Can cows milk be good for us?

(NaturalNews) In 2013, the Got Milk ad campaign celebrated its 20th anniversary. For all of these years, we've been told that milk makes our bones strong and healthy. But throughout this same time period, Swedish researchers have been conducting a study of 61,433 women and 45,339 men and their dietary habits. Their study found a correlation between the amount of milk consumed and an increase in bone fractures, inflammation, and death! (This was not the case with fermented milk products - just cow's milk).

rBGH and milk

Since the 1990s, 20-30% of the American milk supply has been produced by cows who were given rBGH, a growth hormone, used to increase milk production. Many other countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the 27 countries of the European Union have rejected the use of rBGH. Knowing this, rBGH was not a factor in Sweden's study. One cannot help but wonder how much worse the results would be from a replication of the Swedish study in America.

Lactose intolerance and milk allergy

Although many confuse the two, a lactose intolerance is not the same thing as a milk allergy. Lactose intolerance means that your system cannot tolerate milk because it does not have the enzyme, lactase, which is required to digest the sugar in milk (lactose). Lactose intolerance causes stomach upset, bloating, gas, and loose stools.

A milk allergy often causes the same symptoms along with inflammation and tissue damage. Often a milk allergy is present without the obvious digestion problems. Other health problems, especially frequent respiratory infections, ear infections, and sinus infection suggest a milk allergy. Food allergies also interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients.

Raw milk

Raw milk is not pasteurized or homogenized. It still retains its full and rich heritage of vitamins, beneficial bacteria, linoleic acid, and enzymes - the very enzymes that help us to digest it (including lactase). When studies such as the Swedish study are published, we have to remember that the results were obtained from a population drinking (what we must assume is) pasteurized milk.

Conclusion

If you are going to consume milk or milk products, choose raw milk if it is available. It is a whole beneficial food if you are not lactose intolerant or allergic. Pasteurized milk is not a healthy food. It feeds Candida and other harmful microbes. If you are concerned about calcium, eat more green vegetables and avoid nutrient robbing, acidic, processed foods.

Pasteurized milk has no place in a healthy diet.

If you're getting off pasteurized milk and other dairy products, it's a good time to do a Candida cleanse. Also check out How Raw Milk Can be Dangerous. See the first source for five healthier milk substitutes.

Sources:

http://www.healingthebody.ca

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.bmj.com

http://www.whfoods.com

http://www.foodallergysolutions.com

http://nourishedkitchen.com


About the author:
Allene Edwards first became interested in alternative medicine and holistic treatment modalities when she successfully used diet therapy to manage her children�s ADHD. Later when she became chronically ill with an auto-immune disease that multiple doctors could not identify, much less cure, she successfully treated both the symptoms and the cause through naturopathic treatment and nutrition. She is the Managing Editor of Organic Lifestyle Magzine and a regular contributor.