Is milk bad for me?

paulmg1234

Last week I watched a movie "Forks over Knives" about the benefits of a vegan diet. The movie referenced several doctors/researchers who state that drinking milk is as bad as eating meat and may actually be worse. According to the research milk actually makes the body acidotic and calcium has to be leached from the bones to neutralize the acidosis. Giving up meat would be hard enough (but doable), but giving up dairy would be very difficult for me. The FDA actually recommends dairy. But does the FDA actually have my back? Opinions?

RNewton4269

I drink milk (albeit skim)...but I also take extra calcium too. I couldn't be a vegan..I like cheese too much.

DanaKinzer

Don't believe everything you see on tv, on a video or in a theater. Likewise, don't believe everything you read. So what can you believe? Your doctor, your nutritionist, your dietitian, or heck... even your pharmacist! This is actual medical advice that you're asking for. The only people qualified to give medical advice are those with a medical degree that are familiar with your medical history.

Gilbrod

Don't believe everything you see on tv, on a video or in a theater. Likewise, don't believe everything you read. So what can you believe? Your doctor, your nutritionist, your dietitian, or heck... even your pharmacist! This is actual medical advice that you're asking for. The only people qualified to give medical advice are those with a medical degree that are familiar with your medical history.

If there was a Like button, I would click it on this. Agreed!

innerfashionista

Can't say whether the FDA has your back, but I'd like to think they do. IMHO, cutting ANY food group out of your diet (carbs, dairy, etc) isn't a good idea. My husband was vegetarian for 12 years (not vegan, thank goodness!) but had all sorts of health related issues from it. Completely threw off his hormone/chemical balances. Movies like that I always take with a grain of salt - they're preaching their agenda, and will be bias.

Dtrmnd86

The only type of milk I'll drink is hemp milk. I have heard from a few people who research a lot of it (not scientists or anything, just people very involved with health and fitness) and they said humans don't need cow milk. He mentioned something about humans being the only ones to drink milk after infancy or something along those lines. Basically saying, after breast milk, we really have no need for milk and that it really isn't that great for us. A few years ago I had to stop drinking milk due to randomly becoming lactose intolerance, which was weird because I usually always had milk and I can still have any type of dairy product, except milk. If you do decide to stop dairy all together, just take it one step at a time. Don't stop all at once or it won't last.

meagmatt

People were drinking diary long before there was an FDA to have an opinion. People also drank dairy long before obesity was epidemic. Eat less, move more.

fbmandy55

Often groups that create movies like those will come from groups promoting an agenda. The will also pick and choose studies and research that backs their agenda although there may be other reasearch that says othewise. Unfortunately, the FDA is just another group with an agenda. Even different doctors will tell you different things.

I think it's best to stick with what makes your body feel good. People have been drinking milk since the beginning of time, I would hate to think it's bad for you.

Danahimself

Soymilk for the win! Silk

juliapurpletoes

My personal opinion regarding cows milk, is that it is designed for baby cows! I have trouble digesting it so I know my philosophy works for me! That said, milk from organically fed and well treated cows is what I would drink if I did drink milk!!

MissVV

It is true that too much protein - eg milk/dairy can leech calcium out of your bones to balance the acidity produced from all the protein and keep your blood pH constant. But this applies to large amounts of milk and over a period of time to have a significant effect. A glass or two/yoghurt or two is beneficial to your bone density, I don't think it's worth losing sleep over.
Best of luck!

aj_rock

First off, that doesn't even make sense. Calcium does not neutralize acid. Basic chemistry right there.

'Several' doctors saying milk is bad for you pales greatly in comparison to the 'hundreds' of doctors saying drink up!

Just take it for what it is: a calorie rich liquid full of fat, sugar, calcium, and vitamin d. Don't worry about anything else.

End6ame

Last week I watched a movie "Forks over Knives" about the benefits of a vegan diet. The movie referenced several doctors/researchers who state that drinking milk is as bad as eating meat and may actually be worse. According to the research milk actually makes the body acidotic and calcium has to be leached from the bones to neutralize the acidosis. Giving up meat would be hard enough (but doable), but giving up dairy would be very difficult for me. The FDA actually recommends dairy. But does the FDA actually have my back? Opinions?

