Cow milk - is it safe for humans to drink? Why the hype?

Mydailytrack
Mydailytrack Posts: 39 Member
edited February 2016 in Food and Nutrition
People are choosing almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk & what not over our age old cow milk. What's your take on the same?
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Replies

  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    Lactose intolerance -> alternate milk

    Everyone else -> milk

    Sources:
    Me, because I say so. Milk is positively delicious (and nutritious!)!!
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Lactose intolerance -> alternate milk

    Everyone else -> milk

    Sources:
    Me, because I say so. Milk is positively delicious (and nutritious!)!!

    And goes great with Oreos! (Seeing if we can hit the Oreo thread trifecta).
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    I say it varies by each individual. Read labels and compare almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, etc. There are also combinations of each. I have a half gallon of almond / coconut milk in my fridge right now. I prefer the taste and potassium in soy milk but I drink all of the alternate milks. Personally I'm not a fan of cow's milk.
  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member
    I like to drink cow's milk, but the ones from farms that treat their cows humanely. Also, the "Simply Smart" brand is good for having low calories, high protein.
  • FunkyTobias
    FunkyTobias Posts: 1,776 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Lactose intolerance -> alternate milk

    Everyone else -> milk

    Sources:
    Me, because I say so. Milk is positively delicious (and nutritious!)!!

    Or vegan. Or some just like the taste of the alternate milks.

    But yeah. Personal preference.
  • runsonrabbitfood
    runsonrabbitfood Posts: 89 Member
    They're all called 'milk' but each tastes entirely different in my opinion. The other options are also nice for those who can't, or choose not to, drink dairy.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Lactose intolerance -> alternate milk

    Everyone else -> milk

    Sources:
    Me, because I say so. Milk is positively delicious (and nutritious!)!!

    And goes great with Oreos! (Seeing if we can hit the Oreo thread trifecta).

    Milk's favorite cookie!! (says so right on the package)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    I've had this discussion twice recently in RL

    People believe in: ingesting cow hormones = bad for body

    I didn't understand the points made TBH

  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    FunkyTobias wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Lactose intolerance -> alternate milk

    Everyone else -> milk

    Sources:
    Me, because I say so. Milk is positively delicious (and nutritious!)!!

    Or vegan. Or some just like the taste of the alternate milks.

    But yeah. Personal preference.

    you mean...alien life forms???
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Some choose alternatives because of ethical beliefs, some do because they have an issue with something in dairy (like lactose), some do because they like the taste, and some do because they think alternative milks are healthier. Whatever your preference is and floats your boat.

    Me, I love a tall glass of cold cows milk at times, especially to wash down peanut butter or to drink with chocolate cake. I also drink it with Oreo's, but I am not a dunker so it isn't essential, but it tastes good with the chocolate.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Is it safe for humans to drink? Really? 'Cuz it's been around quite some time...

    The only time I've used some alternative was when my youngest was a baby and he had a dairy allergy...he grew out of it and we just use dairy now...which, yes...is perfectly safe for human consumption.
  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    Obviously it is safe for humans to drink. Some people are lactose intolerant, some people are vegans, some people just like the taste of almond/soy/coconut/cashew etc milk better.

    The unsweetened versions of those milks save a lot of calories vs. regular milk so that's another factor.
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    Lactose intolerance is very prevalent in adults worldwide (an average of 65% but up to 90% in East Asian populations, for example) so the plethora of alternatives is definitely nice for that segment of the population.

    I'm not lactose intolerant but I do find the idea of drinking milk pretty gross as I view it as something for baby cows, but then again I drink Scotch and eat gummy bears (not to mention dairy products like gelato and goat cheese, which I eat as I'm able to forget where it came from), so I'm not really an authority on what the human body is intended to consume. I just think it tastes bad and the concept grosses me out, so I'm glad I can pick up a container of nut "milk" or whatever to use in recipes that call for it or for my occasional latte craving.

    Bottom line is that there a huge push from dairy producers in the 60s-90s that milk was this all-important health food but it's really no better or worse than anything else for adults. Mammals don't need milk past infancy so there's no need to drink it unless you like the taste.
  • FunkyTobias
    FunkyTobias Posts: 1,776 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    FunkyTobias wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Lactose intolerance -> alternate milk

    Everyone else -> milk

    Sources:
    Me, because I say so. Milk is positively delicious (and nutritious!)!!

    Or vegan. Or some just like the taste of the alternate milks.

    But yeah. Personal preference.

    you mean...alien life forms???

    Pretty sure they like regular milk.


    And cats.

