Article: Milk: is it good or bad for us?

[penkitten]

i am a mother, so i always preach milk is good for you.

 

[Warboss Alex]

i am a mother, so i always preach milk is good for you.

mother's milk is AWESOME.. but once breastfeeding stops, putting cow's milk into your children's bodies is close enough to poisoning them. (even if they have no discernable reactions e.g. stomach issues)

 

[Warboss Alex]

its all i hav time for cus i got early classes...but at least it has like 15g of protein and lots of fiber in it

15g of protein is fine if you're a hamster. add some protein powder to your cereal or have eggs with it (or both)

 

[penkitten]

mother's milk is AWESOME.. but once breastfeeding stops, putting cow's milk into your children's bodies is close enough to poisoning them. (even if they have no discernable reactions e.g. stomach issues)

milk builds strong bones and is a wonderful source of calcium.

 

[Warboss Alex]

milk builds strong bones and is a wonderful source of calcium.

no it doesn't and there are way better sources of calcium. do some research, or at least read the article!

it's harder to teach the older generation these things (no offence) because the pro-milk mantra has been ingrained for longer. just like the anti-fat consensus.

 

[penkitten]

no it doesn't and there are way better sources of calcium. do some research, or at least read the article!

dude read the article yourself where it says :
Milk and other dairy products are the best dietary sources of calcium, which is essential for bone health and protection against conditions such as osteoporosis,

lthough other foods, such as green vegetables and nuts and seeds, also contain the crucial mineral, nothing packs a calcium punch quite like milk

it's harder to teach the older generation these things (no offence) because the pro-milk mantra has been ingrained for longer. just like the anti-fat consensus.

older and wiser sweet pea...
i read another research article five years ago where they did a study and found that women who wore deodorant on a daily basis were more likely to get breast cancer than women that didn't.... but that did not make it true two years later when they studied it again.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo
http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/newsID.1020/healthissue_detail.asp

 

[penkitten]

http://www.acsh.org/publications/pubID.513/pub_detail.asp
What's the Story? The Role of Milk in Your Diet
Posted: Friday, June 1, 2001
What Is Milk?

Milk* is a nutritious food. It is an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, and vitamin D and a good source of protein, vitamin A, potassium, and several B vitamins. Milk and foods made from milk (yogurt and cheese) make up one of the five basic food groups included in the U.S. government's Food Guide Pyramid. The Pyramid calls for two to three servings from this group daily.

What Are the Benefits of Milk?

Although milk provides many nutrients, it's especially important as a source of calcium and vitamin D.

All foods in the "milk, yogurt and cheese" food group are rich in calcium. So if you include enough foods from this group in your daily diet, you are assured of getting a reliable source of calcium every day. In the other food groups, however, only a few of the many possible choices are high in calcium. For example, only a few vegetables (such as spinach, collard greens, and broccoli) are calcium-rich; most other vegetables (including such favorites as potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, corn, and carrots) are not. In addition, the calcium in dairy products is better absorbed from the digestive tract than the calcium from some other sources.

What Are the Charges Leveled against Milk?

Some extremist groups have claimed that milk is not a good food for infants and children. They also contend that milk should not be included in official dietary guidelines because of the high prevalence of lactose intolerance among U.S. minority groups. In addition, they claim that milk can cause or contribute to a wide variety of health problems—including heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, allergies, and infant colic—and that hormones in milk are causing early puberty in girls.

What Are the Facts?

Suitability for Infants and Children. The milk that you buy in the grocery store is not suitable for infants. During the first year of life, it is best for infants to drink human milk (that is, to be breastfed). The only acceptable alternative to human milk is infant formula. The most commonly used formulas are based on cows' milk proteins, but the milk is extensively modified to support the nutritional needs of infants. Unmodified cows' milk is not appropriate for infants during their first year because the amounts and proportions of nutrients that it contains are very different from the amounts present in human milk or infant formula.

For children over the age of one year, cows' milk is an excellent food. Of course, like all other foods, milk doesn't provide all the nutrients that a child needs. For good nutrition, children need foods from each of the major food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat/meat alternatives). Milk should be only one component of a balanced diet.

Minority Groups and Lactose Intolerance. It is true that lactose maldigestion (the loss of the ability to produce the enzyme that digests the milk sugar lactose after early childhood) is more common among people of African, Asian, Native American, or Mediterranean heritage than among those of northern or western European origin. However, people with lactose maldigestion do not necessarily experience symptoms of intolerance after consuming usual amounts of milk (i.e., 8 oz.) Therefore, it is usually not necessary for these individuals to eliminate all dairy products from their diets. Many people with lactose intolerance can drink as much as two cups of milk daily with meals (one in the morning and one in the evening) without developing any gastrointestinal discomfort. Those who cannot tolerate regular milk can usually tolerate lactose-reduced milk, which is readily available in supermarkets. Most cheeses (except for cottage cheese and similar fresh cheeses) are also well tolerated because they contain no significant amount of lactose. Many lactose intolerant people also find that they have no difficulty tolerating yogurt. People with lactose intolerance need not eliminate dairy products from their diets; they simply need to choose dairy products wisely and find the amount that they can consume without developing symptoms.

