undereating?

[skcin]

OK, I've thoroughly read all the info Amber provided. Definitely interesting, and something to think about when making dietary choices. Is this article from a Vegan website? Just wondering, I didn't see the source. I am not going to ignore the things I've just read, and I will be sure to not eat too much dairy after reading all of these theories. Considering my usual intake is a splash of 1% milk 4-5 days a week & some cheese/yogurt every day, I rarely eat even the recommended 2-3 servings anyway, so I'm not really that worried.

I think it's great that people are doing research to find out exactly what's good for us & what's not, and question older outdated info. I personally take it with a grain of salt. So may studies say the opposite of other studies - hard to decide for sure which study is the best or most accurate. Apparently, the only thing we can honestly eat without fear are completely organic raw fresh veggies. Too much of anything else can be unhealthy, and this obviously includes dairy. Point taken.

I'd like to comment on a few things. Not trying to dispute any of the info presented, just some thoughts:

Cow's Milk
Updated: March 16, 2005

Milk and other dairy products are included in many vegetarian diets. Dairy is a rich source of calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and other nutrients. It has been a part of many cultures for centuries, especially in Northern Europe. For religious Hindus, milk is considered sacred.

Yet the majority of the world's peoples do not come from cultures that have a history of dairy consumption. These people often have problems digesting it. And with the advent of modern mechanized dairy production, milk may not be as pure as it once was.

What follows is an in depth overview of some of the potential problems associated with dairy, and a look at the alternatives.

Sections below:
Lactose Intolerance
Milk fat
Allergies
Osteoporosis
Yogurt
Iron deficiency in infants
Ovarian cancer
Diabetes in children
Women & dairy
Stress, antibiotics, mastitis, and pus
Non-dairy calcium sources
Soy milk as a healthy alternative

Is drinking milk natural?

Human beings are the only species (other than house cats) to consume milk past childhood. We are also the only species to consume the milk of another species. Yet, at about the age of four, most people around the world begin to lose the ability to digest lactose, the carbohydrate found in milk. This results in a condition known as lactose intolerance that causes a range of unpleasant abdominal symptoms, including stomach cramps, flatulence and diarrhea.

Lactose intolerance is a reality for 75% of the world's population. In Canada, while many adult Caucasians have the ability to digest lactose, a large number of First Nations People, Asians, Africans and people of Jewish ancestry are lactose deficient.1

Even though consuming dairy is unnatural and problematic for many people, Canada's Food Guide recommends 2–4 servings per day, and the US Food Guide Pyramid recommends 2-3 servings. One serving is defined as 1 cup of milk, 2 slices of cheese or 3/4 cup of yogurt.

Humans are the only species to do a bunch of things. Eating cooked food comes to mind, but I'm not going to stop doing that.

And yes, the majority of the world's pop. is at least mildly lactose intolerant. That's not because it's bad necessarily, it's because it may not be available to them, therefore their bodies can't process it properly. The people that I know who are medically diagnosed as lactose intolerant simply don't eat dairy, or they eat only what they can tolerate. Of course if something makes you sick to your stomach, then don't eat it - seems like common sense to me. Only about 15% of the Caucasian pop. is lactose intolerant, btw.

Whole cow's milk is a high-fat fluid, designed by nature to turn a 60–70 lb (27–30 kg) calf into a 300–600 lb (135–275 kg) cow in one year.

High-fat dairy products such as cheese, butter and cream contain saturated fat. Saturated fat is the most important dietary factor involved in raising blood cholesterol levels. The consumption of high-fat dairy products has also been found to cause atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Finland which has a death rate from heart disease that is among the highest in the world, also has one of the highest rates of dairy product consumption.2

Low-fat milk and cheese products are still significantly high in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. For example, 2% milk has become much more popular than homogenized milk, yet it still derives one third of its total calories from fat. Skim milk mozzarella with approximately 15% milk-fat is considered a low-fat cheese, yet a 1-ounce slice contains 5 grams of fat, totaling 56% calories from fat! So don't be fooled by the "skim milk" label.

The wide range of skimmed milk products available in grocery stores reflects health concerns over high-fat dairy products. But for many people, low-fat dairy products may still be an unacceptable alternative.

Aren't diets in Finland higher in fat in general? High fat dairy, cheeses, meats, etc. How about the availability of fresh veggies? And perhaps people are less physically active than in other parts of the world? I'm not in any way saying that the intake of high fat dairy has nothing to do with the increased rates, I just think there may be other factors involved as well. And I noticed that although this article explains that low fat/skim products aren't that low in fat, they stop short of saying they've been shown to cause heart disease, etc.

