Did you know that if you gave a baby cow’s "milk" as we know it (the kind you get from the supermarket), it would not survive beyond two months?

 

We adults seem to be more resilient - we don't perish quite that soon, although overtime we develop osteoporosis, prostate and breast cancers, diabetes, and cardio vascular diseases... (Read last week’s excerpt from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and see why medical doctors have found that dairy can negatively affect health in numerous ways)

 

High childhood intake of cow's milk triples risk of colon cancer later in life, studies found. (Click here for original article)

 

So why do we hear that milk is "nature's perfect food"? It might be for very malnourished people for a short period, and if it's milk in its original form (naturally obtained and unpasturised).   And mother's milk is still the best food for us as infants, as nature has intended. Cow's milk and human milk do not have the same nutritional ratio for one. And as we grow out of the infant stage, we gradually lose the enzymes to FULLY digest and utilise milk, whether it's human milk or milk from another mammal.

 

Dairy and immune responses: Undigested dairy causes immune response in the body, making it one of the most congesting foods in our diet today. In my work with my clients, I have seen endless cases where people feel much better without dairy and other congesting foods. As they use more plant based foods rich in fibre and enzymes, their digestion improves and they feel lighter, and their long-standing allergies subside...

 

How different is milk in the old days and milk you get now? Northern European cultures have a long history of dairy consumption and generally people from dairy consuming ancestry have developed a better ability to utilise milk.

 

However the kind of dairy products one can get commercially nowadays is far removed from what our body may recognise as food, as all commercial milk is pasteurised and the extreme high heat alters the molecular structure of the milk, leaving behind no enzymes and good bacteria that are required for full digestion and assimilation. Not to mention commercial milk is loaded with growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticide residues, pus (yes pus from infected teats as the dairy cows are kept lactating continuously), sugar and chemicals for preservative and flavouring reasons.

 

What about "organic" dairy? "While "organic" dairy may be less contaminated, dairy farms, even organic ones, aim to maximise milk production and the dairy are impregnated as often as possible, to keep them lactating for economic reasons. Dairy cows have unusually high levels of oestrogen during pregnancy, so the milk produced is too high in oestrogen for our daily consumption, and can exert hormonal effects on us. (And it may explain the correlation in increased cancers of the breast, ovaries and prostate, as well as weight gain, associated with dairy consumption).

 

What about "raw milk"? Some consider raw (unpasturised) milk a super food. In most countries, raw (unpasturised) milk is illegal because of public health concerns. Cows in dairy farms are often infected and not in the best state of health. A natural cow's lifespan is 20 years but a dairy cow in a commercial farm lives to only 4 or 5 years.

 

So if you really want milk AND you happen to have access to raw (unpasturised) and fresh milk from a dairy cow that is well treated, you may use it, especially if your ancestors used to have it and you feel better with it. The enzymes and good bacteria that come with the raw milk help you digest and utilise. (In nature, raw milk is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral. No pasteurisation is required. Baby cows drink it from bacteria and faecal infected udders!)

 

For the rest of us who don't keep a cow in our backyard (which is the majority of the world’s population!), remember most of the world's population did not use dairy in their adult life and we have come this far.

 

What about calcium and strong bones?

 

You are only getting the nutritional benefits of milk if you are able digest and assimilate it.   How much calcium milk contains has no relevance to you if your body cannot utilise it.

 

In fact the countries with highest dairy consumption (mostly Northern European countries) also have the highest osteoporosis rates. The article quoted last week by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine explains it. 

 

Some of the strongest boned animals on earth are vegetarian and they get their calcium (and magnesium, Vitamin C etc which are also essential for bone building) from grass and green foods. A cup of dark leafy greens has at least the same if not more calcium and magnesium than milk (and Vitamin C too for the building of the collagen matrix that holds the bone together) and they are easily absorbed.

 

So if you want strong bones (and teeth), eat your greens (your mom is right!). Of course ideally you should eat greens grown organically in mineral rich soil! We like to alternate to cover all grounds - spiruina, chlorella, blue-green algae, and sea vegetables... (Talk to us or visit our store for assistance)

 

But milk-drinking people are taller and bigger? Yes they are. They grow faster and bigger (think the growth hormones in commercial milk) but they also develop oesteoporosis and other problems related to dairy consumption earlier. Asian people who moved to Western countries may grow bigger but they have same increased health risks as their Western counterparts. Again, refer to the article last week for more.

 

 

If you are used to having a "milky" liquid to pour over your cereal or put into your tea, you can try these alternatives (freshly made preferred):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even "cheese" can be made without dairy. Fermented nut can be made into vegan cheeses with probiotics and taste as good and is easier to digest.