Post by veggiewoman on Sept 29, 2006 10:39:32 GMT
Got sent this ,thought I woudl pass it on:
www.msn.co.uk/health/milk/default.asp
Milk: is it good or bad for us?
By Ross Chainey - Feedback - Blog
Published 27nd September 2006
Milk is an essential source of bone-strengthening calcium and can protect us from a number of conditions, right?
Not according to a growing number of critics who have recently accused milk of actually damaging our health. We examine the arguments for and against.
The argument for
There is a reason why free milk used to be handed out to school kids. Milk and other dairy products are the best dietary sources of calcium, which is essential for bone health and protection against conditions such as osteoporosis, which causes bones to become weak and susceptible to fracture and affects one in three woman and one in six men.
Although other foods, such as green vegetables and nuts and seeds, also contain the crucial mineral, nothing packs a calcium punch quite like milk. The National Osteoporosis Society recommends that adults consume 800mg of calcium a day to protect their bones, while growing teenagers should have 1,000mg. A pint of milk will deliver 673. Milk is also a good source of protein, B vitamins (essential for healthy hair, skin, nails, nerves and growth in children) and zinc (for healing wounds).
Any debate about whether or not milk is good for us should acknowledge that there are many different varieties. So let us start at the beginning. Breast milk is irrefutably good for our health as it contains, according to NetDoctor, "Exactly the right amount of nutrients that a baby needs and in a form that it can digest easily. This means that the baby won't suffer from digestive problems such as constipation.
"Breast milk also contains important antibodies - cells that fight disease - that can help protect the baby from infections during the first months of its life. This means, for instance, that the child will catch a cold less easily."
Critics will no doubt point out that breast milk shouldn't be compared to the varieties of milk we commonly consume, as we stop drinking it at a very young age. But, as nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston, from Foods for Life, points out: "It's interesting to see people's bizarre reaction to human breast milk despite considering it perfectly normal to drink the milk of another species." Breast milk is so powerful, in fact, that it has been given to adult cancer patients after tests showed it could help them fight the illness.
Full fat milk is another easy target. Twenty years ago we Brits were consuming too much full fat milk, but it has gradually been replaced as our milk of choice by semi-skinned and skimmed.
But the choice on offer doesn't stop at blue, green and red topped bottles. If cow's milk really doesn't appeal then there are plenty of alternatives. Soya milk, for example, is popular amongst people with a lactose intolerance (lactose is found in cow's milk), but is also believed to lower blood cholesterol because of its high levels of isoflavones, a type of antioxidant. Soya milk also contains geinstein, a phytochemical substance that prevents the growth of tumours, thus potentially protecting us from cancer.
Goat's milk, which does contain lactose but can be consumed by people with a lactose intolerance (nobody really knows why this is the case), is rich in B vitamins while rice milk, so long as it has been fortified, is an excellent source of vitamins D, A and calcium. Organic cow's milk also has its added benefits and a recent study claimed that it contains much higher levels of omega-3 oils than regular cow's milk.
So, as Bishop-Weston says: "If you feel you can't manage without something creamy on your cornflakes perhaps you could try oat milk, soya milk, nut milk, rice milk, quinoa milk, even hemp milk."
Milk could also play a part in keeping us looking young and beautiful. The proteins in milk help to maintain healthy body tissue and keep skin feeling smooth, which is why it is present in so many beauty products.
The argument against
Milk has for years been lauded for its many health benefits, but recent research has also linked it to numerous health conditions. One study discovered that women who consumed more than two servings of skimmed milk were 44% more likely to develop severe acne, possibly due to the hormones present in milk.
More worryingly, milk has been linked to various types of cancer. Another study pointed out that the oestrogen in milk from pregnant cows could contribute to breast cancer (excess oestrogen is believed to be a possible cause of the disease). This would explain the low rate of breast cancer in Japan, where the population consumes more soya milk.
A more recent piece of research has linked milk with ovarian cancer, as the lactose in milk is believed to over-stimulate hormone production which causes tumour growth. Milk is also high in saturated fat, which is known to raise cholesterol and lead to heart disease. It is also thought to trigger outbreaks of eczema and should be avoided by people with asthma and respiratory conditions because it stimulates the production of phlegm.
Bishop-Weston believes our dependence on milk as a source of nutrition is misplaced. "Cows milk is of course the perfect nutrition - for baby cows," she says. "If you feel the need to quadruple in size and take on the stature of a shed in a few short weeks, then milk is the best substance for you.
"This is despite the milk industry's best efforts to make cow's milk more suitable for a human diet by heating it up to kill - good and bad - bacteria, taking out some of the fat, adding vitamins and omega-3 oils and feeding cows antibiotics to curb somatic cell counts."
Bishop-Weston's last point is perhaps one that could potentially turn you off cow's milk forever. According to researchers, all cow's milk contains dead white blood cells (somatic cells), even though all producers do their best to keep levels to a minimum. So what are they? Unfortunately, this is another name for pus. Remember that the next time you are pouring a bottle of semi-skimmed over your breakfast cereal.
