Written by Melonie Jorgenson, Lead Health Coach and Wellness Program Director
As Dr. Gala states in his book The Secret to Defy Disease and Decay, nearly every day more research sheds light on the harmful health consequences of dairy consumption in any form. We now know that dairy has harmful insulin effects, is a poor source of calcium and vitamin D, and contains the problematic sugar lactose, to name just a few. Cow’s milk has been linked to type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis and Chron’s disease. In addition dairy contains many hormones that are unnatural for human exposure. Nearly 70+ hormones have been identified in dairy products with many containing the inherent ability to cross the intestinal membrane. This results in potentially harmful health outcomes upon entering the blood stream. Dairy is also considered one of the leading causative agents in autoimmune disorders and the chronic inflammatory process.
Avoiding dairy in all forms is considered a very important practice for reducing inflammation. It is also interesting to note that we are the only species on the planet to consume another animal’s milk, and many of us do this throughout our adult lives. Most of us don’t give a second thought to consuming this food that appears everywhere in the Western diet; ice cream, butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, chocolate milk, fruit flavored yogurt, fancy imported cheeses, cream in coffee, the list goes on. And then there are the hidden bits of dairy in the form of nonfat milk solids that makes its way into candy, cereal, salad dressings, chips, condiments, etc. Read the labels and you will be amazed at how many list milk solids as an ingredient. These milk proteins, according to Dr. Cordain’s research, have a high potential to promote heart disease, cancer, allergies, and numerous other health problems. His research goes on to say that about 65% of all people on the planet experience gas, bloating and digestive distress with milk consumption. Maybe we should be listening to our bodies.
There is an abundance of research that supports eliminating dairy from our diets. It’s a great part of my job when clients eliminate dairy from their diet and experience relief from allergies, gastrointestinal problems, ulcers as well as experiencing reduced FBS and weight loss. The list goes on. What about the issue of calcium? If dairy is a poor source of calcium, where does our calcium come from? Fruits and vegetables are a very rich source of calcium. Have you ever heard of an elephant having osteoporosis? Eating greens and lots of vegetables keeps us, and the elephant, more alkaline rather than too acidic. This is the healthy state we want to be in. When we are too acidic from eating foods such as grains and dairy this causes our body to actually excrete calcium in our urine. When we are too acidic the body is set up for kidney stones, kidney disease, stroke and more. What are some healthy alternatives to cow’s milk? I enjoy unsweetened almond milk to make creamy soups, an occasional shake, or hot chocolate sweetened with stevia. I use coconut milk for baking, along with coconut oil as a great substitute for butter in baking and sautéing.
As Dr. Gala always says, Heres to making the rest of your years the best of your years.
Thank you for your clear conversation on eliminating cow milk. I’m truly working on putting cheese away – it’s one of the items I was encouraged to acquire a taste for as a child.
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