GOT MILK?
These days, it seems like almost everybody does. Celebrities, athletes, and even former president Clinton’s head of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, are all proud to wear the white “milk mustache.” After all, everyone knows that you need milk to be healthy …
Dairy is nature’s perfect food — but only if you’re a calf.
If that sounds shocking to you, it’s because very few people are willing to tell the truth about dairy. In fact, criticizing milk in America is like taking on motherhood, apple pie, or baseball. But that’s just what I’m about to do.
Based on the research and my experience practicing medicine, I typically advise most of my patients to avoid dairy products completely. I like ice cream just as much as the next person, but as a scientist I have to look honestly at what we know. In today’s blog I will explore many of the documented ill-effects of dairy, and give you six reasons you should avoid dairy at all costs.
The Reason I Have Problems with the USDA Food Pyramid
I’m aware that my advice to avoid dairy flies in the face of the new, “up-to-date” food pyramid from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA’s pyramid recommends drinking 3 glasses of milk a day. What’s wrong with that? Well, for one thing, it’s not a recommendation that’s based on strict science.
Some of the “experts” who helped create the pyramid actually work for the dairy industry, which makes the US Department of agriculture’s recommendations reflect industry interests, not science or our best interests.
In fact, Walter Willett, M.D., Ph.D — the second-most-cited scientist in all of clinical medicine and the head of nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health — is one of the pyramid’s most vocal critics. He’s even called its guidelines “udderly ridiculous.” That’s not something a Harvard scientist says lightly.
But Dr. Willett is right. The pyramid just isn’t based on key scientific findings about health. Just take a look at some of the pyramid’s recommendations — and why I disagree with them.
1. Consume a variety of foods within and among the basic food groups while staying within your body’s energy needs.
Sounds sensible — but which food groups? If you choose dairy, meat, fats, and carbohydrates, the “perfect” meal could be a cheeseburger, milkshake, and fries with ketchup (potatoes and tomatoes are the two top vegetables consumed in America). Generic advice like that is pretty meaningless and potentially harmful.
2. Control your caloric intake to manage body weight.
Again, that sounds good, but as I wrote in my book UltraMetabolism, even the best-trained nutritionists and dietitians can’t come close to correctly estimating their own caloric intake in a day. Also consider this: Is it okay to consume all of your calories from cola or ice cream as long as you stay within my caloric needs? Of course not. So this is more useless advice.
3. Increase intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat or low-fat milk products.
Well, fruits, veggies, and whole grains are great. Milk — not so much. I’ll get back to that in a minute.
4. Choose carbohydrates wisely.
Who could argue with that? But how do they define “wisely”? The real advice here should be to cut down sugar intake from 185 pounds per person per year (what we currently consume) to less than a pound, avoid flour products (except as a treat), and stick to whole-food carbohydrates like vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds.
5. Choose to prepare food with little salt.
That’s not bad advice. But it doesn’t make sense if most of what you eat is packaged or processed foods that you don’t actually prepare. For most Americans who eat half of their meals outside their homes, this isn’t helpful. A better recommendation would be to avoid packaged, processed, canned, prepared, and fast foods (unless you know exactly how they are made).
6. If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation.
Sounds good — but if you’re usually drinking two bottles of wine a night, then one seems like moderation! I think a better suggestion is to limit your alcohol consumption to half a drink a day or 3 glasses a week (the amount that seems to have the most health benefit).
7. Don’t eat unsafe foods.
Of course you shouldn’t leave your egg salad out in the hot sun or toss your salad with hands that just handled raw chicken coated with salmonella. But the food pyramid guidelines don’t mention pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified foods, despite scientific evidence of their harm. Shame on the USDA!
You can see now why I have big problems with the food pyramid! Its guidelines try to sound sensible — while still protecting the interests of the food industry, the agriculture industry, and all of the lobbyists paying for the elections of the Congress. That way everybody’s happy …
But I’m not, and you shouldn’t be either. The public just isn’t served by this watered down, confusing, and useless pyramid. Worse, some of the recommendations are downright harmful –like the one to drink more milk and dairy products.