Heart Disease. It is sometimes claimed that milk is bad for the heart because it is high in saturated fat. However, you do not have to eliminate milk from your diet in order to reduce your saturated fat intake. Instead, choose fat-free or reduced-fat milk and dairy products. Fat-free and reduced-fat milks provide as much protein, calcium, and vitamins as whole milk does, but with much or all of the fat removed.

Including low-fat dairy foods in your daily diet may actually reduce your risk of heart disease by helping to keep your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure is an important risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Dairy products contain calcium, potassium, and magnesium—all of which may help to prevent or reduce high blood pressure. An important study called DASH (for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) showed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods (3 servings a day) can help bring blood pressure down.

Diabetes. Some scientific reports have suggested a possible link between early exposure to cows' milk proteins and the risk of one type of diabetes in genetically susceptible individuals. Other studies have not supported this association, however. A recent review of the scientific data by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International concluded that there is no compelling evidence at this time that supports the claim that consuming cows' milk increases the risk of diabetes. The best advice for parents is to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations for infant feeding: breastfeed your infant if possible, and don't feed unmodified cows' milk during the first year of life.

Prostate Cancer. Several scientific studies have indicated that men who consume large amounts of dairy products or calcium may have a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer than those who do not. Not all studies have shown this, however, and scientists are not certain whether this is a true cause-and-effect relationship.

Even if future research shows that the link between milk and prostate cancer is real, it is not likely that experts will ever advise men to stop drinking milk. Ample intakes of milk and calcium have been associated with lower risks of several diseases common among men, including colon cancer and hypertension. Men also need calcium to help keep their bones healthy—just as women do. The best advice for men is to include milk or other dairy products in their diets in the moderate amounts called for by the Food Guide Pyramid—2 to 3 servings per day.

Allergies. True allergies to milk are uncommon, and they primarily affect infants and young children rather than adults. It has been estimated that between 2 and 5% of infants are allergic to the proteins in cows' milk. Infants with true milk allergies should not be fed formulas made from cows' milk. Fortunately, though, they may not need to avoid milk for a lifetime. Most children outgrow milk allergies as they get older.

Colic. The cause and effective treatment of infantile colic remains unclear—and most infants are symptom-free by 4 to 5 months of age. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some infants may experience colic as the only symptom of food protein allergy. However, cows' milk allergy is unlikely to be an important cause of colic. Most infants with colic do not respond to a hypoallergenic formula. If your baby is extremely colicky, consult your baby's health care provider to see whether changing the formula or the mother's diet is worth a try.

Early Puberty in Girls. Experts aren't sure whether girls really are entering puberty earlier. If they are, the most likely explanation is that today's girls are heavier than their mothers were at the same age. Puberty tends to occur earlier in heavier girls.

There is no research demonstrating that milk or dairy products play a role in early puberty. Milk has always contained hormones in very small amounts; their presence is not a result of any changes in animal husbandry practices. Today's girls drink less milk than their mothers did. Thus, it seems very unlikely that milk is responsible for any change in the age at which girls enter puberty.

The Bottom Line

Except in cases of milk allergy (an uncommon problem), cows' milk and its products are acceptable, nutritious foods for persons one year of age and older. Milk and dairy products are good sources of many nutrients, and they are the best food source of the mineral calcium, a nutrient often not plentiful enough in the American diet.

Most of the health concerns that have been raised about cows' milk appear to be based on misconceptions or incomplete understanding of the facts. There is one important, scientifically justified health concern about milk, however—the fact that many children and adolescents are not drinking enough of it. In the past few decades, children's milk consumption has gone down, while their consumption of other beverages has gone up. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans call for three servings of milk or other dairy foods daily for older children and adolescents (ages 9 and up), but young Americans in this age group are currently averaging only about two servings per day.

To make sure that the children in your family are drinking enough milk, it's a good idea to always serve milk as the mealtime beverage. Also, since children imitate adults, it helps for all family members—not just the children—to drink milk with their meals.

 

[Warboss Alex]

I started picking apart that article and writing a post but deleted it all.. life's too short. I shan't bother - keep your milk and lowfat dairy produce. Saturated fat causes heart disease ya know.

