Many
disagreements exist regarding the health benefits of dairy, as well as the
concerns of consuming raw, unpasteurized dairy. Much of the information concerning
dairy is conflicting based on who is paying for the research and advertising.
The choice of whether or not to consume dairy or what type of milk to consume
is best made according to the priorities of the consumer, such as nutritional
preferences, risks and benefits, and individual digestive reactions.
The
CDC and FDA post many warnings against consuming raw milk. These organizations
claim that there are nothing but harmful bacteria and germs that have caused
79% of dairy related outbreaks between 1998-2011. However, other studies have
shown that more illnesses have been recorded due to bacteria in deli meat. They
also claim that almost no nutritional values and hardly any enzymes are lost in
the pasteurization and homogenization processes. However, studies have shown
better growth in children who drink raw human milk as opposed to pasteurized
milk. Studies have also shown that enzymes and bacteria in raw milk protect
people against asthma and allergies, and the hormones in raw milk strengthen
the immune system. Due to the loss of lactobacilli bacteria through
pasteurization, people who are lactose intolerant are more likely able to
digest raw milk. Raw milk was found to be more digestible in 86% of lactose
intolerant people.
During
pasteurization, the process of heating milk to kill bacteria, the milk is heated
to 161 degrees for 15 seconds, or ultra-pasteurized, and heated to 280 degrees
for a minimum of 2 seconds. The CDC claims that this does not significantly change
nutritional value, but admits that some enzymes are inactivated and immunoglobulin
are killed. Lactobacilli is killed which helps to digest lactose, and lipase is
killed first in order for homogenization to even out the texture of the milk.
Among enzymes killed in pasteurization are lipoprotein lipase, which increases
the shelf life of milk once killed, plasmin protease, alkaline phosphatase,
lysozyme which is the antibacterial, amylase, catalase, lactase,
lactoperoxidase, and phosphatase. Milk contains 3.3% total protein, and the
biggest cause for denatured proteins is the sensitivity of light of proteases,
methionine and cystine. The high temperature of pasteurization causes whey and
casein to interact but supposedly does not affect the nutritional value of
milk, but only the functionality. After pasteurization, homogenization takes
place so that the protein-heavy fat globules are broken down so there is not a
cream layer on top and milk is more even throughout. This also makes the
separation of whole, low fat, and skim milk easier. Because of the killing of
lipase, there are an increased number of allergic reactions to the milk.
The
fat content in milk is another highly debated topic. Several decades ago, people
only drank whole milk. Just a couple of decades ago, low fat milk was
introduced to households and to school lunches by the FDA in attempt to make
children healthier. However, whole milk is linked to lower body fat while low
fat milk is linked to faster weight gain in children. The belief is that low
fat foods makes one hungrier, and especially for carbohydrates. Not only does
skim milk possibly cause a faster weight gain, but also with the absence of B
vitamins combined with a person’s attempted metabolism of cow milk protein,
homeocysteine is caused to buildup and that is a cocktail for heart disease.
Also, in order to make milk appealing to children, flavored milks such as
strawberry and chocolate are given to them that are filled with sugar, which
negates any possible nutritional benefit of consuming milk, regardless of fat
content.
An
array of health problems exists that are linked to dairy. Dairy is considered
an inflammatory food that can cause arthritis flare-ups, as well as Rosacea and
IBS. Alzheimer’s is also closely linked, as milk tainted with bovine
tuberculosis is directly found in Alzheimer’s patients. 20-40% of dairy herds
are infected with bovine tuberculosis. Also, Casein kinase 1 is found in the
brains of patients, which builds up amyloid beta and notch cleavage. As for Chron’s Disease, mycobacteria in
cattle stops white blood cells from killing E. Coli by releasing the molecule
mannose, and triggers the antibody protein ASCA. Infant ear infections are very
likely caused by dairy, as there is 300% more casein in cow’s milk than human
milk, and casein is very mucous forming. As for Osteoperosis and milk
companies’ advertising that milk builds strong bones, the intake of milk has
shown no effect on reducing the instance of fractures. This may possibly be due
to increased urinary excretion of calcium when dairy is consumed. Diabetes and
Multiple Sclerosis could be caused by dairy as people have the same abnormal autoimmune
response to milk. Diabetes may be caused by cows’ milk when children are given
cows’ milk formula before 3 months of age. Autism is famously linked to dairy,
as diets that eliminate diary, most importantly eliminating casein, get rid of
the gastrointestinal problems that are thought to worsen behavioral problems in
autistic people. As our immune system is such a large part of our digestive
system, casein irritates the respiratory system and causes allergies. Prostate
and breast cancer are also shown through studies to be caused by dairy, most
specifically IGF-1, which is increased with the injection of rBGH in cows. The
hormone oestrogen secreted in cow’s milk is thought to cause breast cancer.