I don’t believe that for a second. Most baby mammals are fed milk by their mother from the day they are born. Now I know that this is not a one to one comparison to humans drinking cow’s milk, but com on. Consider the source, of course they don’t want you to drink milk, they are selling veganism. You wouldn’t go to Lowes and expect them to tell you that Home Depot was just as good would you?

Personally, I drink at least 16oz of whole milk per day. I eat full fat cottage cheese, and full fat yogurt. I am still losing weight,and my heart, bones, etc.. are all healthy.

paulmg1234

Don't believe everything you see on tv, on a video or in a theater. Likewise, don't believe everything you read. So what can you believe? Your doctor, your nutritionist, your dietitian, or heck... even your pharmacist! This is actual medical advice that you're asking for. The only people qualified to give medical advice are those with a medical degree that are familiar with your medical history.

I am in no way asking for medical advice. I was asking about your opinions about drinking milk. You do not have to have an MD after your name to read research about nutrition and discuss it.

Pandorian

I have and enjoy my whole milk from cows, and when I have my property may well have goats for milk as well / instead. I drink hemp and almond milk when I want a flavour difference. I choose not to touch soy milk that seems to be more dangerous to me than the cows milk.

bcattoes

That's an interesting question. The USDA and FDA actually promote milk consumption solely because most Americans don't get enough calcium and milk has a lot of calcium in it. But there is conflicting evidence as to whether milk and other dairy products are good for you.

End6ame

I choose not to touch soy milk that seems to be more dangerous to me than the cows milk.

Agreed. I'll pass on the estrogen laced coffee creamer.

mynameisnutz

Soymilk for the win! Silk

Sure, if your end goal is moobs.

BJPCraig

I gave up dairy a while back, and it has helped my allergies enormously.

Personally, I have heard way too many bad things about milk/dairy to be comfortable drinking it. The FDA says to drink it largely for calcium and vitamin D, but if you look at most milk containers, you'll see that it is calcium- and vitamin D-fortified; it's not really in there!

Consider this: Humans are the ONLY animals on the planet who drink the milk of another animal. We need it for development in the first years of life, but doctors have found that our bodies stop producing the hormones to metabolize even human milk at about the age of 3 to 5 (which would be why so many people become lactose intolerant later in life).

Bottom line, you have to do what feels right for you, and I have never found compelling reasons to drink milk, but plenty of reasons not to.

paulmg1234

I gave up dairy a while back, and it has helped my allergies enormously.

Personally, I have heard way too many bad things about milk/dairy to be comfortable drinking it. The FDA says to drink it largely for calcium and vitamin D, but if you look at most milk containers, you'll see that it is calcium- and vitamin D-fortified; it's not really in there!

Consider this: Humans are the ONLY animals on the planet who drink the milk of another animal. We need it for development in the first years of life, but doctors have found that our bodies stop producing the hormones to metabolize even human milk at about the age of 3 to 5 (which would be why so many people become lactose intolerant later in life).

Bottom line, you have to do what feels right for you, and I have never found compelling reasons to drink milk, but plenty of reasons not to.

Great points! Thank you.

paulmg1234

Soymilk for the win! Silk

Sure, if your end goal is moobs.

Hehehe. Yeah it does seem that there is more and more evidence that soymilk may not be the healthiest alternative.

dexters_dexterity

People were drinking diary long before there was an FDA to have an opinion. People also drank dairy long before obesity was epidemic. Eat less, move more.

i want 'like' button here

End6ame

Here my thought; if you do a good search on “Is milk good for you?” you will be provided with a boat load of websites reporting how bad milk is. To me this translates to drink up.

