Milk! Your child’s favorite drink. Is it really as good as they say it is? Did you know that in Medieval England doctors would spit on wounds, because saliva was believed to have healing properties? Parents would also tie rabbit feet around their babies necks to ward off illness? Indeed, history is replete with unfounded health beliefs, and to everyone’s detriment, the milk myth is among the most tenacious. Milk is much more than just a drink, It’s a cultural phenomenon that can be traced back thousands of years. And still today, the milk myth resonates loud and clear. In 2001, the average American child consumed 104 quarts of cow’s milk.
The milk myth has spread around the world based on the flawed belief that this protein and calcium-rich …show more content…
And the most surprising link is that not only do we barely absorb the calcium in cow’s milk but to make matters worse, it actually increases calcium loss from the bones. Milk is one of the most popular beverages in the United States(Greer). We have been told it "does a body good," but some scientific studies have found that contrary to popular belief, drinking milk may do more harm to our bodies than good. Proponents of milk say calcium and other vitamins and minerals in milk make it an important part of a healthful diet for people of all ages. They argue that milk’s benefits include weight loss, strengthening bones, improved cardiovascular and oral health, cancer prevention, and relief of PMS(Perkins). Many scientific studies contradict the conventional wisdom that milk and dairy consumption help reduce osteoporotic fractures. Surprisingly, studies demonstrating that milk and dairy products actually fail to protect bones from fractures outnumber studies that prove otherwise. Even drinking milk from a young age does not protect against future fracture risk but actually increases …show more content…
A man-made or synthetic hormone used to artificially increase milk production, this also increases blood levels of the insulin-growth factor 1 in those who drink it. Cow’s milk protein may play a role in triggering type 1 diabetes through a process called molecular mimicry. And higher levels of this are linked to several cancers. Milk could also cause the following: breast cancer, diabetes (both diabetes mellitus and juvenile diabetes), kidney stones, acne, heart disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis(Campbell) In interventional animal experiments and human experiments, dairy protein has been shown to promote increased cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis. As we look beyond the headlines, it is hard to think that we should continue to consume the lactation fluid that exists in nature to nourish and rapidly grow
The milk myth has spread around the world based on the flawed belief that this protein and calcium-rich …show more content…
And the most surprising link is that not only do we barely absorb the calcium in cow’s milk but to make matters worse, it actually increases calcium loss from the bones. Milk is one of the most popular beverages in the United States(Greer). We have been told it "does a body good," but some scientific studies have found that contrary to popular belief, drinking milk may do more harm to our bodies than good. Proponents of milk say calcium and other vitamins and minerals in milk make it an important part of a healthful diet for people of all ages. They argue that milk’s benefits include weight loss, strengthening bones, improved cardiovascular and oral health, cancer prevention, and relief of PMS(Perkins). Many scientific studies contradict the conventional wisdom that milk and dairy consumption help reduce osteoporotic fractures. Surprisingly, studies demonstrating that milk and dairy products actually fail to protect bones from fractures outnumber studies that prove otherwise. Even drinking milk from a young age does not protect against future fracture risk but actually increases …show more content…
A man-made or synthetic hormone used to artificially increase milk production, this also increases blood levels of the insulin-growth factor 1 in those who drink it. Cow’s milk protein may play a role in triggering type 1 diabetes through a process called molecular mimicry. And higher levels of this are linked to several cancers. Milk could also cause the following: breast cancer, diabetes (both diabetes mellitus and juvenile diabetes), kidney stones, acne, heart disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis(Campbell) In interventional animal experiments and human experiments, dairy protein has been shown to promote increased cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis. As we look beyond the headlines, it is hard to think that we should continue to consume the lactation fluid that exists in nature to nourish and rapidly grow