The Truth about Dairy
According to Dr. Willett, who has done many studies and reviewed the research on this topic, there are many reasons to pass up milk, including:
1. Milk doesn’t reduce fractures. Contrary to popular belief, eating dairy products has never been shown to reduce fracture risk. In fact, according to the Nurses’ Health Study dairy may increase risk of fractures by 50 percent!
2. Less dairy, better bones. Countries with lowest rates of dairy and calcium consumption (like those in Africa and Asia) have the lowest rates of osteoporosis.
3. Calcium isn’t as bone-protective as we thought. Studies of calcium supplementation have shown no benefit in reducing fracture risk. vitamin D appears to be much more important than calcium in preventing fractures.
4. Calcium may raise cancer risk. Research shows that higher intakes of both calcium and dairy products may increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer by 30 to 50 percent. Plus, dairy consumption increases the body’s level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) — a known cancer promoter.
5. Calcium has benefits that dairy doesn’t. Calcium supplements, but not dairy products, may reduce the risk of colon cancer.
6. Not everyone can stomach dairy. About 75 percent of the world’s population is genetically unable to properly digest milk and other dairy products — a problem called lactose intolerance.
Based on such findings, Dr. Willet has come to some important conclusions:
• Everybody needs calcium –
- but probably not as much as our government’s recommended daily allowance (RDA).
• Calcium probably doesn’t prevent broken bones.
- Few people in this country are likely to reduce their fracture risk by getting more calcium.
• Men may not want to take calcium supplements.
- Supplements of calcium and
- may be reasonable for women.
• Dairy may be unhealthy.
- Advocating dairy consumption may have negative effects on health.
If all that isn’t enough to swear you off milk, there are a few other scientific findings worth noting. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently asked the UDSA to look into the scientific basis of the claims made in the “milk mustache” ads. Their panel of scientists stated the truth clearly:
- • Milk doesn’t benefit sports performance.
- • There’s no evidence that dairy is good for your bones or prevents osteoporosis — in fact, the animal protein it contains may help cause bone loss!
- • Dairy is linked to prostate cancer.
- • It’s full of saturated fat and is linked to
- .
- • Dairy causes digestive problems for the 75 percent of people with lactose intolerance.
- • Dairy aggravates
- .
Simply put, the FTC asked the dairy industry, “Got Proof?” — and the answer was NO!
Plus, dairy may contribute to even more health problems, like:
- •
- • Sinus problems
- • Ear infections
- • Type 1 diabetes
- • Chronic constipation
- • Anemia (in children)
Due to these concerns, many have begun to consider raw milk an alternative. But that isn’t really a healthy form of dairy either …
Yes, raw, whole, organic milk eliminates concerns like pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and the effects of homogenization and pasteurization — but to me, these benefits don’t outweigh dairy’s potential risks.
From an evolutionary point of view, milk is a strange food for humans. Until 10,000 years ago we didn’t domesticate animals and weren’t able to drink milk (unless some brave hunter-gather milked a wild tiger or buffalo!).
If you don’t believe that, consider this: The majority of humans naturally stop producing significant amounts of lactase — the enzyme needed to properly metabolize lactose, the sugar in milk — sometime between the ages of two and five. In fact, for most mammals, the normal condition is to stop producing the enzymes needed to properly digest and metabolize milk after they have been weaned.
Our bodies just weren’t made to digest milk on a regular basis. Instead, most scientists agree that it’s better for us to get calcium, potassium, protein, and fats from other food sources, like whole plant foods — vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and seaweed.
So here is my advice for dealing with dairy.
5 Tips for Dealing with Dairy
• Don’t rely on dairy for healthy bones.
- If you want healthy bones, get plenty of exercise and supplement with 2,000 IU of
- daily.
