Milk facts: Is cow’s milk good for you?
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Milk facts: Is cow’s milk good for you?
Nutritionists get asked lots of questions about milk. People want to know if cow’s milk is good for them and their children.
I tell them that cow’s milk is perfect for baby cows, not baby humans. I have been practising as a qualified nutritionist with this understanding for 20 years.
Science is now confirming these facts about milk.
So, let’s take a very practical and commonsense approach in exploring the facts about milk, then if you need more 'hardcore' scientific evidence we’ve got that covered too.
These questions will explain the concept. The article The chilling facts about dairy draws on the latest evidence from Harvard and backs up the fact that we’re just not designed to be digesting cow’s milk.
Q: Where do cows get the calcium from that is found in their milk?
From the grass they eat.
Q: How many stomachs do cows (ruminants) have?
Four.
Q: How many stomachs do humans have?
One.
Q: How many legs do cows have?
Four.
Q: How many legs do humans have?
Two.
Q: The protein/fat/carbohydrate ratio of cow’s milk is specifically designed for which infant animal, and why?
It is designed for baby cows (calves) because they need to stand up in the paddock as soon as they’re born; so they don’t get trampled on by the herd and can roam the fields. Baby cows need more nutritionally dense milk. Human babies in contrast, sleep the majority of the day and don’t need such a nutrient-dense form of milk.
Q: What other animal in nature drinks another's milk?
None.
Q: Is cow's milk an appropriate food for a one-stomached, two-legged human that doesn’t need to grow to 8 times its size in a single year?
No, I don't THINK so ... cow's milk is perfect for baby calves, not human babies or adults. The effects of having something that does not suit one's physiology every day, puts an extra load on the body to try and digest, assimilate and eliminate it.
The Harvard School of Public Health states that: "Calcium is important. But milk isn’t the only, or even best, source."
So with this public authority also airing this news, Isn’t it time that we listen?
The information in this article is for general purposes only. For specific medical advice, we recommend you consult your doctor.
Filed under
Dairy free, Food pyramid, Health, Body awareness, Food industry, Food science