Low-fat dairy products linked to heightened allergies

The high protein content of low-fat dairy products is actually more allergenic than dairy products with a high-fat content.3 Dairy products are one of the leading causes of food allergies and food sensitivities causing allergic responses in people of all ages, especially infants and young children. It is estimated that 1–7% of infants are allergic to cow's milk protein. Infants who react to milk also have a greater likelihood of developing allergies to other foods.4

Allergies to dairy products can cause a wide range of symptoms including irritability, restlessness, hyperactivity, depression, abdominal pain, cramps or bloating, gas, diarrhea, bad breath, headaches, lack of energy, constipation, poor appetite, mal-absorption of nutrients, nasal stuffiness, runny nose sinusitis, asthma, shortness of breath, rashes, and eczema.5

I would like to know who the hell is recommending cow's milk for infants?!?! Certainly not pediatricians, at least not for the past 15-20 years. They can't tolerate it, and breast milk is much better. Formula fortified with iron is the second choice. In my professional & personal experience I've never heard anyone tell a mother to give her baby cow's milk.

The allergy link in kids is concerning, although this article isn't very clear to me. I know from my research that there are several possible reasons for the increased incidence of allergies (esp. to foods) but nobody has determined any one cause. Obviously, milk is a possible contributing factor & I hope this is investigated further.

Osteoporosis & the milk connection

North America has one of the highest consumptions of dairy products, and also the highest incidence of osteoporosis – a disease of brittle bones formed through the loss of calcium. The dairy lobby has many campaigns and advertisements encouraging people to consume large quantities of dairy products to ward off this dreaded disease later in life. But that's not the whole story.

Regardless of how much calcium you take in, the amount your body can actually absorb and retain matters more.

The high animal protein intake typical of North American diets can make it difficult to retain calcium. Digesting animal protein creates an acidic environment in the body. To neutralize the acid, the body may rob calcium from the bones. Years of this pattern can contribute in osteoporosis later in life.6

A study published in 2001, found that "elderly women with a high dietary ratio of animal to vegetable protein intake have more rapid neck bone loss and a greater risk of hip fracture than do those with a low ratio. This suggests that an increase in vegetable protein intake and a decrease in animal protein intake may decrease bone loss..." Several studies have found that "in comparison with animal protein, soy protein decreases calcium excretion, a result of the lower sulfur amino acid content of soy protein."7

To prevent osteoporosis it is also important to get enough Vitamin D, avoid smoking and limit coffee and alcohol. Weight-bearing exercise such as running, dancing and walking is especially helpful. (see Key Nutrients for more information on vitamin D).

I do agree that too much focus has been put on "milk builds strong bones" over the years. Evidence shows that it is beneficial in children as far as preventing osteoporosis later in life, but when you're older it doesn't really do squat. Many people aren't aware of this & think that if they suddenly start chugging milk when they're 40, they'll be fine. Uh-uh.

But just because the body can only absorb so much doesn't mean they should cut out all dairy, IMO. And did the study look at the fact that we drink much more soda & eat much more fast food here in North America? Studies also show that soda can severely deplete calcium stores as well as decrease bone density and more fast food seems to = obesity which seems to = decreased activity/exercise, all of which contribute to the development of osteoporosis.

Again, I'm not disputing or trying to minimize the information, just pointing out that there may be more to it than just drinking milk alone. In other words, woman shouldn't completely cut dairy out of their diet because they heard it might not be great for their bones, but continue to lead a sedentary lifestyle & chug pop. They need to look at their life & their diet as a whole - there's no quick fix.

Yogurt

Yogurt is the healthiest dairy product because of its live bacterial enzyme cultures that foster a healthy colon, and even may lower the risk of colon cancer. The culturing process makes yogurt more digestible than milk. The live active cultures create lactase, the enzyme lactose-intolerant people lack. Some yogurts are pasteurized again after the fermentation process. This kills the beneficial bacteria cultures and decreases many of the health benefits. Check the label, and look for the brands with the simplest ingredients. It is best to avoid frozen yogurt – most brands have no live cultures, are high in fat (some as fatty as ice cream), and the low-fat versions are usually high in sugar. An average non-fat serving of frozen yogurt contains approximately seven teaspoons of sugar.

Note: all yogurts have the high protein content and related problems mentioned above. Non-dairy soy yogurts containing live cultures are available.

I understand some people may think that frozen yogurt is good for them just because it says "yogurt." I am not one of them. Read labels, people. I'm surprised to see that this article isn't really that hard on yogurt, since someone once told me I may as well eat a bunch of sugar instead. It is important to eat ygurt that contains active cultures (esp. acidophyllus.) Also - ladies - if you're put on antibiotics for any infection, eating a cup of yogurt every day while you're taking them usually prevents yeast infections from developing.

Iron deficiency in infants

According to Frank Oski, the late Chairman of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Medical School, "Drinking large quantities of cow's milk has long been recognized to produce iron-deficiency anemia in infants... Cow's milk contains less than 1 mg of iron per quart. Very little of this iron is absorbed from the intestinal tract because other constituents of the milk bind with the iron... Many infants drink 1-2 quarts of milk per day. This tends to satisfy their hunger and they are left with very little appetite for the necessary iron-containing foods."8 Breast milk is the best source of iron for infants.

