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There’s something wholesome and patriotic about drinking milk. We are encouraged
as children to drink up to three glasses of milk per day. We think nothing of
dousing our sugar-fortified cereal with it. We are bombarded with advertising about
how great milk is, from clever “Got Milk?” billboards to cute portraits of
celebrities with their Marcel Duschamp white moustaches. Milk is portrayed as healthy
for our bodies and an important source of calcium—key to building our bones. Our
well-being seemingly depends on this liquid refreshment. Even a music group from
the sixties, the Cowsills, shot to fame by singing a pop-culture paean to milk.
Our society is seemingly tied to the teat of drinking milk.
Not So Bullish About Milk
But not everyone believes milk is good for you. In the anti-dairy pasture are a
number of snorting, angry advocates who are hardly bullish about the benefits of
drinking milk.
In his recent book, Eating for Endurance, Dr. Phil Maffetone writes: “When the
American Academy of Pediatrics suggested kids with certain problems avoid drinking
cow’s milk, and to not feed it to infants under one year of age, the advertisements for
milk suddenly increased dramatically across the United States. Unfortunately, most
people still hear the milk ads much louder than any professional recommendations.
Milk consumption is up, and so are the problems created by it. Even adults who drink
milk should think twice about it. In many people, milk can cause various types of
gastrointestinal stress, skin problems and lowered immunity, making you more
susceptible to infections and allergies.”
Is there truth in the old axiom that “cow’s milk is for calves, human milk is
for humans?”
The problems associated with cow’s milk start early, according to Maffetone and
other anti-milk militants. Milk may be a common cause of anemia in infants, and
its consumption later in childhood may contribute to the development of type I
diabetes. Milk allergies are very common in children and cause sinus problems,
diarrhea and constipation. Some of these milk allergies are equally common in adults
and produce similar symptoms.
Millions of Bacteria in Each Gulp
Then there is the question of what goes into the manufacturing of milk. The Food and
Drug Administration approves the use of bovine growth hormone in cows. Use of the
hormone increases milk production by up to 25%. This chemical hormone is associated
with the growth of cancer cells, specifically breast cancer in women.
Dr. J. L. Outwater of the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine in Washington,
D.C., states, “Dairy products contain both hormones and growth factors, in addition
to fat and various chemical contaminants, that have been implicated in the proliferation
of human breast-cancer cells.” In addition, these same chemicals are associated
with increased prostate cancer in men, and cancers of the intestinal tract.
According to Maffetone, high levels of growth hormone can also increase infections
of the cow’s udder. Increased infection in the cow’s udder means more antibiotics.
Use of more antibiotics results in higher traces of these drugs in milk. In addition,
there may be increased amounts of pus and bacteria. Udder infection is measured
by estimating the number of somatic cells (pus cells) found in milk. Dairy farmers
are allowed up to 50,000 live bacteria cells per gram of milk. According to Maffetone,
that means there are millions of bacteria in each gulp. Even more scary, Maffetone
reports that some milk not allowed on the market due to high bacteria counts is actually
made into powdered or dry milk and sold to consumers.
No Tolerance for the White Stuff
Active people prefer milk because of the high amount of protein found in it, but the
protein in cow’s milk is difficult for the human intestinal tract to digest and for
the immune system to tolerate. Cow’s milk is about 80% casein and 20% whey; human
milk is just the opposite, at 20% casein and 80% whey. It’s the casein that causes
the allergic and hypersensitivity reactions in both infants and adults. Even the
late Dr. Benjamin Spock, M.D., America’s greatest pediatrician, described casein as
the primary cause of mucus, congestion and childhood earaches.
Milk’s lactose is another potential problem as some people have lactose intolerance.
I have lactose intolerance. I cannot eat ice cream or have milk shakes. And I love
ice cream and thick milk shakes. For years, I used to have upset stomach and irritable
bowel syndrome. I went to see several doctors. This problem persisted for over 15
years. Nothing worked until I eliminated dairy from my diet. Instead of rushing to
the bathroom four or five times a day, I have a much saner schedule.
It was the milk.
Lactose intolerance is not an allergy. Maffetone explains: “In this condition
the digestive system does not produce enough of an enzyme called lactase, which breaks
down the complex lactose sugar into simpler sugars. The lactose sugar ferments in
the small intestine, producing gas, bloating, cramps and diarrhea. Adult humans,
like all full-grown animals, often lose their ability to produce lactase enzyme
and therefore can not adequately digest lactose. Human adult-onset lactase decline
is normal in the intestine in the majority of the world’s population. The problem
is even more common in a majority of people of African, Asian, Hispanic and
Native-American descent. Foods to predominantly avoid if you have any adverse
reactions to lactose include milk, skim milk and powdered milk. Heavy cream and
butter, for example, contain no (or no significant amount) of lactose. (The amount
of lactose in cheese and yogurt depends upon how it was processed and the
source of milk).”
If you decide to reduce your dairy intake, you must make sure that your diet
contains enough calcium from other sources. If you have a decent diet, you
should have no problem satisfying your calcium requirements. Compared to a glass
of 2% milk (calcium content of 297 mg), the following single servings contain
high amounts of calcium:
- Almonds 100 mg
- Collards 125 mg
- Green beans 100 mg
- Rainbow trout 100 mg
- Salmon 225 mg
- Sardines 115 mg
- Seaweed 140 mg
- Soybeans 175 mg
- Spinach 135 mg
(Note: you should be aware of the daily minimal requirement for your gender and age group,
and obtain supplements if necessary to reach that requirement.)
Got Rat Milk?
Will Americans find other alternatives to drinking cow’s milk for their source of protein and
calcium? Or are childhood habits just too hard to break? According to Robert Cohen, executive
director of the AntiDairy Coalition, the public has been too conditioned to believe otherwise.
In an article in the Sacramento News & Review, he says, “The dairy industry has conspired
to inhibit public debate.” He even wants the dairy industry to be held accountable for
health risks, in much the same way that the tobacco industry is now.
A middle ground is drinking almond, rice and soy milk. These non-dairy alternatives have
their advocates, but many object to their different taste and texture. (As a kid, I could only
drink chocolate milk!) Maffetone believes, however, that goat milk is much more healthful
than cow’s milk because of its similarity to human milk. In fact, compared to cow’s milk,
even rat milk is closer to human milk. No, he doesn’t recommend drinking a rodent
refreshment. Plus, rat milk would be a hard, if not impossible, sell to the public. Got Rat
Milk? Nah.
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