It is amazing what advertising can do. Who is really benefiting from promoting milk as a health food? Other than companies involved in that industry, not too many people!! Milk, it does a body NO good!!

Most Americans, including some vegetarians, still consume large amounts of dairy products as part of their “healthy” diets. Even government campaigns still promote milk, despite scientific findings that evidence its health risks. So it is up to us to put some common sense into it, and learn the facts.

There are several problems associated with consuming cow’s milk. Many studies  have shown that not only is cow’s milk unnecessary as part of a healthy diet, but that in fact it is detrimental to our health. Not to mention the fact that most milk available in the US comes from genetically-modified cows, and contains rBGH, a hormone that increases cancer risks. This is a hormone that is injected to dairy cows to increase their milk production. rBGH has been banned in Europe and Canada, but it is still widely available in America. Monsanto Co., the company that manufactures rBGH, has influenced U. S. product safety laws so that they may sell unlabeled rBGH milk together with many other of their genetically altered products.

Lactose and fat present in cow’s milk cause health problems in humans, but they are the least of our worries when we think about the health detrimental effects of milk consumption. Components in milk such as insulin growth factor I, casein, and casomorphin have been associated with various chronic and degenerative diseases, as prostate and breast cancer, as well as several other health problems.

Milk’s advertising focuses on calcium, and its importance for bone health. However, even though calcium is very important for us, clinical research shows that dairy products do not improve bone health. Milk does contain calcium, but when we consume it, it is so hard on our digestive system that our body actually has to pull calcium and other minerals from our bones to help digest it, so instead of good, it is actually hurting our bones by stealing calcium from them. Besides, the calcium in cow’s milk is basically useless because it does not have enough magnesium.  In order for calcium to be absorbed, there should be an equal amount of magnesium.

If you are concerned with protecting your bones from osteoporosis, and keeping them healthy, and we all should be, keep the following guidelines in mind. To start, let’s talk about exercise. Exercise has been scientifically proven to improve bone health. So increase your level of activity and exercise. Sun exposure is also very beneficial. Vitamin D from the sun improves your body’s ability to absorb calcium from food. Don’t be afraid of the sun, after all, it is our source of energy by nature. And last, but certainly not least, let’s talk about your diet. There are many vegetable sources of calcium and magnesium together. Dark green veggies are one. An alkaline diet, rich in raw vegetables, will take care of getting in your system the calcium your body needs to stay healthy. Cut down as much as possible on animal products, this includes eggs and all dairy products. Animal products acidify your system, forcing your body to use minerals to bring it back to an alkaline balance. So if you have a balanced pH, you will not need to worry about low reserves of calcium.

Milk was designed by nature to turn a small calf into a bull. We don’t have the complex digestive system cows have, and we certainly don’t share the same nutritional needs, let’s save all that fat for the baby calves who’s system will be able to turn into healthy body mass. As for us, let’s eat what our bodies are made to eat, whole foods from plant origin. And when people tell you “you need dairy for your bone health” ask them “What animal in nature drinks milk after they are grown ups?”, or “what animal drinks milk from a different specie?”, or even more, “Where do they think elephants get the calcium for their bones to be healthy enough to carry so much weight?” Elephants, and even adult cows, get their calcium from grass and vegetables, as should we.

My book “No Milk, please” is now  available if you want to learn more on this subject. The book is also available in Spanish, “No a La Leche” on Amazon.com.