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Is milk bad for you??
Replies
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@AnvilHead
Thank you for this. No one I know drinks milk; I drink 2 cups a day. I had read it doesn’t help with osteoporosis, which I have, but my bone density has increased with regular milk intake, Pilates, and increased walking/hiking.
The study you posted made me realize that milk helps the bone density but not the risk of bone fracture, which is the bad outcome of osteoporosis as far as I know.
I have also read yogurt is better than milk, which the study below supports for cancer risk. (Couldn’t find link but it’s below the article you posted, so I’m pasting that abstract here.)
Interesting the increase in whole milk & prostate cancer... I guess the jury is still out on sat fat.
Dairy products intake and cancer mortality risk: a meta-analysis of 11 population-based cohort studies.
Review article
Lu W, et al. Nutr J. 2016.
Show full citation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dairy products are major components of daily diet and the association between consumption of dairy products and public health issues has captured great attention. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association between dairy products intake and cancer mortality risk.
METHODS: After a literature search in PubMed and EMBASE, 11 population-based cohort studies involving 778,929 individuals were considered eligible and included in the analyses. Data were extracted and the association between dairy products intake and cancer mortality risk was estimated by calculating pooled relative risks (RRs) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses based on regions, genders and dairy types were performed as well. Potential dose-response relationship was further explored by adopting the generalized least squares (GLST) method.
RESULTS: Total dairy products intake was not associated with all cancer mortality risk, with the pooled RR of 0.99 (95 % CI 0.92-1.07, p = 0.893). Subgroup analyses showed that the pooled RRs were 0.97 (95 % CI 0.92-1.03, p = 0.314) for milk, 0.88 (95 % CI 0.71-1.10, p = 0.271) for yogurt, 1.23 (95 % CI 0.94-1.61, p = 0.127) for cheese and 1.13 (95 % CI 0.89-1.44, p = 0.317) for butter in male and female, however the pooled RR was 1.50 (95 % CI 1.03-2.17, p = 0.032) for whole milk in male, which was limited to prostate cancer. Further dose-response analyses were performed and we found that increase of whole milk (serving/day) induced elevated prostate cancer mortality risk significantly, with the RR of 1.43 (95 % CI 1.13-1.81, p = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS: Total dairy products intake have no significant impact on increased all cancer mortality risk, while low total dairy intake even reduced relative risk based on the non-linear model. However, whole milk intake in men contributed to elevated prostate cancer mortality risk significantly. Furthermore, a linear dose-response relationship existed between increase of whole milk intake and increase of prostate cancer mortality risk.
Thanks again. I think I may gradually move to one cup of milk (maybe try Fairlife) & one 6 oz yogurt. I love my lattes!!0 -
As someone who has been lactose intolerant since about the age of 10, I avoid milk like the plague (I can eat hard cheeses and some yogurt). With that said, I would much rather my children drink milk over juice due to the protein and calcium content. We mostly stick to water in our home though as far as beverages go.1
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Milk is bad for you if you are lactose intolerant, which covers a lot of people. I do use full-fat milk in cooking (this is really only 3.5% fat, and better than the excipients that make up skim 0% fat to make it semi-tolerable to drink, or cook with. That being said, I don't like drinking milk as a beverage, so I only use it in recipes. I agree it better for most people, as lolly above indicated, than drinking fruit in the form of beverages/juice.
I far prefer water, unsweetened tea, SodaStream seltzer to either of the above... Oh, I do love my morning cuppa Java or two... Unfortunately, I really am having a hard time with my favorite dairy product: cheese. So much salt!!!
At least with the better brands of yogurt, one gets other and additional health benefits, assuming moderation.0 -
humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?19
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Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Because modern humans have specifically evolved to drink animal milk. Lactase persistence was enough of an advantage to our ancestors that it evolved independently on multiple occasions.6 -
Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Because modern humans have specifically evolved to drink animal milk. Lactase persistence was enough of an advantage to our ancestors that it evolved independently on multiple occasions.
Ok So why is 65% of the population lactose intolerant?
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NorthCascades wrote: »If it's spoiled!!
Just curious as to your experience with spoiled milk. Did you actually drink some and it made you sick? If so, why did you do that?
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Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Humans are the only species to do a lot of things (cooking, technology, etc..) . How is that exactly a good argument?7 -
I'm not lactose intolerant, so no, it's not bad for me.
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A recent BBC health program did a study on what drinks are most efficient at hydration. Milk came top1
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Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
You've obviously never seen a grown cat nursing when their momma cat has new kittens. As long as momma cat lets them, big old grown cats will happily nurse away.4 -
I have learned that it depends on the milk if its organic grass feed i wont get sick. If its not then it will be coming out of me as soon as i ingest it.6
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Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Cats love it as well as most dogs. Put a bowl of water next to a bowl of milk as see which one the cat picks.
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We're also the only animals which drive cars, use computers, cook our food, exchange currency, have a recorded written language, and a million other things. To my knowledge, we're the only animals that make tacos and pizza too. Of what relevance is any of that?Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy.
Because the mass milking of human females would be frowned upon?Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?11 -
Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Because modern humans have specifically evolved to drink animal milk. Lactase persistence was enough of an advantage to our ancestors that it evolved independently on multiple occasions.
