Myths About the Nutritional Value of Cow's Milk

The milk industry has created several reasons why we need our daily dose of milk. It's time to examine the myths, lies and propaganda about cow's milk.

1. Cow's milk is pasteurized to make it safer.
   Milk is pasteurized at over 170 degrees. All of the enzymes and anything of value in the milk are killed at 130 degrees. What pasteurization really did for the business was give milk a longer shelf life. But beware.
2. Cow's milk is a good substitute for mother's breast milk.
   A new born calf weighs around 90 pounds and in two years it will weigh 2000 pounds. A human infant is born at 6 to 8 pounds and it takes 18 years to reach 100 to 200 pounds. The structure of the milk for each species is designed to meet the specific needs of that species. Humans do not need to put on weight as fast as cows. The high fat and cholesterol content of cow's milk should be on everyone's list of things to avoid. As I'm writing this, I see the dairy industry is running commercials encouraging the use of milk as part of a weight loss program. What an advertising spin!
3. Our children need milk to make them strong and healthy.
   Again, we've set ourselves above nature. Studies are showing that dairy products are the leading cause of allergies. (1) (2) Since cow's milk causes a build up of mucus in our bodies, dairy can be linked as a primary cause for runny noses, colds, ear infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, and even hay fever.
4. Milk is essential for good teeth.
   A study was done using rats because their tooth decay process is biologically identical to human teeth. The end result was that the group fed pasteurized milk got twice as many cavities as the group on the sugar-fed diet.
5. We need milk and dairy products for protein.
   The protein component in cow's milk is casein. Cow's milk contains 300 times more casein than human milk. Human bodies lack the digestive ability to break down the casein protein. Protein is built from amino acids. Every amino acid needed to build human protein can be found in fruits and vegetables.
6. Milk builds strong bones. We need it to fight osteoporosis.
   In reality, dairy products are the number one cause of osteoporosis. Yes, other contributors are tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, soft drinks, salt, antacids, and lack of exercise, but the major cause is dairy products. And yes, cow's milk does have calcium, but it also has casein protein, which is impossible for our digestive systems to handle, so we end up with excess. Amino acids try to break down the casein protein. Here's the catch; the more animal protein you consume, the more calcium you lose. Osteoporosis has been studied worldwide and the correlation holds true that countries with higher consumption of dairy products also have higher reports of osteoporosis.
7. We need milk and dairy for calcium.
   Calcium is in the soil. Plants absorb it and make it part of their structure. Animals eat the plants. Their bodies absorb the calcium. Cows don't drink milk for their calcium, they eat plant life. Fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, grains, seeds and beans all have calcium in them.
8. Pregnant woman need to drink more milk.
   Actually, the more cow's milk a pregnant woman drinks, the more likely the infant will need that suction tube hospitals always have on hand. It sucks out the thick mucus from the baby's nose and throat at delivery so it can breathe. Remember, your unborn is eating what you're eating. The high mucus content of milk passes into your baby. You may want to consider cutting back on dairy products during pregnancy and look at other calcium and protein alternatives.
9. Breast feeding mothers need to drink more milk.
   Have you ever heard of a cow drinking milk so that it has better and more nutritious milk for its calf? No adult mammal on this planet drinks milk except for the human. For some reason we've put ourselves above the laws of nature. If we look at nature we'll find the plant life foods to make nutritious breast milk for our species' young.
10. Milk helps coat the stomach and ease the pain of ulcers.
    Dairy products are acid-forming foods. Milk will aggravate an ulcer. If milk is a major part of your life style and you are looking for an alternative, you should consider soymilk. It's high in calcium and its protein is easy to digest.

(1) Tommori, J., and Pal Osvath, Hajnalka Marton, and Helga Lehotzky. "Study of the Frequency of Cow's Milk Sensitivity in the Families of Milk-Allergic and Asthmatic Children." Acta Allergol, Vol.28, July 1973, p.107.
(2) Bahna, Sami L., M.D. Allergies to Milk. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1980.
(3) Southern California Dental Association Journal, Vol. 31, No.9, Sept. 1963.