Bishop-Weston has a further warning: "It is true that there is a lot of calcium in milk (to help a calf grow big and strong very quickly), but unfortunately this isn't the best source of calcium for humans. Because of the chemical properties of cow's milk you could actually end up depleted of calcium. This explains why despite our massive reliance in the UK and US on dairy as a source of nutrition we have some of the world's highest rates of osteoporosis.
"The best sources of calcium for humans are green leafy vegetables, which although not as concentrated as milk, contain nutrients such as magnesium which help the body to retain calcium."
There is also a question mark over the hormones in milk. "A lactating cow spends much of its milking life pregnant," says Bishop-Weston, "and we do not fully understand how cow hormones affect humans, though some experts have linked them to cancer.
"Cow's milk is not a natural food for humans. A great deal of cattle in the UK is fed genetically modified grains and pulses and in the USA they are fed restaurant waste as well. At least if you buy organic milk you have some reassurances about what the animal has been fed and better husbandry standards."
It is also worth noting that, despite the news this week that organic cow's milk contains much higher levels of omega-3 oils because of the way the animals are bred and kept, the Food Standards Agency has rejected this claim, saying: "Organic milk consumed in volumes consistent with a healthy diet would not provide sufficient amounts of... omega-3 fatty acids to provide significant health benefits over and above those associated with conventional milk."
The verdict
This one will run and run. While nobody would dare dispute the benefits of the magic potion that is breast milk, health experts and researchers are divided on whether or not we should consume animal milk. As with most foods, it is probably a case of 'everything in moderation'.
Regular consumption of milk, because of its high calcium content, is still widely thought to be essential for maintaining healthy bones (though there are other excellent sources of the mineral). Just don't wash your cookies down with litres of full fat milk. For one thing, that's a whole lot of pus.
People who are lactose intolerant need to be particularly careful and should always stick to milk varieties that are lactose-free.
USEFUL LINKS
The bread debate - is it good or bad for us?
Go go gojis - how this magic Himalayan berry can fire your mojo
Fights cancer? - when it comes to broccoli you should be eating your greens.
Power to the pom - why we should all be eating pomegranates.
Breast is best - a guide to why breastfeeding is the way forward.
SEARCH LINKSMore information on the health benefits of milk.
More information on why milk is bad for you.
More information on calcium.
More information on somatic cells.
More information on organic milk.
www.msn.co.uk/health/milk/default.asp
Milk: is it good or bad for us?
By Ross Chainey - Feedback - Blog
Published 27nd September 2006
Milk is an essential source of bone-strengthening calcium and can protect us from a number of conditions, right?
Not according to a growing number of critics who have recently accused milk of actually damaging our health. We examine the arguments for and against.
The argument for
There is a reason why free milk used to be handed out to school kids. Milk and other dairy products are the best dietary sources of calcium, which is essential for bone health and protection against conditions such as osteoporosis, which causes bones to become weak and susceptible to fracture and affects one in three woman and one in six men.
Although other foods, such as green vegetables and nuts and seeds, also contain the crucial mineral, nothing packs a calcium punch quite like milk. The National Osteoporosis Society recommends that adults consume 800mg of calcium a day to protect their bones, while growing teenagers should have 1,000mg. A pint of milk will deliver 673. Milk is also a good source of protein, B vitamins (essential for healthy hair, skin, nails, nerves and growth in children) and zinc (for healing wounds).
Any debate about whether or not milk is good for us should acknowledge that there are many different varieties. So let us start at the beginning. Breast milk is irrefutably good for our health as it contains, according to NetDoctor, "Exactly the right amount of nutrients that a baby needs and in a form that it can digest easily. This means that the baby won't suffer from digestive problems such as constipation.
"Breast milk also contains important antibodies - cells that fight disease - that can help protect the baby from infections during the first months of its life. This means, for instance, that the child will catch a cold less easily."
Critics will no doubt point out that breast milk shouldn't be compared to the varieties of milk we commonly consume, as we stop drinking it at a very young age. But, as nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston, from Foods for Life, points out: "It's interesting to see people's bizarre reaction to human breast milk despite considering it perfectly normal to drink the milk of another species." Breast milk is so powerful, in fact, that it has been given to adult cancer patients after tests showed it could help them fight the illness.
Full fat milk is another easy target. Twenty years ago we Brits were consuming too much full fat milk, but it has gradually been replaced as our milk of choice by semi-skinned and skimmed.
But the choice on offer doesn't stop at blue, green and red topped bottles. If cow's milk really doesn't appeal then there are plenty of alternatives. Soya milk, for example, is popular amongst people with a lactose intolerance (lactose is found in cow's milk), but is also believed to lower blood cholesterol because of its high levels of isoflavones, a type of antioxidant. Soya milk also contains geinstein, a phytochemical substance that prevents the growth of tumours, thus potentially protecting us from cancer.