A good percentage, but not ALL.
I can tolerate milk and dairy, but many people I know cannot, except on a very limited basis. Depends on the pre-historic happenings in various cultures. And interestingly enough, some people descended from milk drinkers... cannot always deal with lactose.
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Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Because modern humans have specifically evolved to drink animal milk. Lactase persistence was enough of an advantage to our ancestors that it evolved independently on multiple occasions.
A good percentage, but not ALL.
I can tolerate milk and dairy, but many people I know cannot, except on a very limited basis. Depends on the pre-historic happenings in various cultures. And interestingly enough, some people descended from milk drinkers... cannot always deal with lactose.
And some people have various food allergies/intolerances as well - peanuts, gluten, eggs, shellfish, soy, etc. So does that mean that those foods are worthless for the rest of society which is not allergic/intolerant to them, or should they wisely be avoided by those with intolerances/allergies to them and everybody else can continue to eat them?8 -
Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Because modern humans have specifically evolved to drink animal milk. Lactase persistence was enough of an advantage to our ancestors that it evolved independently on multiple occasions.
Ok So why is 65% of the population lactose intolerant?
Well, I would say that the 35% of the population that is tolerant will have a real edge in the post-apocalypse world where it's either digest animal milk or die of malnutrition...9 -
Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Because modern humans have specifically evolved to drink animal milk. Lactase persistence was enough of an advantage to our ancestors that it evolved independently on multiple occasions.
Ok So why is 65% of the population lactose intolerant?
65% of which population?? The world population??
Not sure what the figure is but it could easily be 65%.
Because most Asian people are lactose intolerant and there are more Asian people in the world than any other racial group.
And lactose tolerance was a genetic anomaly which was an advantage in countries where animal milk was available, usually cold european countries.
Natural selection at work - an advantageous genetic difference over time becomes more widespread in that population.
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Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Seriously, have you tried it? Cow's milk tastes better IMHO.4 -
But I do think it is a food that is not a necessary part of one's diet, even if one can digest it past infancy.
I agree. Past infancy where humans, like all mammals, need mothers milk ( or a formula substitute).
After that it is not a neccesary food and many people in the world manage without it.
But then, no individual food item is a neccesary part of one's diet - there is no single food that provides required nutrients that cannot be sourced instead by other foods.
Not sure point of statement
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Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy. Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
Availability and cultural norms ( the first probably leads to the second) are why we in the western world use cows milk.
I'm sure other cultures in other parts of the world drink sheep, goats, camel, deer milk.
And I do remember reading about cultures which did give expressed human milk to elderly sick people.
Not our cultural norm but probably beneficial, especially in traditional hunter gatherer societies where Sustagen etc not available and food storage limited by nomadic living.
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paperpudding wrote: »But I do think it is a food that is not a necessary part of one's diet, even if one can digest it past infancy.
I agree. Past infancy where humans, like all mammals, need mothers milk ( or a formula substitute).
After that it is not a neccesary food and many people in the world manage without it.
But then, no individual food item is a neccesary part of one's diet - there is no single food that provides required nutrients that cannot be sourced instead by other foods.
Not sure point of statement
Coffee. Coffee is a necessary part of my diet.15 -
paperpudding wrote: »But I do think it is a food that is not a necessary part of one's diet, even if one can digest it past infancy.
I agree. Past infancy where humans, like all mammals, need mothers milk ( or a formula substitute).
After that it is not a neccesary food and many people in the world manage without it.
But then, no individual food item is a neccesary part of one's diet - there is no single food that provides required nutrients that cannot be sourced instead by other foods.
Not sure point of statement
Coffee. Coffee is a necessary part of my diet.
<nods>
And I don't believe any other animals brew coffee. So my coffee with milk is clearly an abomination of nature. And the elixir of being. Life is complicated.11 -
If milk is bad for me I have a real problem , because I love it & drink it regularly - whole milk with all the fat1
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We're also the only animals which drive cars, use computers, cook our food, exchange currency, have a recorded written language, and a million other things. To my knowledge, we're the only animals that make tacos and pizza too. Of what relevance is any of that?Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy.
Because the mass milking of human females would be frowned upon?Howard_M_Burgerz wrote: »Beyond availability..Why would we drink cow's milk instead of human milk?
I don't know, I can see men lining up to handle that job.... the women on the other hand...1 -
Is milk bad for me? No. For me, it's a handy inexpensive source of nutrition, tastes good, and is an essential part of my morning coffee ritual. Since I'm not vegan, lactose/dairy intolerant, or philosophically opposed to its consumption, it's great for me.
Is milk bad for you? How in the heck would I know?4 -
My mom doesn't drink skim milk because, on the farm where she grew up, skim milk was hog feed.
It's a ridiculous and fatally flawed argument right from the start. We're the only species who does a lot of things, many of which are "unnatural". And there are plenty of other animals who will gladly drink milk if it's offered to them....I don't like the argument that "it's unnatural" and "we're the only species who drinks milk into adulthood" and "we're the only species who drinks another animals milk" because I don't base my diet on what other animals are eating.
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