Milk - Why it Does the Body Bad...
Hi there!!! Summer officially begins on June 20th but it sure feels like it has arrived in Chicago already!!!
I have decided to close the series 'In Sickness & In Health' after some deliberation. I think sharing more male opinions would become rather repetitive and between the numerous blog posts in the series, you all received a healthy dose of perspective regarding love & chronic health challenges. I know I did! I had considered having my own boyfriend contribute to that series but again, after much thought, I think we all learned what we needed to learn. Let me know your thoughts!
My next several posts will be going back to my 'vegan roots' and sharing why dairy is so damaging to your health and my own. We will be discussing how damaging meat is to your bodies as well. You are going to receive a hearty education from the next several post that will challenge you and maybe having you scratching your head a bit. All I ask is that you keep an open mind and feel free to take notes - I know I have along the way and will continue to.
I am going to stick to the facts vs. sharing my own personal opinions or those of others. There is so much that we need to learn about food and how it is literally proving to save lives. People are reversing Osteoporosis, Arthritis, High Blood Pressure, Lupus, MS, Cancer, Anxiety, Depression, Brain Tumors, etc. It is actually happening and by sharing the facts, my hope is that you will continue to via my website(s) as trusted source vs. a biased view on health. There has been an explosion of clinical data supporting every single fact I will share. It's unreal.
I will share that although I am a Girl Gone Vegan, when I have cheated on my new lifestyle - it has been with dairy. Veganism isn't about perfection and transitioning a lifetime of habits takes time, commitment and often re-commitment. I imagine you will see another post about this very topic!
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”
― Hippocrates
MILK DOES A BODY BAD - 7 SURPRISING DAIRY FACTS:
If you haven't gotten the memo yet, dairy is out. The once exalted dairy, is now a faux-pas.
Like many of us, you have probably heard that milk is good for you and building strong bones. It turns out though, the National Dairy Council has had us all duped for decades!
Below are the 7 most surprising facts about dairy that will have you thinking twice before that next swig of milk or slice of cheese.
1- Most People are lactose intolerant
IBS, gastrointestinal issues, digestion problems, stomach pain, gas, diarrhea...Not pleasant, but those are the symptoms many people experience after eating dairy products. Many people don't even realize they are lactose intolerant, and it is more widespread than you think: 95% of Asian Americans, 74% of Native Americans, 70% of African Americans, 53% of Mexican Americans, and 15% of Caucasians are lactose intolerant. That adds up to and approximately 50 million Americans who can't digest dairy products.
2- Dairy is linked to hormonal problems including acne and early onset puberty
Milk is the secretion of a lactating mother, meant to be a short term nutrient for newborns. Baby cows drink their mother cow's milk in order to grow into big, strong, healthy cows. Baby humans drink their human mother's milk to grow into tall, smart, healthy humans. Mammal milk contains the specific nutrients each species needs to grow into their healthiest adult self. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not resemble a cow. Definitely not sexy.
Think about it. Humans are the only mammals that continue to drink milk after infancy. Some people think cows naturally make milk. WRONG! Dairy cows are artificially inseminated in order to produce milk. These cows are pumped with hormones, which make their way into the milk we are drinking. These hormones wreak havoc on our own bodies, and have been linked to acne, 8 year olds becoming women, and even cancer.
Learn more: Dangers of rBGH
3-Dairy does not prevent osteoporosis
We have been bombarded with ads purporting that milk builds strong bones. Then why do the countries with the highest dairy consumption- America, Denmark, Holland, and Sweden -also have the HIGHEST incidence of osteoporosis? And why do vegan, non-dairy drinking Buddhist nuns have a low incidence of the disease? Because they get their calcium from produce.
Where do you think the cows get their calcium from, anyway? They are herbivores, after all. They get it from grass, which happens to have nearly equal amounts of calcium and magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral found in chlorophyll (and all green vegetables) that is needed for our bodies to absorb the calcium.
Unfortunately, milk has about 12 times more calcium than magnesium, so milk doesn't do our bodies as good as you think it does. Most of it just passes through without being absorbed, which is why it is better to get your calcium from green vegetables, which has more equal amounts of the two minerals.
Learn more: Strong Bones
4- Dairy if full of antibiotics
Since cows are mechanically milked over and over again, they often get sick and develop infections on their udders. So, they are injected with antibiotics.
These antibiotics, as you can imagine, make it into your milk as well.
5- Dairy can make you fat
Dairy products, especially cheese and ice cream, are high in fat and cholesterol. Too much of these things can lead to weight gain, and even heart disease.
6- Dairy is an allergen
In some people, dairy causes an allergic reaction. Our bodies see milk as in invader and so produce more white blood cells to fight off the invader, just like they would bacteria or a virus. This can explain why some people experience thicker or more mucus in their throats after eating dairy.
Wheezing, coughing, hives, chest tightening, shortness of breath, and eczema are some of the symptoms.
7- Dairy can increase risk of cancer
Dairy has been linked in countless scientific studies to cancer and other serious health problems including: Leukemia, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Cataracts, Colic, Anemia, Intestinal Bleeding, Heart Disease, Arthritis, and Lymphoma
Conclusion
Ditch dairy for good. Have no fear, you can still enjoy all the foods you love, in their non-dairy form.
Check out my recipes and reviews of delicious non-dairy alternatives!
http://www.thebombshelldiet.com/2012/03/milk-does-body-bad7-surprising-dairy.html#!/2012/03/milk-does-body-bad7-surprising-dairy.html
Ditch the dairy & try Almond Milk (so so good) or Rice Milk (even better)!!! Chocolate Almond Milk dazzles kids and adults alike (0:
Much love to you all!
Girl Gone Vegan,
Kelly Lynn
