It’s that time again – where we take a food or drink and give you the real deal on how it will affect your diet… this time we’re looking at MILK – a dairy product everyone thinks is healthy – but is it?

Milk has been used as a beverage from a variety of sources such as cows, goats and sheep going as far back as 7000 B.C. Fast forward a few centuries and milk products were commonplace in Europe and preparing to jump the pond. Around 1800, developing cities like Boston, New York and other areas started to move in on the milk products market by importing cows from milk producing countries. The rest is history…

Milk is a staple of American life, from Got Milk ads featuring celebrities, to school cafeterias. Its presence is overwhelming. But is it really good for you? Read this and then try to enjoy your bowl of cereal or ice cream.

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PROS:

The main health claim put forward for milk is that contains calcium, vitamin A and D. Plus milk has a good amount of protein, is relatively low in fat (least in the reduced fat versions), and doesn’t contain an overwhelming amount of sugar.. It’s an easy and quick source of calories, and relatively cheap per serving. And it tastes good. There’s nothing like ice-cold milk.

CONS:

But on the other hand… Don’t forget milk was originally intended for baby cows and is meant to make them grow – and quickly.

The milk we drink is highly processed – vitamin A & D is added, it’s heated to kill bacteria and reprocessed over and over again until it’s “safe” for human consumption, supposedly. Milk has been reported to be the culprit in all sorts of nasty health issues, ranging from allergies, constipation, cancer growth, arthritis, heart disease, and literally hundreds of other issues. How many people do you know who claim to be ‘lactose intolerant’?

Cows that produce milk are given multiple forms of hormones to manipulate more milk production and some theorize these chemicals find their way into your body, possibly altering your own body chemistry. To be frank, the milk you see in the store is not ‘natural’ at all, and just as processed as some “forbidden” foods you’d never eat in a million years.

And don’t think that organic option is healthier! Milk is one of the few products where the organic variety is worthless. Organic milk is pasteurized at even higher temperatures than regular milk to make it more stable for transport and to give it a longer shelf life, and at 2 to 3 times the cost, with no difference in benefits, it’s a waste of money.

VERDICT:

I suffered with some possible milk related issues for a number of years. I regularly consumed dairy products; yogurt, cheese, milk protein powders and I felt a huge difference in reducing my use to almost nothing. After the first week I just felt…better, a lot better. By eliminating milk products you also reduce the amount of high calorie foods like butter, ice cream and cheese in your diet, so I dropped a few pounds of fat as well.

The industry has done an amazing job marketing milk towards children and their need for strong bones, teeth and general growth. But children aren’t cows. They make it sound like milk is a great source of Vitamin A, D, and calcium. Uh, yeah, because they ADD it to it!

I’d suggest people, including children take a multi mineral/vitamin daily to get their A, D, and calcium requirements – and ditch the white stuff. Honestly I don’t see the point of drinking a highly processed liquid that is originally intended for baby calves. With all of the other choices like coconut milk, almond milk, and other healthier dairy like products out there, I see no reason to use it. The evidence of negative side effects is just too overwhelming to ignore.

TASTE IT OR WASTE IT

I say… WASTE IT