Same goes for saturated fat and cholesterol. Study after study has been done stating that saturated fat is not evil and dietary cholesterol does not affect serum cholesterol, yet everyone still says they are both bad for you (even doctors). I have a high saturated fat and high cholesterol diet, and my cholesterol and triglycerides are well within normal and are actually lower than two years ago.

jessradtke

Too much protein is the main culprit, not milk specifically. There are multiple medical studies that have found that high protein diets leach calcium from the bones over time, which can lead to osteoporosis, kidney stones, and other calcium related health issues. I was vegan for many years and still eat mostly vegetarian, but that's because that diet works for ME, my specific medical conditions, my lifestyle, etc. I don't think any one diet works for everyone. As long as you aren't consuming a LOT of dairy, I don't think you really have to worry about it. Everything in moderation.

sarskin

Milk is not bad for you....the FDA and doctors said a few years back that butter is bad for you and margarine was the way to go. Now they say that butter is better for you then margarine. So if you listen to everything they tell you, then you will be running around with your head chopped off.
Milk is good for you, just in good portions. Too much of anything is a bad thing. Just try to go for the less fat milks, or the natural (organic) milk. You need the calcium that is in there. There are too many people that are drinking more pop and getting bone diseases because they don't receive the calcium needed.

Did you know that if you drink one glass of Coke a day your body cannot recieve calcium???

MILK DOES THE BODY GOOD!!!! Don't listen to everything everyone says. Natural is best!

paulmg1234

Too much protein is the main culprit, not milk specifically. There are multiple medical studies that have found that high protein diets leach calcium from the bones over time, which can lead to osteoporosis, kidney stones, and other calcium related health issues. I was vegan for many years and still eat mostly vegetarian, but that's because that diet works for ME, my specific medical conditions, my lifestyle, etc. I don't think any one diet works for everyone. As long as you aren't consuming a LOT of dairy, I don't think you really have to worry about it. Everything in moderation.

Yes, that reminds me about the documentary showing that the countries with the highest amount of milk consumption (i.e. protein) also have the most cases of osteoporosis and hip fractures.

kettlenic

Here, we have summarised the pros and cons so whatever your choice, you can be as informed as possible.

Pros

•For people who can't tolerate milk or lactose which is in dairy products, soya is an alternative. Soya milk contains nutrients found in normal milk, including calcium.
•Soya is thought to be good for the heart. It's believed the lower incidence of heart disease in China and Japan may be linked to the amount of soya in Far Eastern diets. Isoflavones, a type of plant-oestrogen in soya, are known for their strong antioxident properties which may help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and soya is a source of soluble fibre which may help lower cholesterol levels.
•The risk of breast cancer could be reduced after research showed those who ate soya-rich diets have less 'high-risk' dense breast tissue, thought to be due to the plant-oestrogens. Previous research has shown the fewer menstrual cycles a woman has in a lifetime, the lower the risk of breast cancer and eating soya also appears to lengthen the menstrual cycle.
•Soya could protect against osteoporosis, the brittle-bone condition which usually affects women after the menopause.
•Soya milk with its plant-oestrogens is often a recommended natural alternative which many menopausal women swear by to balance hormones, as controversy surrounds HRT. Studies found Japanese women suffer less menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes than Western women.
•Men could be protected against prostate cancer by eating soya, according to scientists in the US.
•Soya could help your diet because it's low in saturated fat and cholesterol free. It has also been suggested the plant hormones can fight obesity and diabetes.
•Other benefits could be a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, it may help your memory and could protect men from going bald.
Cons