• Get your calcium from food.
- These include dark green leafy vegetables, sesame tahini, sea vegetables, and sardines or salmon with the bones.
• Try giving up all dairy.
- That means eliminate milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream for two weeks and see if you feel better. You should notice improvements with your
- , post-nasal drip,
- ,
- , energy, and weight. Then start eating dairy again and see how you feel. If you feel worse, you should try to give it up for life.
• If you can tolerate dairy, use only raw, organic dairy products.
- I suggest focusing on fermented products like unsweetened yogurt and kefir, occasionally.
• If you have to feed your child formula from milk, don’t worry.
- The milk in infant formula is hydrolyzed or broken down and easier to digest (although it can still cause allergies). Once your child is a year old, switch him or her to real food and almond milk.
Still got milk? I hope not! Remember, dairy is not crucial for good health. I encourage you to go dairy-free and see what it does for you.
Now I’d like to hear from you …
Do you agree or disagree that dairy is bad for you?
Have you experienced any problems consuming dairy?
What changes — for better or worse — have you experienced if you’ve tried eliminating dairy?
Please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below…
To your good health,
Mark Hyman, MD
Yes! I agree Dr. Hyman! I found this page after Googling “Is milk bad for our health”. I have been drinking almond milk for over a year now and I am not looking back to soy or cow’s milk. Strangely, I am 32 years old now and even when I was a child, I somehow understood that drinking milk didn’t make sense.
I drank soy milk for years until I learned about the adverse affects of phytoestrogens. I could usually get away with ice cream or a milkshake every now and then, but last night for the first time I had a marked increase in allergic reactivity to a milkshake I had drank. Within 20 minutes of drinking, my throat swelled, got itchy, and I felt the pangs of a migraine attack coming on. I am still feeling sick today. I will NEVER touch milk again. When I initially stopped drinking cow’s milk, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my health. I am fearful for the health of our country, because I fear that the marketing of milk is what is contributing to all of these ailments, of mainly the neurological sort.
My concern now is how to get my 5 year old son off of it. He can tell the difference between almond milk and cow’s milk, and he’s not having it. I’ve noticed the increase in mucus production in him when he has been consuming more milk than usual. We are limited to just using it for cereal. I don’t know how to switch without him protesting.
Thank you for the article, I feel enlightened and validated. Will definitely be sharing this.
L. Davison
Thank you for this honest assessment of the whole situation. It is so easy to be persuaded by commercialized pseudo-science when the real facts are hidden behind white mustaches. I was sent this link by a grass fed beef farmer friend of mine on the dairy industry and thought it was much more telling than the NYT article today.
http://www.agweb.com/blog/Dairy_Talk_199/dairy_to_blame_for_beef_drug_residues/#commentsb
I wonder how many of us are reacting to the antibiotic residue in the milk that the FDA misses in their sparse testing? Is it enough to cause even a homeopathic reaction in people? Just another reason to avoid dairy at all costs!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/business/26milk.html?WT.mc_id=BU-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M186-ROS-0111-PH&WT.mc_ev=click&ei=5087&en=97ffb3ffd499b3dd&ex=1311656400&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1296223261-l7G626+kpnFFWkY4MQ8kEw
Dr. Hyman
Just one question…. if you take your child off of formula after one year and switch him or her to almond milk will this effect the brain development?
Hi Dr Hyman
Love your article on dairy. Four months ago I went for a colonoscopy and the doctor advise me to try to go on a dairyfree diet for 3 weeks.
Since then I did lost 5 pounds and one thing I did lost the Fat around my waist.
I do have occasional yogurt , take vitamine D and calcium, feel great.
Reading your article was very helpful.
