Milk myth busted: There are far better sources of calcium for strong bones

Friday, August 24, 2012 by: Madeleine Innocent
Tags: milk, myths, strong bones

(NaturalNews) As the truth is beginning to tumble out about diet and health care, the milk myth is deserving of a closer look. The world at large has been brainwashed into thinking that milk and dairy are the ultimate (and only) source of calcium, not just for growing children. However, not only is dairy indigestible to many, it is also a source of disease.

Milk is For Babies

Mother's milk is the ultimate source of food for a growing baby. However, not only is that particular mother's milk unique, and so best suited, for that particular baby, her species produces the most suitable milk for her baby.

Species differ widely. For example, cows reach physical maturity in a single year. Humans take in the order of sixteen years to reach physical maturity. This means the components of the milk must be different to suit the needs of the species. For example, the calcium/protein ratio varies with each species.

Once a baby is weaned, their stomach environment changes. Mother's milk is an easy food to digest. Now, more complicated foods are being eaten, so these must be catered for. The need to digest milk, and so the process, tapers off. Now milk becomes indigestible. Lactose intolerance is rife, showing this to be so.

The Best Source of Calcium

Babies grow very quickly. This leads to the assumption that milk is responsible. However, when you consider that a cow, or any large herbivore, reaches physical maturity about sixteen times faster than a human, with bones which are three to four times bigger, then one has to question this assumption.

Cows eat grass and other plants, both low lying and from bushes. Given free access, they roam and eat according to what they need. This then gives us a clue as to the food responsible for strong bone growth.

Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables are a powerful source of nutrients including all the macro minerals, trace elements, amino acids, omega 3 and more. Green leafy vegetables are the best source of the macro minerals (calcium and magnesium) responsible for good bone growth.

Many believe that the oxalic acid in greens inhibit the uptake of the macro minerals. If the greens are varied each day, this is not a problem, as greens contain an over abundance of the minerals that oxalic acid leaches out. Other common foods that contain high levels of oxalic acid include tea, coffee, chocolate, grains, beans and some nuts.

You only need to look as the body parts of a human to realize that, although an omnivore, humans are much closer to herbivores than to carnivores.

For example:

• Human teeth are blunt, similar to that of a herbivore

• Human finger nails are blunt, making it impossible to grasp a prey, as only a carnivores claws can

• The human face profile is straight, making it impossible to hold a prey - only an extended jaw can achieve this

• The human intestines are long as plant food takes longer to digest than raw meat

• Human saliva contains ptyalin, common to all herbivores, but absent in carnivore saliva

• The stomach acid of carnivores is much stronger than that of herbivores - human stomach acid is similar to that of herbivores

• Carnivores perspire through their paws and by panting - herbivores perspire through skin pores

This means human health will fare better on a diet that is similar to that of a herbivore.

Processed Milk Causes Disease

The common practice of pasteurizing and homogenizing milk is the cause of many diseases, according to an increasing number of health therapists. Milk is pasteurized in an effort to prevent the spread of tuberculosis. However, in a study where 70 children were given a pint of raw milk every day over a five year period, only one case resulted. In a similar study involving pasteurized milk, 14 cases resulted.

Dr. Kurt Osler is a cardiologist in Connecticut. He has been researching the effects of homogenized milk for over 20 years. His findings indicate that homogenized milk is responsible for high cholesterol. Dr. William Ellis, an osteopath, links cows milk to many diseases in both children and adults such as chronic fatigue, anemia, arthritis, cramps, obesity, allergies and heart problems. Dr Frank Oski, a pediatrician, cites cows milk as being linked to iron deficiency anemia, cramps, diarrhea, multiple forms of allergy, atherosclerosis and heart attacks.

If milk was such a great source of calcium for the body, then osteoporosis should be minimal in countries which consume the most dairy. Instead, it's the opposite.

There are so many common myths that are harmful to your health. Don't accept them at face value.

References
http://www.healthy-eating-for-weight-loss.com/dairy-for-bone-health/
http://www.rawfamily.com/news/2009/10_09_03.html
http://www.naturopath.org.nz/homogen.html
http://www.waoy.org/9.html
http://www.authorsden.com/categories/article_top.asp?catid=16&id=18866



About the author:
Madeleine Innocent has been a full time professional homeopath since 2000. She treats both people and animals with homeopathy and diet-for-health, both at her clinic and on-line.
Her websites and blogs are
http://twolegsandfour.com.au
http://perthhomeopath.com
http://naturalcathealth.com
http://naturaldogshealth.com