The Dairy Debate

by Alison Palmer | More from this Blogger

09 Feb 2007 01:54 PM

You know those milk ads with all the famous people drinking milk to lose weight? I just don't trust them. It's the mustaches really. It has nothing to do with the actual claim. I can't get past the ridiculous looking milk 'staches to make an intelligent decision about their claim. I mean really, what kind of milk leaves that kind of mark? If they're going to tell me that's what youre supposed to look like (the face, not the body) when you drink milk, I just can't take them seriously.

It turns out a lot of other people can't take them seriously either. Here's a debate that will probably keep on raging until the end of time: should we drink milk and consume dairy products, or not? Everyone seems to have their own opinion. But here's how the arguments weigh in.

The arguments for:

• Dairy is a good source of calcium and protein.
• It tastes good. How would I ever choke down my broccoli without cheese?
• Eating 24 ounces of dairy a day might help you lose weight.
• It can reduce your risk for heart disease and hypertension.
• It can reduce your risk for cancer (colon and breast).
• It can reduce your risk for diabetes.
• It's good for your bones and teeth, and prevents osteoporosis.
• It helps fight childhood obesity.

The arguments against:

• Basically, cancel out everything I just said.
• Studies have shown that drinking milk doesn't necessarily correspond with your risk for osteoporosis. Other things matter much more.
• Dairy products also have a lot of sugar, salt, hormones, saturated fat and cholesterol associated with them. These we don't need.
• We really don't know if it can help you loose weight. There isn't enough evidence either way.
• Babies need milk, adults don't.
• Up to two-thirds of the world's population is allergic to milk.
• Initial studies are pointing fingers at dairy for increasing your risk for prostate cancer.
• The pasteurizing process essentially destroys the nutrients the milk could have given us.

Science continues to toss this one around and I don't think there's an easy answer. My suggestion is to listen to your body. Keep a diary of your health, choose milk for a month, and then choose to go without for a month. Which one feels better for you? Some times health has no easy answer. I still don't trust those milk mustaches, though.

If you choose dairy:

• Go non-fat, and low sodium.
• Stick to milk and yogurt over cheese.

If you choose to go non-dairy:

• Your green leafies will provide plenty of calcium.
• Beans are good sources of calcium and protein as well.
• Fifteen minutes of sunlight is all you need for vitamin D.

Related Articles:

Osteoporosis & Weight Loss

Osteoporosis

Identifying and Treating a Milk Allergy

Lactose Intolerance - Can Your Toddler Suddenly Develop It?

Learn more about Alison Palmer

Writing is Alison's favorite past time, but you can also frequently find her reading, playing piano, cooking, taking long walks, sewing, or playing with her family.

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Julie Gentry (5915) 09 Feb 2007 05:09 PM

We are cutting back dairy as much as possible, and have seen a difference in weight with the two of us who drank the most. It's suckling off another species ;-). Now if they just made ice cream out of vegetables, life would be grand!

Alison Palmer (269) 09 Feb 2007 06:59 PM

I've been trying to cut back just for the sake of cost- it's so expensive! You're right though, I can't imagine a world without ice cream!

kimchee67 (16781) 09 Feb 2007 07:04 PM

I'm dairy free and loving it! I've also read a lot of interesting claims about the dairy industry's connection to the FDA. It made me distrustful of the FDA's stance on the benefits of dairy. I'm always sucked into these conspiracy theories! LOL

Oh, Julie---I eat Soy Delicious Ice Cream. Tofutti also has desserts that aren't dairy-based.

Sara Denomme (1063) 09 Feb 2007 07:05 PM

As far as I can tell, dairy products are fattening - not slimming! That plus the other things you mentioned, I like milk sometimes, but my daughters never get cow's milk. Thanks for the article :D

Alison Palmer (269) 09 Feb 2007 07:31 PM

You're right about the conspiracy theory, in a way- That's why the debate will never be fully resolved. Dairy is big business, and the livelyhood of many a little farmer.

Tristi Pinkston (10839) 09 Feb 2007 08:07 PM

I read an interesting booklet by author Shirley Bahlmann about dairy. It's called "Holy Cow: The Udderly Amazing Power of Dairy in Your Diet." You can find it if you google it.

I have to watch my own dairy intake, and I really enjoy the Tofutti "ice cream" sandwiches. They're really yummy. Now I want some!!

Sara Denomme (1063) 09 Feb 2007 09:05 PM

For the record, soy is probably just as controversial -if not more so- as dairy. I'm not sure which bothers me more. My daughters get neither. ;)