Thank you ,keep up the good work .
sincerly Maria
hi, i am almost 29 female and drink atleast 2 glasses of milk a day. i have bad acne especially now i am breastfeeding. does this cause acne too because of my milk production? also would it be safe while nursing to stop dairy?thanks
Great article, very helpful, thank you. I have a question. You said that, “The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently asked the UDSA to look into the scientific basis of the claims made in the “milk mustache” ads. Their panel of scientists stated the truth clearly:”
Can you tell me where I can see where the panel made its statements? I’d love to be able to show my friends the original document. Thank you!
I am new to this website and truly love how much information there is. I have one question regarding the information in this article. I eat a lot of dairy product and feel that on days that I do my digestion and bowel movement are better than on days that I don’t. Could that be due to the living cultures in yogurt or kefir? Aren’t they really important for health and immune system, and if so, how else can we get them in our food?
What should I give my daughter, who is allergic to nuts? Would soy milk be the best option?
Absolutely!!!! We have been a dairy free family for over 25 years. After having suffered from a ten year headache (NO KIDDING!!) and digestive distress and then having my son born with thrush in his mouth, I finally put 2 and 2 together. My daughter (3 at the time) immediately stopped suffering from chronic ear infections. I had breast fed my children for 2-1/2 and 3 years consecutively, but they were experiencing colic because of my dairy intolerance. My daughter is now 27 and has a 4 year old daughter who has been breast fed for 3 years and does not ever consume dairy products…she is a picture of health and has never had an ear infection and rarely ever has had a cold!!! I whole heartedly believe dairy is harmful to everyone…some just don’t know it or choose to ignore it!!
Pamela
My doctor recommended I eliminate dairy from my diet several years ago to cure post nasal drip. It worked. I am 64, exercise daily, have played tennis for many years of my adult life, swim and walk 3 miles almost daily, use weights 2-3 times per week, yet I was just diagnosed w/osteoporosis!(Avg -2.5 on a bone scan) Also, I eat sardines, eat only free-range meat and poultry once +/- a week, eat brown rice pasta and fruit, and lots of veggies and fruit. Last month my HDL was 115; my LDL was 185; triglycerides: 53, AH1C: 5.5. I started taking bio-identical hormones – .06+/- grams 3 wks ago, increased calcium, Vit D and magnesium to 1500/1000/600 per my dr’s suggestion and she wants me to see a physical therapist to begin progressive weight training. I was a heavy milk drinker (3-4 cups per day)all my life up to when I quit. I do eat 0% fat Greek yogurt most days. I take no drugs and have good BP – 115/70 most days. Do you have any other suggestions for me to increase my bone density and lower LDL?
Dairy also has casein which for many if they have a compromised digestive system (which probably 80% of American population does) is very difficult to digest. If you really can’t give up the dairy quite yet, you can switch to goat or sheep which are casein free and therefore much easier to digest.
Very good “TV” and article on dairy. You mentioned “Countries with lowest rates of dairy and calcium consumption (like those in Africa and Asia) have the lowest rates of osteoporosis.” Let’s think about that for a moment. People in what countries get the most exposure to sun? Viola! Exposure to sun = Vitamin D. And all the while we cleaver Westerners have been hiding from the sun for decades. I’d be willing to bet the lack of Vitamin D plays a huge roll in diabeties, obesity, heart and artery health, attitude, mood, concentration, memory,.. shall I go on? Get your Vitamin D level tested. (Too bad there is no test for Vitamin K)
I gave up dairy products several years ago because I learned that they contribute to inflammation (the common denominator of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes). Also, there is breast cancer in my family and I want to avoid Bovine Growth Hormone. I switched to using soy milk and it took me about 3 days to get used to it. Now, if I have milk, I think that it tastes bogus. Also, I notice that without dairy products, my sinuses are clear and free from any congestion.
Hi Mark,
Very good article on dairy. I suffered from devastating migraine from 16 – 60 years of age spending 3-5 days in a darkened room etc several times a month and at worse, once a week. I gave up dairy. I still have occasional headaches but they are cured in about 20 minutes by two aspirin, a cup of coffee (black) and a lie down. Lately, I’ve been having a bit of milk in tea and coffee again (organic) and my headaches are coming back. I use almond milk in cooking so I sure don’t have much. Maybe half a cup a day. So that’s that – thanks for giving me some very good reasons to quit permanently.
