Over 147 liters a year. Per person. (Bulgaria) That makes out around 400ml,
or 2 cups, every day. Nice, right, milk is so healthy. Well, think again.
Putting aside the marketing of the milk industry and the recommendations of
others who might be benefitting, what does the hard data say? Firstly, few
adults are actually fit for dairy, and especially milk consumption. After we
pass a certain age most of us, or around 65% (some sources say even more),
cannot digest lactose properly. This is when you drink a glass of milk and your
stomach gets bloated, or you feel the need to run to the restroom, or both, or
sometimes even worse. The percentage of
people who can digest varies country to country, but on the Balkans it’s not
very promising.
But let’s say you are among the lucky ones. Or you decide to switch to only
yoghurt and cheese, which are much easier to digest. That might not be so great either. All the
calcium hype around it is really not that accurate, considering there are
multiple plant sources which have more calcium per 100gr like spinach or other
dark greens, which will also provide you with much less calories and much more
fiber, and no saturated fat. Dairy has been linked to some forms of cancer,
such as prostate cancer, with claims that it can increase the risk up to 50%.
It has also been proved to cause many more health issues, like constipation,
acid reflux, mucus generation and congestion, sinus problems, migraines,
increased eczema and joint pain, among others.
So will you continue to drink milk, or opt for some of the healthier alternatives
like almond or oat milk? Please let me know in the comments how these facts
impact your decisions. Bon Appétit!
Sources:
Milk:
Does It Really Do A Body Good? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tseEEQC3SZE
How did
milk turn from a toxin to a staple of the Western diet? http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/6/4593546/the-history-of-milk
Dairy: 6
Reasons You Should Avoid It at All Costs or Why Following the USDA Food Pyramid
Guidelines is Bad for Your Health http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/dairy-free-dairy-6-reason_b_558876.html
Current
Worldwide Total Milk Consumption per capita http://chartsbin.com/view/1491
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ReplyDeleteThe consumption of milk in our room has reached dramatic levels:) I drink a good amount of milk every day - in my coffee, in my breakfast, sometimes just with honey. I guess we really need to connect the room to a real cow outside the window - much healthier...
ReplyDeleteAhh this makes me sad, because I drink milk almost every day :/ I largest amount I consume is with my morning cereal, but I guess I'll have to be more careful now. Thanks for raising awareness about this though, I will try to change my habits a little bit :)
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