www.pcrm.org/health/Info_on_Veg_Diets/milk.html
Milk: No Longer Recommended or Required A substantial body of scientific evidence raises concerns about health risks from cow's milk products. These problems relate to the proteins, sugar, fat, and contaminants in dairy products, and the inadequacy of whole cow's milk for infant nutrition. Health risks from milk consumption are greatest for infants less than one year of age, in whom whole cow's milk can contribute to deficiencies in several nutrients, including iron, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E The American Academy of Pediatrics1 recommends that infants under one year of age not receive whole cow's milk. Cow's milk products are very low in iron,2 containing only about one-tenth of a milligram (mg) per eight-ounce serving. To get the US Recommended Daily Allowance of 15 mg of iron, an infant would have to drink more than 31 quarts of milk per day. Milk can also cause blood loss from the intestinal tract, which, over time, reduces the body's iron stores. Researchers speculate that the blood loss may be a reaction to proteins present in milk3 Pasteurization does not eliminate the problem. Researchers from the University of Iowa recently wrote in the Journal of Pediatrics that "in a large proportion of infants, the feeding of cow milk causes a substantial increase of hemoglobin loss. "3 Although concerns are greatest for children in the first year of life, there are also health concerns related to milk use among older children and some problems associated with cow's milk formulas. Milk Proteins and Diabetes Several reports link insulin-dependent diabetes to a specific protein in dairy products. It is a leading cause of blindness and contributes to heart disease, kidney damage, and amputations due to poor circulation. Studies of various countries show a strong correlation between the use of dairy products and the incidence of diabetes4 A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine^5 adds substantial support to the long-standing theory that cow's milk proteins stimulate the production of the antibodies6 which, in turn, destroy the insulin-producing pancreatic cells7 In the new report, researchers from Canada and Finland found high levels of antibodies to a specific portion of a cow's milk protein, called bovine serum albumin, in 100 percent of the 142 diabetic children they studied at the time the disease was diagnosed. Non-diabetic children may have such antibodies, but only at much lower levels. Evidence suggests that the combination of a genetic predisposition and cow's milk exposure is the major cause of the childhood form of diabetes, although there is no way of determining which children are genetically predisposed. Antibodies can apparently form in response to even small quantities of milk products, including infant formulas. Pancreatic cell destruction occurs gradually, especially after infections, which cause the cellular proteins to be exposed to the damage of antibodies. Diabetes becomes evident when 80 to 90 percent of the insulin-producing beta cells are destroyed. Milk proteins are also among the most common causes of food allergies. Often, the cause of the symptoms is not recognized for substantial periods of time. Milk Sugar and Health Problems Many people, particularly those of Asian and African ancestry, are unable to digest the milk sugar, lactose. For those who can digest lactose, its breakdown products are two simple sugars: glucose and galactose. Fat Content Whole milk, cheese, cream, butter, ice cream, sour cream, and all other dairy products aside from skim and non-fat products contain significant amounts of saturated fat, as well as cholesterol, contributing to cardiovascular diseases and certain forms of cancer. The early changes of heart disease have been documented in American teenagers. While children do need a certain amount of fat in their diets, there is no nutritional requirement for cow's milk fat. On the contrary, cow's milk is high in saturated fats, but low in the essential fatty acid linoleic acid. Contaminants Milk contains frequent contaminants, from pesticides to drugs. About one-third of milk products have been shown to be contaminated with antibiotic traces. The vitamin D content of milk has been poorly regulated. Recent testing of 42 milk samples found only 12 percent within the expected range of vitamin D content. In countries where dairy products are not generally consumed, there is actually less osteoporosis than in the United States. Kale, broccoli, and other green leafy vegetables contain calcium that is readily absorbed by the body. Therefore, the following recommendations are offered: 1 Breast-feeding is the preferred method of infant feeding. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, whole cow's milk should not be given to infants under one year of age. References 1 American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition. Cow milk feeding in infancy: further observations on blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract. Cow milk and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: is there a relationship? A bovine albumin peptide as a possible trigger of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Milk antigen absorption in the preterm and term neonate. Galactose consumption and metabolism in relation to the risk of ovarian cancer. A geographic approach to senile cataracts: possible links with milk consumption, lactase activity, and galactose metabolism. Couet C, Jan P, Debry G Lactose and cataract in humans: a review. The vitamin D content of fortified milk and infant formula. Riggs BL, Wahner HW, Melton J, Richelson LS, Judd HL, O'Fallon M Dietary calcium intake and rates on bone loss in women. Milk, dietary calcium, and bone fractures in women: a 12-year prospective study. Calcium bioavailability from calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. Dawson-Hughes B Calcium supplementation and bone loss: a review of controlled clinical trials. Bone density in premenopausal women: effects of age, dietary intake, physical activity, smoking, and birth control pills. Nelson ME, Fisher EC, Dilmanian FA, Dallal GE, Evans WJ. A 1-y walking program and increased dietary calcium in postmenopausal women: efect on bone. Effect of dietary boron on mineral, estrogen, and testosterone metabolism in postmenopausal women. Zemel MB Role of the sulfur-containing amino acids in protein-induced hypercalciuria in men. Hegsted M Urinary calcium and calcium balance in young men as affected by level of protein and phosphorus intake. Marsh AG, Sanchez TV, Mickelsen O, Keiser J, Mayor G Cortical bone density of adult lacto-ovo-vegetarian and omnivorous women.
|
http://csua.com/feed/