 

[penkitten]

http://www.massagemag.com/News/2007/August/Study-Milk-Muscle-Mass.php
New Study: Milk for Muscle Mass

Calcium's effect on bone strength and the prevention of osteoarthritis is well-known; a new study shows that consuming fat-free milk can promote lean muscle mass as well, when compared to soy protein and sports drinks.

 

[Warboss Alex]

First line of that article:

"a new study shows that consuming fat-free milk can promote lean muscle mass as well, when compared to soy protein and sports drinks."

I didn't bother reading the rest.

Actually, I should've stopped at 'fat-free' but I was feeling reckless.

 

[wolf116]

If I was to change one thing about my diet in high school it would be to give up milk. It gave me terrible acne. I'm now 20, and if I even have one glass of milk I will break out.

I have noticed all products that can produce an allergy are essentially bad for you. Like gluten, wheat, peanuts. ect.
My dad is allergic to alcohol. Does that mean it's healthy for everyone else? No, it means his body has learned to reject it so he stays healthy.

 

[penkitten]

if it is live culture yogurt then it's fine because the bacteria will help you digest it (ironic you need bacteria to digest lactose huh..) and provide lots of probiotic goodness. I have no issues with yogurt but stuff like milk/cottage cheese gives me terrible stomach trouble..

if you are talking yogurt with added sugar then no, I wouldn't touch it but natural, live culture yogurt is okay, in fact it's good for you. just that it doesn't have enough protein to be a viable source but the way you have it is just fine

weirdly enough, large amounts of yogurt USED to give me issues but milk didn't.. now it's the opposite (and has been for years).

yogurt contains milk,and it sounds like you are allergic so that is why you used to have problems with it.

 

[Warboss Alex]

yogurt contains milk,and it sounds like you are allergic so that is why you used to have problems with it.

yogurt contains lactose but also the enzymes (in its live cultures) to digest it, I think it was just the quantities in which I used to eat it which gave me problems (it'd give anyone problems , I was addicted to the stuff)

 

[penkitten]

yogurt contains lactose but also the enzymes (in its live cultures) to digest it, I think it was just the quantities in which I used to eat it which gave me problems (it'd give anyone problems , I was addicted to the stuff)

http://www.stonyfield.com/OurProducts/WholeMilkYogurt.cfm#javascript:void(0)
WM 6 oz. French Vanilla



Serving Size 1 Container

Amount Per Serving

Calories 190 Calories from Fat 50

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Sat Fat 4g 20%

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 25mg 8%

Sodium 95mg 4%

Potassium 330mg 9%

Total Carbohydrate 27g 9%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 24g

Protein 6g 12%

Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 25% Iron 0%

Thiamin 6% Riboflavin 20%

Vitamin B6 2% Vitamin B12 10%

Pantothenic Acid 6% Phosphorus 20%

Magnesium 4%

*Percent Daily Values are based on
a 2,000 calorie diet.

OUR FAMILY RECIPE: CULTURED PASTEURIZED ORGANIC WHOLE MILK, NATURALLY MILLED ORGANIC SUGAR, INULIN, ORGANIC NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR, PECTIN. CONTAINS: SIX LIVE ACTIVE CULTURES INCLUDING: L. ACIDOPHILUS, BIFIDUS, L. CASEI, AND L. REUTERI.

 

[Warboss Alex]

um, yes?

 

[SinJester]

The Disovery Channel taught me that humans evolved to be able to digest milk becase of its benafits and this gave us an advantage. Now we all know that some humans can't digest milk properly, this is called lactose intollerance. Now in white Americans only 12% of the population have lactose intollerance. Everyone else should be fine. Heck I know 40 year olds that have drank litres of ice coffee a day for most of their lives, and they are perfectly healthy (apart from some yellowed teeth). You would think that if it was so bad that humans wouldn't have been drinking it for 100s of years, let alone most of the population drinking it today.

Have a look at this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance

Any patterns you see reguarding the groups that have the lowest tollerance to lactose?

 

[wolf116]

Heck I know 40 year olds that have drank litres of ice coffee a day for most of their lives, and they are perfectly healthy (apart from some yellowed teeth).QUOTE]

apart from obeasity, diabetes, bowel/stomach problems and acne it's fine.

 

[BluEyes]

What bugs me is why it's such a big deal. People freak out when they can't drink a glass of milk or have their bowl of coco-puffs in the morning. A healthy diet doesn't even need milk, or any lactose. Water, juice, and tea is just fine for me, thank you.

 

[Bonhomme]

Whole milk gives me the shits.

 

[Mandiblard]

i am a mother, so i always preach milk is good for you.

It's really unfortunate how ignorant people can reproduce so easily