Kind regards,
Jean
I do consume raw milk and raw cheese and don’t have any problems with it but I don’t consume large amounts. I drink about 2-3 cups a week and have cheese occasionally so I don’t know how I would feel if I had a lot. I do consume large amounts of dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens, and chard so I get most of my calcium from greens. I stayed away from dairy completely for two years. Then started drinking it again in small amounts. I didn’t feel bad at all. My guess is that it’s because it was raw.
I am so glad that someone has the courage to challenge the dairy industry and the USDA and to tell the truth about the matter. Yes I have found that I feel better without consuming dairy products. They cause mucus in the sinuses and constipation. Thank you Dr. Hyman for getting the word out!
I wish well educated and respected professionals such as yourself would differentiate raw milk from pasteurized when making such blanket statements about dairy. I could write a book on the difference but there is a lot of information at http://www.westonaprice.org. A few examples: raw milk contains lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose, it also contains phosphatase which allows calcium to be absorbed. Raw milk is an excellent source of vitamin K2, especially when the animals are feeding on rapidly growing grass. Raw milk contains microbes which act as probiotics. These also almost always prevent microbes such as listeria to gain a foothold in raw milk. They may be present but rarely can they grow and become disease producing. I could go on and on but the difference is so huge they aren’t even really the same thing. Raw milk sours, pasteurized milk ROTS.
I REVERSED osteoporosis in 2 years using nothing but kefir from raw milk, vitamin D3 supplements and magnesium supplements.
Dear Dr. Hyman:
For years I was healthy and didn’t have a family doctor. Once I started going to doctors my health declined. Every visit required another test and another prescription drug.
My cardiologist insists I take Crestor to lower cholesterol. When I showed him a two page article in the newspaper that Zetia caused thousands of people to go blind he walked out of the room. They combine Zetia and Zocor and now it is safe to take? I would rather die that go blind.
I read shelves full of books on health and nutrition. They don’t teach that in medical school. Since the 1950′s when drug companies began to help medical students with their college tuitions; guess who gets to help write the medical books?.
Today you tell the doctor your symptoms and he can check his books or computer and tell you which drug will cure that symptom. He is not interested in getting to the bottom of what caused the problem. It is the symptom that we need to change. All drugs have side effects.
The 12 medications I have had prescribed for congetive heart failure all have similar side effects. All of them cause unusual tiredness and muscle weakness. Statin drugs make my muscles ache but I was told it is either muscle pain or death. Quality of life is not improved or important.
Doctors are the biggest drug pushers on earth but they need the money for the life style to which they have become accustomed.
Good luck on trying to help us and protect us from doctors who just don’t get it!
Elaine Badnarik
I agree with you that many people cannot digest milk. One daughter for example. I drink only organic milk and eat yogurt and occasionally sour cream, butter and ice cream. I love milk and it calms me when I drink it. But I am now checking how I feel with it and without it.
Last year I found that I was severely vitamin D deficient. It seems that my body could not absorb it. I am in the sun frequently and only use sunscreen when it is longer than 15 minutes. Now I take around 5,000 IU a day to keep leg cramps quiet. I had osteoporosis and took Fosamax until I discovered its flaws, and changed my thyroid medicine from Synthoid (that might have caused my osteoporosis) to Levothyroxine. I have struggled with my thyroid for over 30 years, up and down. Since starting the vitamin D I no longer take calcium supplements but drink some dairy products. I do moderate exercise and seem to do a bit of lifting heavy things just in the course of the day. Yet, I ache in my bones still and as I mentioned my nails are weak. What to do?
My question is what about nails? My nails are thinning and weak.
Weak nails, can, in some cases, be a sign of low thyroid function. See my blogs on hypothyroidism at http://drhyman.com/a-7-step-plan-to-boost-your-low-thyroid-and-metabolis-776/, for more details.