Again with the infants. Doctors do not recommend cow's milk for infants. Neither does the cow/dairy industry or the USDA or any other agency in the U.S.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is more common in Northern Europe than in Asian populations and the consumption of milk products may be the reason. Studies have found that there is a higher risk of ovarian cancer in women who consume lactose (sugar in milk). This was the conclusion of a study published in 2004, that tracked 80,326 participants in the Nurses' Health Study. A Swedish study of 61,084 women found that high intakes of lactose and dairy products, particularly milk, are associated with an increased risk of serious ovarian cancer but not other subtypes of ovarian cancer.9

I'm trying to find the portion of the Nurse's Health Study that shows this, but I'm having a hard time finding it. As far as the study in Sweden, I'm curious to know if other factors were looked at (other dietary factors, esp. fat, smoking, hormone levels, never having kids vs. having several, etc.) Very interesting, though, I hadn't heard that before. The incidence of ovarian Ca is pretty low in relation to other cancers, but obviously if you have other risk factors you may want to limit dairy.

Cow's milk & diabetes in children

Several studies have linked cow's milk to diabetes in children. Something in milk (possibly bovine serum albumin) may cause an immune reaction in diabetic children leading to the destruction of the body's insulin-producing cells. Breast-fed infants who are not fed cow's milk seem to have a measure of protection against diabetes. Avoiding cow's milk may delay or prevent diabetes in susceptible individuals. A 2003 study of 4,701 ten to sixteen year-old adolescents from 11 European countries found that cow's milk and animal product consumption were associated with higher rates of type 1 diabetes when Icelandic data was excluded.10

I'd like to try & find more info on the specifics of the study. I notice it says "were associated with" not "causes." By "animal product" does that mean only dairy, or meat as well? If it includes meat, then theoretically the diet would be higher in fat than non-meat eaters, and they may be overweight because of that, which has long been thought to increase the risk for development of IDDM (Insulin Dependent Diabetes, used to be called Juvenile Diabetes.) If the correlation between dairy and IDDM is strong enough, this is HUGE. It could help in the diagnosis or even prevention of diabetes.

*Theresa - you force fed Dean 20 servings of milk every day, didn't you?!?!*

Women & dairy

According to gynecologist, Christiane Northrum, "Stopping dairy food often improves menstrual cramps, endometriosis pain, allergies, sinusitis and even recurrent vaginitis." Other problems associated with dairy food may include: benign breast conditions, chronic vaginal discharge, acne, fibroids, and chronic intestinal upset. "I can't help but think that there might be some correlation between over stimulation of the cow's mammary glands and subsequent over stimulation of our own, resulting in benign breast conditions."13

I'd like to know this 1 GYN's sources. Is this just her opinion? I'll be posting a study shortly that seems to dispute some of her claims.

Stress, antibiotics, mastitis, and pus

People who regard milk as "the perfect food" rarely think about milk as a commercial product – prone to the hazards of mass-production. John Robbins, author of May All Be Fed, puts it well; "The modern-day Bessie is now bred, fed, medicated, inseminated, and manipulated for a single purpose – maximum milk production at a minimum cost."

In order to produce milk, a dairy cow must give birth. To maximize their milk supply they are artificially inseminated every year, meaning they are pregnant for a physically demanding 9 months out of every 12. Their calves are traumatically taken from them shortly after birth. The resulting surplus of calves feeds the veal industry.

With genetic manipulation and intensive production technologies, Canadian cows produce an average of 9,519 kg of milk per year (2003) — seven times more than they would produce naturally. When their milk production wanes after about four years, dairy cows are sent to slaughter where their worn out bodies are ground up into hamburger.

These unnatural conditions make the modern dairy cow highly prone to stress and disease.

The most damaging stress-related disease is mastitis (an inflammation of the udders). It reduces milk yield and directly affects milk quality by altering composition and increasing the somatic cell count (pus). The National Mastitis Council estimates that it costs about $200 per cow per year on the average dairy farm. In Quebec, mastitis is the second-leading cause of culling.11

Antibiotics, mostly common penicillin, are given to cows for treatment of mastitis. Cows are not supposed to be milked for 48 hours after receiving penicillin. When this precaution is not followed the penicillin appears in the milk in small amounts.12

In 1993, Food and Drug Administration in the United States approved the use of a synthetic growth hormone, rBGH (also known as rBST). This genetically engineered hormone, so far banned in Canada and Europe, has no therapeutic value but to boost milk production. This can cause additional stress, and more frequent bouts of mastitis.

Please see the article I'll post shortly on the "organic" and "free range" controversy.