Among
all of the concerns with drinking dairy, there is the treatment of cows, as
well as the results of what cows are treated with. Cows are given rBGH, bovine
growth hormone, in order to increase their milk production. These cows then
have diarrhea, and with the proximity of the utters to the excretion, the
utters and milk are contaminated with the bacteria in the diarrhea. Farmers
admit that about 90% of dairy products in grocery stores have fecal matter.
These cows also suffer from mastitis, and with mastitis, they have somatic
cells in their milk. There is an estimated 1,120,000 somatic cells in each
spoonful of milk. This means there is approximately 1 drop of pus in every cup.
This is not a huge serving of pus, but it just depends on how much pus the
consumer is okay with consuming.
The
drinking of milk is thought to have begun 7500 years ago between the Central
Balkans and Central Europe. Europeans seem to have the highest rate of lactase
persistence and are the only people who can continue to digest milk without
issues. Cultures who tend to be lactose intolerant are African Americans,
Hispanics and Latinos, American Indians, and Asian Americans. These cultures
have lactase deficiency, which causes lactose malabsorption. At 3 years old, the
age by which children normally wean, they stop producing lactase and rennin
that helps them to digest milk.
For
all the controversy over whether dairy milk actually does a body good, there
are several other milk sources that are beneficial to our health, and have good
sources of vitamins and protein, among other nutrients. Whole milk has 150
calories, 8 grams of fat, 35 mg of cholesterol, 8 grams of protein, 12 grams of
sugar, and 120 milligrams of sodium per cup. All other sources have fewer
calories, fat, cholesterol and carbohydrates (with the exception of rice and
oat milk). Soy milk has between 70-130 calories, 2-4 grams of fat, 7-9 grams of
protein, and 4-5 grams of carbohydrates. Almond milk has 30-50 calories, 2.5
grams of fat, 1 gram of protein, and 1-5 grams of carbohydrates. Hemp milk,
which is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, has 70 calories, 6 grams of
fat, 8-20 grams of protein, and 1 gram of carbohydrates. Oat milk has 110-130
calories, 1.5-2.5 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, and 24 grams of
carbohydrates. Coconut milk has 50 calories, 5 grams of fat, 1 gram of protein,
and 1 gram of carbohydrates. According to the numbers, coconut milk is a great
milk source if fat is a nutrient preference, whereas hemp milk is a great
alternative if one needs protein. Also available are goat milk, which is high
in fat, sheep milk which is high in protein, and buffalo milk which is very
high in fat. Most of these alternative milks are fortified with calcium; a
nutrient for which dairy milk is widely drunk. However, the calcium in dairy
milk is not easily absorbed. One must have Vitamin D in order to absorb
calcium. The only natural source of vitamin D is sunlight, although vitamin D
is added to dairy milk. As a matter of fact, the combination of retinol and
saturated fat in dairy milk can actually weaken bones. Instead of drinking
milk, calcium can be found in better sources such as leafy green vegetables,
beans, and supplements.
As
for infants, human milk is higher in carbohydrates and amino acids cystine and
tryptophan, which make it much better for infants to digest. Milk consumption
in childhood, especially before the age of 3 months is linked to type 1
diabetes. Milk allergies are also the leading cause of ear infections in
children. Milk also causes behavioral problems and asthma. Although enzymes and
chemicals are added to infant formula in order to help them to digest the cow
milk protein, more information should be provided to parents to inform them
against using formula if the ability to feed their children breast milk if
available. Giving children cow’s milk after weaning is also unnecessary and
parents should be informed of milk alternatives and their benefits versus the
use of dairy.
Heard
often, each argument depends on who is paying for the research. Each individual
should weigh the benefits of dairy consumption. However, more information needs
to be made more widely available to people in order to make informed decisions.
Most importantly, people should have proper information so they can make good
decisions for the sake of their children, as their decision can impact whether
their children will get diabetes, asthma, allergies, eczema, issues with
autism, bacterial infections, and even cancer. With all of the alternatives
available, dairy milk is not the only option, or even the best option for all
the benefits its consumption supposedly has.
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