I have long been a
proponent of a non-dairy diet. My 4
children were raised that way and are healthier than most. My youngest two, ages 16 and 14, have never had
dairy since birth, nor has their mother during their nursing. Both youngsters have less colds and sickness
than any of their peers. I counsel my
patients to avoid dairy at all costs.
So what’s the
problem with dairy you may ask?
Cow’s milk and
milk products are the most pervasive food allergy causing substances on the
planet that are both easily obtained and widely used as foods. A protein in milk,
casein, appears to be the major cause of adverse reactions. Casein is in milk of all forms, including
lactose-free or low-lactose products.
Casein is a very large and convoluted protein, and it is often mistaken
for a foreign substance by our immune systems.
And truly it is, because cow’s milk is meant for baby cows, not humans.
A human infant’s intestinal tract is
designed to digest mother’s breast milk from birth to at least nine months of
age, preferably to 12 months. Breast milk contains immune factors which protect
against foreign substances. Breast milk contains three times the lactose, one
third the calcium, a more absorbable form of iron, and higher amounts of essential
fatty acids than cow's milk. Cow’s milk formula feeding prematurely exposes an
infant's fragile intestine to cow's milk, and through a long series of
maladaptive biological functions, the infant becomes sensitive (allergic) to
that cow's milk.
Milk
Allergy and Lactose Intolerance are not the same issue.
Lactose intolerance means that the enzyme lactase is not produced by the
body in sufficient quantity to digest lactose (milk sugar) resulting in gastric
symptoms, such as cramping, gas, bloating and/or diarrhea. One can be lactose intolerant and yet ingest low-lactose, or lactose-free milk and dairy products
without ill effects. Allergy to casein is another matter, and has nothing to do
with lactose.
Why, then, is our
American culture so hung up on cow’s milk?
The problem is multi-factorial and has both cultural and economic
roots. Milk and milk products are big
business in America,
and many in my generation were raised to believe that milk is an “essential
food”; you can not live properly without it.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Many of us were
raised at a time when the American Dairy Association touted dairy as “one of
the 4 food groups”. Even today, dairy
has it’s own section on the USDA Food Pyramid.
In reality, we neither need dairy nor should we look at it as a separate
or essential food category in our diet.
Two-thirds of the world’s population cannot tolerate milk and
a rapidly growing number of Americans are allergic to cow's milk. In fact,
cow's milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies. Many cultures never ingest milk products and
are healthier than Americans by far.
These cultures get much of their protein from legume sources and their
calcium from legumes and vegetables.
One of the biggest untruths the American Dairy
Association uses to promote cow’s milk as “essential” is that it is the only good
source of dietary calcium. It’s time to debunk that myth as well. There are many excellent sources of calcium
in other foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, some fruits and
figs. Many cultures that eat no dairy
have better health and stronger bones by getting their calcium from fish, green
vegetables, and legumes.
As far as protein:
Yes, milk is high in protein, but at what cost? If casein is one of the most allergic
proteins to humans, why ingest it at all?
Soy and other legumes are much better alternatives. Even lean meats are. If you are not a vegan, sustainable fin fish
that is low in mercury, like salmon and tilapia, are a fantastic source of
calcium and protein.
Concerning soy products: Much misinformation was
circulated in the recent past attempting to tarnish soy’s clean image. Don’t believe it! Cultures that have eaten soy and vegetable
based diets are the healthiest on earth.
Their people have greater longevity, lower cancer rates and lower rates
of chronic illness. We, the great “milk”
drinkers have lower levels of energy, greater obesity, and shorter life spans.
My suggestion to everyone is this: Eliminate dairy as
much as possible. Eat more vegetables,
fruits and whole foods. Eat more fiber
and less fat, and never, never give babies milk to drink or cheese to eat. You will live happier, healthier and longer I
promise you.
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