I removed dairy a few years ago when I went on the Ultra Simple Diet. It cleared up my sinuses, my ears and my eyes were no longer puffy. I try to avoid it at all costs, however, I am weak and have a bit now and then. Every time I do, my ear fills back up and my nose runs within minutes, and my eye puffs up. My daughter (lactose intolerant) and I drink almond milk and love it.
What are the chances that the condition, “stenosing tenosynovitis”, otherwise known as “trigger finger”.. might be caused or a result of food allergy or toxins in the system? Marge “Gigi” Williams
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
I have never liked milk, even as a child, when (being a good mother) Mama forced me to drink it. I was lactose intolerant even then with stomach upsets etc. At 65, with little dairy intake but cheese by choice all these years as an adult, I do NOT have osteoporosis or irritable bowel syndrome or constipation. I have never broken a lost any height and do not have sinus problems. I also think it wise to avoid dairy because of potential hormones in the milk products.
I agree wholeheartedly! However, I have a question. Is goat milk an acceptable substitute? When I don’t drink my glass of goat milk a day, I get leg cramps. I assumed that it was because I wasn’t getting my calcium. Thank you!
I have been telling people many of the things mentioned here for years and the typical reaction is denial. One thing not mentioned in the article/video is that a sows milk is only a nutrient to a calf up until around 6 months into the calfs life, after which it is actually detrimental to it’s growth. If milk is so good why dont all cows drink it throughout their lives? Why is the human species the only species of animal that continues to consume milk after infancy? Because we can be made to believe anything. You have an animal that readily produces something that if could be made into a product would yield endless profit and milk contains calcium and bones are made of calcium so there you go… link established, get the marketing campaign going and after a generation people will sell this lie to their own children.
From 1986 to 1988, my wife and I taught English in Northeast China. Dairy was not available unless we took a 9-hour train ride to Harbin to buy cheese–it just wasn’t for sale in our town, Shenyang. We soon noticed that we no longer had any body odor; I could wear the same shirt for two weeks without getting smelly armpits. But once we came back to the states and began consuming dairy products again, we had to wash our shirts after a single day’s wear.
I agree with you 100% about the milk, I haven’t drank milk in about 6 years and I feel much better for it.
Yes i have all kinds of stomach problems… i thought yogurt was good for the stomach . Is cottage cheese bad also. i love it so much. but am going to try almond milk next… thank you for this …Lulu HAUGHT
Yes, I now avoid all dairy, as my body has a delayed immune response to it. Some forms of dairy products seem to be worse than others in causing a reaction (for me), and I believe this is to do with how they are processed.
Raw milk is definitely best, but I believe that dairy should be consumed in moderation only, if at all. The hormone side of things is a concern too, also the fact that agricultural chemicals are stored in fat and guess what goes into milk? Virtually all NZ butter contains DDT, a fact that is not known by the general public. This is despite it not being used for many years.
Another major concern that I don’t think you touched on is the effect of chemical homogenisation. My understanding is that this makes the fat so small that it cannot be digested and ends up being deposited in the arteries. My understanding is that this is a major cause of heart disease, NOT saturated fat as such.
I am expecting that China will see a massive growth in previously unknown health problems now that it is following the West in consumption of dairy products.
I agree 100% with you and cut 95% plus of dairy out of my diet. But I was wondering if it is okay to use goats milk as an alternative in small quantities? Since I believe one of the worst things in cow’s milk is the growth (natural) hormones. These hormones are in the milk to help the calf grow. The human body do not need these and along with the high fat could be a double whammy. Any thoughts?
Goat’s milk can be a good alternative to cow’s milk if you are not sensitive to dairy. If you are, it’s best to avoid both.