    34e17a9ffa64e34a9e15249d159f12932b2ddbe02a38ca83d2bf7d626d2e348f_1.jpg
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Whatever you like. I prefer cow milk because it's cheaper than the alternatives.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    I have a daughter who is lactose intolerant, so it's almond milk for her because from all the choices of "white liquid not from cows" she prefers it. The rest of us use 2% milk. The poor girl also has severe allergies.
  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member
    edited February 2016
    Well, there are always alternatives to cow milk, almond milk, coconut milk...

    https://youtu.be/Z6HIoXoCcOs
  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member
    Some other alternatives:

    https://youtu.be/gemfwRuZRmA
  • JHALLISGETTINGsmall
    JHALLISGETTINGsmall Posts: 54 Member
    I heard somewhere that humans are the only mammals that drink milk after infancy/childhood. Don't know if that's true though
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I just don't like cow's milk. I never have. Every once in a while I can tolerate a nice full fat premium brand of it, but I just prefer the taste of the nut/soy milks.
  • mjwarbeck
    mjwarbeck Posts: 699 Member
    Don't like milk...cannot drink it (cow milk protein intolerance--actually causes GI bleeding if too much).

  • FunkyTobias
    FunkyTobias Posts: 1,776 Member
    JHALLISGETTINGsmall wrote: »
    I heard somewhere that humans are the only mammals that drink milk after infancy/childhood. Don't know if that's true though

    We're also the only ones that wear clothes, drive cars, cook our food, and post on the interwebs.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    I've had this discussion twice recently in RL

    People believe in: ingesting cow hormones = bad for body

    I didn't understand the points made TBH
    I've heard people talk about this as well. The general consensus is that children (especially female children) should not be ingesting hormone filled milk because the hormones make them develop, mature, and get bigger chests too quick. LOL.

    I suggested that perhaps maybe it wasn't the hormone-ey milk, that it was just an abundance of food in general? But I was poo poo-ed.

    hormone milk = big jugs.
  • runsonrabbitfood
    runsonrabbitfood Posts: 89 Member
    220d9-ArnoldSaysMilkIsForBabies.jpg
    Just watched the 'Pumping Iron' documentary and immediately thought of this XD
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,092 Member
    JHALLISGETTINGsmall wrote: »
    I heard somewhere that humans are the only mammals that drink milk after infancy/childhood. Don't know if that's true though

    It's not true. If you raise dairy cows and pigs on a small farm, pigs will often get excess and soured milk mixed in their feed, and cats will certainly drink milk if they get the chance. Pretty sure lots of animals (e.g., rodents, foxes, raccoons) will be happy to slurp up milk if humans are careless enough to leave it around where they can get at it--their problem is that most lactating mammals of other species are not going to stand around and let a raccoon get it straight from the source. Unlike humans, they don't have the ability to tether, pen, and milk cattle.
  • MommyMeggo
    MommyMeggo Posts: 1,222 Member
    I dont much care for the taste of milk and use skim in cereal. I NEVER drink it--- I drink water and wine. LOL.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    FunkyTobias wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    FunkyTobias wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Lactose intolerance -> alternate milk

    Everyone else -> milk

    Sources:
    Me, because I say so. Milk is positively delicious (and nutritious!)!!

    Or vegan. Or some just like the taste of the alternate milks.

    But yeah. Personal preference.

    you mean...alien life forms???

    Pretty sure they like regular milk.


    And cats.

    34e17a9ffa64e34a9e15249d159f12932b2ddbe02a38ca83d2bf7d626d2e348f_1.jpg

    Alf freaked me out as a kid.
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    As someone who has recently been diagnosed with a mild cow's milk allergy (it gives me digestive symptoms which are unsociable to live with, shall we say), I would proclaim loudly my love for the stuff. LACTO FREE, SOY AND GOAT MILK ARE NOT THE SAME.

    I can still have a little bit, but my days of eating porridge with milk for breakfast, cheese sandwich for lunch, latte mid-afternoon, and ice cream for pudding are gone.

    If you can ingest cow's milk, like it, don't have an ethical objection to it, just crack on and have it.
  • OneHundredToLose
    OneHundredToLose Posts: 8,523 Member
    I'm pretty sure the last several thousand years of humans drinking cow milk proves that it's safe to drink.

    Personally, I don't drink cow milk because I don't like the taste (I know, I'm crazy right?). I prefer almond milk's taste.
  • Graceraeg
    Graceraeg Posts: 84 Member
    If I drink regular cow milk I get sick from lactose intolerance. I drink either coconut, almond, or lactose free milk. Mostly I drink almond milk because I like it.

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