Did you know that nearly 70% of the world’s population is lactose intolerant? In the first part of Milk, It’s For Babies, I discuss the reliable compounding medical research that’s coming to light highlighting the spiraling medical issues tied to our overconsumption of dairy. Dairy-related medical problems include prostate and ovarian cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s Disease, and the fact that long-term milk drinkers face twice the risk of early death as those avoid dairy. It’s not a hard to see that milk really is meant for babies, from their mothers, but isn’t healthy for the rest of us. So, let’s talk calcium.
Calcium is certainly an important nutrient, it’s used to increase bone and tooth strength and also plays a role in other bodily functions such as blood clotting, nerve function, and preventing insulin resistance. So we need dairy right? That my friends is a clever marketing myth made up by the spin doctors in the make believe world of DairyLand. To the contrary, as we can clearly see from the global statistics on lactose intolerance, and the research piling up linking overconsumption of dairy to cancers and other diseases, milk is for babies.
Dairy Bone-Strength Myth
“But it makes our bones strong right?” Well calcium does, but in fact dairy has been increasingly linked to weakening the bones because of the way it neutralizes acids. Studies show a stark correlation between countries with limited dairy consumption having lower rates of bone fractures than countries with higher rates of dairy consumption. “Milk, it does the body good” remains one of the biggest marketing lies of modern food history.
Moderation?
Mom always said, “All things in moderation”, but the average American eats 34 pounds of cheese a year, and drinks 20 gallons of milk. That is not moderation. The good news for our bodies, and living a healthy lifestyle, is that there are endless sources of calcium that nature provides for us.
Why Argue with Science?
As you can see from the list, calcium is naturally abundant and you don’t need to look far to get it. Whether you prefer leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, lentils, or some tofu, it’s easy to get your calcium in ways that your body will embrace. The best thing about plant-based calcium sources is that they can do nothing but good for your body. The Dairy Industry of course spins the medical findings on milk consumption, but the simple fact remains, data-driven medical research proves that the adult body just wasn’t made to drink milk. On the other hand, you don’t hear anyone arguing that spinach, broccoli, figs, or any of the other plant-based calcium sources do anything but good things for your health. Why argue with science? Bon appetite!