Is there any literature to show that perhaps homoginzed milk has altered molecular structure which could play a role in increasing cholesterol, triglycerides and thus cardiovascular disease. Or perhaps it is the inflammatory response caused by the inability of the adult body to manage dairy? That is, if the molecules of fat are broken down to remain suspended, perhaps becoming a trans fat(??) then is it not plausable that the fat molecules could be more easily absorbed through the villi and into the blood stream and thus cells to cause inflammation and other problems??
.
hope this is clear.
thanks looking forward in hearing from you as this has been on my mind for awhile,
jennifer
RN and clinical nutritionist
thanks doctor for such a splendid article , and bashing the dairy industry
nd the myth about how they help in strong bones .
Will get to drop the remaining addiction to the dairy stuff.
thanks once again .
I agree that cows milk was made for calves. But if you must drink from the cow, drink it raw. Processed foods of any kind are dangerous and cows milk is the #1 allergen on the planet.
I am a 68 year old female and have never been a big dairy user except for cheeses. Also have been an avid gardener in a lower sunshine state. I have taken a couple of bad spills in the past couple of years and suffered no broken bones. So I am not sure what is keeping my bones healthy. Maybe it’s all that natural vitamin D. Those two falls should definitely have broken something and they didn’t. Well, so much for dairy.
Thanks for the great article. I have been off milk for about 15 years due to allergies and sinus. Our family used to drink a gallon a day till I did a little research and found not only alot of what you mentioned but the female hormones, growth hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides, not even considering since cows are grazing animals they ingest prions which can be passed on to you thru their flesh and lactation. It just proved to me how they are lying to us to continue to profit.
It just further proves, if you hear it on television,or from the government, its a lie.
Click the link for the truth.
http://newzworldorder.blogspot.com/2010/12/esoteric-agenda.html
I always advise my clients to avoid the four whites. White sugar, white flour, white rice, and white milk. It’s amazing how many problems that action eliminates. I appreciate your taking a stand on this! I think if you had a cow in your back yard and it ate natural material from the environment it may be considered a good food. However pasturized milk, loaded with BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone)and antibiotics and what ever they are feeding the cow renders it non food. Dairy cows used to live 20-25 years now they are lucky if they make it to 5 years. They have been turned into milk making machines.
I agree with moderation in everything. I also have a issue with whole grains. Cattle and cows do not choose to eat whole grains, they are forced to by farmers who want to increase the fat content of meat because it tastes better and SELLS better. They choose grass. Turkeys are stuffed with grains and are huge. Obesity solved?
Isn’t it just as ‘scientific’ to assume that milk from these cows is the problem? Milk and cheese have kept humans alive for centuries, not so much antibiotics and megafarming. Could feedlots be the problem?
Start with hunter gatherers. When did other foods enter their diets, did we begin to see disease? When we no longer followed the herds and decided to stay put for the winter, did we begin to see disease? Is winter to blame for disease?
Apparently you know nothing about the business farming…..maybe you should stick to what you know!! Many farmers raise cows that are grassfed….oh and cows LOVE grain…they are not FORCED to eat it.
Dr Hyman:
Thank you for your article on dairy. I have always wondered if nonfat Greek yogurt with no added sugar should also be avoided. So many nutritionists and even medical doctors recommend it. You mentioned dairy protein may cause bone loss. Does this also pertain to fermented sources like yogurt? I would like to hear your thoughts on greek yogurt in general and it’s protein content, especially when it is non-fat with no sugar. Thank you!
Cozet
Dr Hyman:
Thank you for your article on dairy. I have always wondered if nonfat Greek yogurt with no added sugar should also be avoided. So many nutritionists and even medical doctors recommend it. You mentioned dairy protein may cause bone loss. Does this also pertain to fermented sources like yogurt? I would like to hear your thoughts on greek yogurt in general and its protein content, especially when it is non-fat with no sugar. Thank you!
CC
Los Angeles
You need to be careful with all yogurt if you are sensitive to dairy. Otherwise Greek yogurt is a delicious addition to a healthy diet.
