by Pamela A. Popper, Ph.D., N.D.
For years, we have listened to the dairy industry tell us that “milk does a body good”. Research has been showing for many years that this is simply not the case.
Dr. Michael Dosch and his colleagues at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto have discovered remarkable similarities in juvenile diabetes and M.S., and the way the immune system responds to cow’s milk, especially by attacking the body’s own tissues. In both diseases, scientists believe there are silent years in which the immune system is doing damage in response to cow’s milk consumption before symptoms appear, and in a test tube it is difficult to differentiate the diseases.
Children who are predisposed to develop diabetes are at greater risk of developing it if given cow’s milk during infancy. Consequently, the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that infants under one year of age not be given whole cow’s milk. In addition to the risk of diabetes, the Academy warns of increased risk of iron deficiency, colic, food allergies and chronic constipation.
16 studies now link dairy consumption with prostate cancer.
Lactose in milk breaks down in the body into galactose and glucose. According to Harvard researchers, when galactose production exceeds the body’s ability to eliminate it, toxicity in the ovaries can occur, increasing the risk of ovarian cancer and infertility.
Milk consumption has been linked to increases in breast cancer rate by elevating IGF-1, a compound that is believed to be nature’s way to fuel rapid growth in calves.
Milk does not provide a reliable source of Vitamin D. Some samplings have found milk to contain as much as 500 times the recommended level, while others contain none at all. Vitamin D excess can be toxic to the body.
Fortunately, more and more people are standing up against milk. Congratulations to the mayor of Washington D.C., Anthony Williams. In April, he announced that he would join the list of celebrities in the milk moustache ads and would declare May 11 “Drink Your Chocolate Milk Day”. On May 2, Dr. Neal Barnard, and other staff members from the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine held a press conference to present the “Case Against Dairy”. The mayor changed his mind. He will not appear in the ad and reversed his decision to declare May 11 “Drink Your Chocolate Milk Day”.
Audrey’s note: Many of you know that my 6 year old son has a milk allergy. His allergy drove me to find the Wellness Forum and learn more about nutrition. I probably would not have given up milk, except that I wanted to keep the house milk free for Daniel. And while my motives were for my child’s well- being, I’m the one who is also benefiting. My asthma and allergies are virtually non-existent now that I am dairy-free.