Goat's milk, which does contain lactose but can be consumed by people with a lactose intolerance (nobody really knows why this is the case), is rich in B vitamins while rice milk, so long as it has been fortified, is an excellent source of vitamins D, A and calcium. Organic cow's milk also has its added benefits and a recent study claimed that it contains much higher levels of omega-3 oils than regular cow's milk.
So, as Bishop-Weston says: "If you feel you can't manage without something creamy on your cornflakes perhaps you could try oat milk, soya milk, nut milk, rice milk, quinoa milk, even hemp milk."
Milk could also play a part in keeping us looking young and beautiful. The proteins in milk help to maintain healthy body tissue and keep skin feeling smooth, which is why it is present in so many beauty products.
The argument against
Milk has for years been lauded for its many health benefits, but recent research has also linked it to numerous health conditions. One study discovered that women who consumed more than two servings of skimmed milk were 44% more likely to develop severe acne, possibly due to the hormones present in milk.
More worryingly, milk has been linked to various types of cancer. Another study pointed out that the oestrogen in milk from pregnant cows could contribute to breast cancer (excess oestrogen is believed to be a possible cause of the disease). This would explain the low rate of breast cancer in Japan, where the population consumes more soya milk.
A more recent piece of research has linked milk with ovarian cancer, as the lactose in milk is believed to over-stimulate hormone production which causes tumour growth. Milk is also high in saturated fat, which is known to raise cholesterol and lead to heart disease. It is also thought to trigger outbreaks of eczema and should be avoided by people with asthma and respiratory conditions because it stimulates the production of phlegm.
Bishop-Weston believes our dependence on milk as a source of nutrition is misplaced. "Cows milk is of course the perfect nutrition - for baby cows," she says. "If you feel the need to quadruple in size and take on the stature of a shed in a few short weeks, then milk is the best substance for you.
"This is despite the milk industry's best efforts to make cow's milk more suitable for a human diet by heating it up to kill - good and bad - bacteria, taking out some of the fat, adding vitamins and omega-3 oils and feeding cows antibiotics to curb somatic cell counts."
Bishop-Weston's last point is perhaps one that could potentially turn you off cow's milk forever. According to researchers, all cow's milk contains dead white blood cells (somatic cells), even though all producers do their best to keep levels to a minimum. So what are they? Unfortunately, this is another name for pus. Remember that the next time you are pouring a bottle of semi-skimmed over your breakfast cereal.
Bishop-Weston has a further warning: "It is true that there is a lot of calcium in milk (to help a calf grow big and strong very quickly), but unfortunately this isn't the best source of calcium for humans. Because of the chemical properties of cow's milk you could actually end up depleted of calcium. This explains why despite our massive reliance in the UK and US on dairy as a source of nutrition we have some of the world's highest rates of osteoporosis.
"The best sources of calcium for humans are green leafy vegetables, which although not as concentrated as milk, contain nutrients such as magnesium which help the body to retain calcium."
There is also a question mark over the hormones in milk. "A lactating cow spends much of its milking life pregnant," says Bishop-Weston, "and we do not fully understand how cow hormones affect humans, though some experts have linked them to cancer.
"Cow's milk is not a natural food for humans. A great deal of cattle in the UK is fed genetically modified grains and pulses and in the USA they are fed restaurant waste as well. At least if you buy organic milk you have some reassurances about what the animal has been fed and better husbandry standards."
It is also worth noting that, despite the news this week that organic cow's milk contains much higher levels of omega-3 oils because of the way the animals are bred and kept, the Food Standards Agency has rejected this claim, saying: "Organic milk consumed in volumes consistent with a healthy diet would not provide sufficient amounts of... omega-3 fatty acids to provide significant health benefits over and above those associated with conventional milk."
The verdict
This one will run and run. While nobody would dare dispute the benefits of the magic potion that is breast milk, health experts and researchers are divided on whether or not we should consume animal milk. As with most foods, it is probably a case of 'everything in moderation'.
Regular consumption of milk, because of its high calcium content, is still widely thought to be essential for maintaining healthy bones (though there are other excellent sources of the mineral). Just don't wash your cookies down with litres of full fat milk. For one thing, that's a whole lot of pus.
People who are lactose intolerant need to be particularly careful and should always stick to milk varieties that are lactose-free.
USEFUL LINKS
The bread debate - is it good or bad for us?
Go go gojis - how this magic Himalayan berry can fire your mojo
Fights cancer? - when it comes to broccoli you should be eating your greens.
Power to the pom - why we should all be eating pomegranates.
Breast is best - a guide to why breastfeeding is the way forward.
SEARCH LINKSMore information on the health benefits of milk.
More information on why milk is bad for you.
More information on calcium.
More information on somatic cells.
More information on organic milk.