•Your periods might be affected. Women fed soya formula as babies could experience long and painful periods, according to a study. A woman drinking two glasses of soya milk a day may see her menstrual cycle alter.
•Men's fertility could be affected. The more soya a man eats, the more difficulty he will have in fertilising an egg, was the conclusion of Dr Lorraine Anderson who discovered sperm moved slower when the liquid surrounding it contained female-like hormones. In animals, large amounts of female-like plant hormones have been shown to reduce fertility. When marmosets, (small monkeys) were fed soya milk formula in a study it suppressed their testosterone levels. Pregnant women in the US were advised by scientists to avoid soya after tests on rats suggested a chemical in it could damage unborn boys' reproductive organs.
•Children with a cow's milk allergy could become sensitive to soya if they are fed only on baby soya milk.
•Mothers are advised not to feed babies soya milk baby formula as their sole source of food before six months, except on medical advice. This recommendation came from paediatric experts and the Government following the working group report. After six months, babies are generally eating solids and the risk is considered not so great. Sue Dibb, senior policy officer of the National Consumer Council, advises parents to be cautious. "You're giving the baby a dose of a hormonally active substance at a time when babies are developing. That is a concern even when the evidence is not very clear cut," she says.
•Eating soya for a long time can suppress the working of the thyroid gland, which is associated with metabolism, according to research.
•There is some evidence plant oestrogens can encourage the growth of oestrogen-dependent breast cancer.

summalovaable

The whole reasoning behind milk and carbs being bad for you is that they really aren't part of our "natural" diet. Humans actually ALL used to be lactose intolerant. However, over years we became immune to it (because apparently we couldnt get enough). Technically everyone who isn't lactose intolerant contains a mutagenic gene so thatwe are now able to process all forms of dairy. Basically: Drinking it won't kill you, but you don't need. I rarely drinking milk and my calcium levels are perfectly fine!( Yes I do get my nutrient levels checked regularly by the doctor)

Pangui

After watching "Forks Over Knives", I read "The China Study". Then I went on to investigate opposing points of view. From the research and evidence presented, I am convinced that dairy products are unnatural for our systems. You don't need to ask your doctor to do research and read studies. In fact, most doctors are not taught any nutrition in school. They are here to treat our ailments and help us live with our diseases, but they don't do much to prevent them.

The dairy industry has representatives on all the food boards and they have engrained themselves into the educational institutions, including our schools. They tell us that we need dairy as an ideal source of calcium to build strong bones. What they don't tell us is that the countries in the world who have the highest incidences of osteoporosis are also the countries that consume the highest amounts of milk. Calcium from a plant-based diet is far more effective in our biology than calcium from an animal-based product.

I thought that I could never give up dairy, eggs and especially cheese. It turned out to be a lot easier than I thought and the positive changes were almost instant. I had more energy, sped up my metabolism, and my hair doesn't get oily anymore. My skin is clearer than it ever has been. The best part is that my tastebuds have reawakened and now healthy food tastes wonderful. I lost my cravings for junk food and binging. It feels so nice to be in control again.

I cannot believe it was so much easier than I thought it would be. If you need to fulfill a craving for cheese or dairy products, they make a substitute for everything. My children LOVE the soy-based ice cream sandwiches just as much as the real thing. I stay away from them just because I am trying to keep my fat and sugar intake to a minimum, but I want to have occasional treats for my kids and still keep them healthy. My milk-aholic 7 year old is now discovering the joys of chocolate almond milk and vanilla soy milk.

Do your research and read all views. For me, the evidence became pretty overwhelming and I could no longer ignore it.

candistyx

The only type of milk I'll drink is hemp milk. I have heard from a few people who research a lot of it (not scientists or anything, just people very involved with health and fitness) and they said humans don't need cow milk. He mentioned something about humans being the only ones to drink milk after infancy or something along those lines. Basically saying, after breast milk, we really have no need for milk and that it really isn't that great for us. A few years ago I had to stop drinking milk due to randomly becoming lactose intolerance, which was weird because I usually always had milk and I can still have any type of dairy product, except milk. If you do decide to stop dairy all together, just take it one step at a time. Don't stop all at once or it won't last.

I've seen cows drinking milk years after they were supposed to be weaned, sneaky cows :P
Generally the reason mammals stop drinking milk is not because it stops being good but more because mummy says "leave my tits alone! You've had enough!". Sometimes mummies are just too passive and let their kids drink on for years as in this human case:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxv6R9fUO74

Larius

The protein deteriorates bone thing sounds fishy to me. If true, wouldn't the bodybuilders chugging buckets of isolated milk proteins be snapping bones left and right? Tests show bodybuilders have denser bones than average persons.