common questions that I have been asked over the years regarding  cow’s milk.  My response to these questions is usually met with shock.  Why?  Because cow’s milk is a poor product and a poor source of calcium.  Let me elaborate.

If you look at every other mammal species on this planet, you will find one general rule applies towards milk.  Once a baby is weaned from its mother, it will never again drink milk.  This is a natural law.  The purpose of milk in infants is to provide nutrition, immunity, and fat for the developing child.  Once that infant is able to consume other foods, milk is no longer a necessary component of its diet.   I understand that not all women can breastfeed their children during infancy, therefore we are blessed to have formula and other forms of milk to help their children through those early months. 

As a source of calcium, milk is a poor product; although well marketed by the dairy industry.  Why, because cow’s milk was only created and meant for cows.  In today’s industrialized world, the dairy industry is forced to keep these cows penned up without the ability to roam and graze. Moreover, they are treated with antibiotics and steroids for disease and growth which is passed through their milk.

When this milk is introduced into the human body it causes a reduction in the acid levels of the blood.  In order to maintain homeostasis, the body must then actually pull calcium out of the bone to re-balance the blood chemistry (FYI, products like Tums do the same thing).  More calcium is actually added to milk in the attempt to balance out its negative effects.

Another fact about milk that is relatively unknown is that milk causes inflammation of the mucus membranes of our body; therefore, when our children have ear or sinus infections or colds it increases the inflammation already present.

Finally, common sense plays a role in this argument.  The United States consumes more milk than anywhere else in the world and yet we have the greatest rate of osteoporosis in this country.

It is true that our children do need some form of milk as infants.  However, soy milk and other products will give the same benefit with less negative effects.

You can enjoy dairy products but DO NOT be duped in believing they do the body good.  Use in proper moderation.