My grandmother grew up on a dairy farm. By age 65, she had osteoporosis and an obvious dowager’s hump. At age 80, she was bent over to about 45 degrees. My mother read about the detrimental impact of dairy products in the early ’70′s and entirely eliminated dairy from her diet; she now has zero osteoporosis at age 82. She has taken calcium supplements since the ’70′s, so it’s hard to know what actually kept her bones solid. She certainly has never been one to take walks or exercise, yet her bones are still fine. My older sister suffered with bad acne in her teens. She was a competitive swimmer and, for the most part, she ate healthfully. However, due to her acne, she thought milk would improve her condition. It did not. In fact, it may have made it worse. I also had a friend with acne who guzzled milk for the same reason. An otherwise nice looking young man, he felt quite ashamed of his “hamburger face” as he called it. I hope by now he has stopped his milk habit. At age sixteen, my sister’s doctor put her on birth control pills, explaining the acne was due to a hormone imbalance.
I love your article, it’s more that about time someone spreads it out. I have been saying the same thing for more than 30 years.
I only have this to ad: Milk is for babies, where the milk comes from it is for its baby, ex.: Human-mother-baby, Animals; cow-calf, goat-kid, sheep-lamb, etc.
If the female doesn’t have a baby there is no milk and when the human baby has his teeth he doesn’t need mother’s milk anymore and specially not any kind of animal milk not suitable for human, as for the animals it is automatic when it’s wean it never drinks milk for the rest of its life.
Animal milk is almost sure to keep you closer to your doctor, if you understand what I’m saying.
with love to the human race
Irene
About a year ago I decided to try the “paleo” diet for a month. One of the items I took out of my diet was dairy. I switched to almond milk and eventually to coconut milk and have not missed cows milk at all.
Recently, I have started buying raw milk for members of my family who still desire to drink milk. Since the only time I drink milk is in my one cup of coffee in the morning, I have just started using the raw milk. I have had no side effects, but that could be because it is such a low quantity.
We do not consume milk with the thought that we are getting our calcium intake or anything else that the dairy council claims, however I do feel it is a good source of fat for my growing boys and they do not seem to have any reactions or allergies to it.
Thoughts?
Sandra
I find it very interesting that Dr. Willet’s advice is in concordance with long-term studies such as The China Study. In this 40-year-long research, it was shown that Casein present in animal products (such as meat or milk) is a Cancer promoter. There has been shown association between milk consumption and Breast cancer in the woman, and Prostate cancer in the man, also due to this casein.
I recomend to all my patients above 5 years of age, to consider replacing milk products with supplements. In those with Irritable bowel syndrome, this measure alone improves evacuation, energy levels and painful bowel events.
Gonzalo Sepulveda. MD Psych
I have AB blood. According to the blood type diet, I am fine with dairy. I have NO symptoms from diary. However, I do get some oral stuff going on with ice cream only. Do you subscribe to the blood type diet theory? Only a very small percentage of the population fall into the “OK with dairy” blood type which would make it seem that in the general population, dairy is to be avoided.
Do you consider whey protein isolate or concentrate in the same category?
The thing you have to be careful about with whey is the casein component, which it still contains. If you are sensitive to dairy, you may be sensitive to whey powder as well. When eliminating dairy, stay off whey powder and look for vegan protein powders instead. However, if you are not dairy sensitive, whey can be a good addition as helps improve glutathione levels.
You should do a comprehensive elimination and reintegration of dairy to test for sensitivity. Blood type is not an issue when it comes to food sensitivities.
I agree that calcium is over-rated, even harmful, particularly with respect to calcium vs magnesium ratio, more so in western diets where calcium is over abundant. But it doesn’t necessarily follow that one should eschew dairy – not to the extent implied by the headline
That aside, the enforced pasteurization of dairy is lamentable.
I totally agree with you about diary, humans are the only specie that feed their children someone elses milk. I am lactose intolerant, and I have sinus and allergy problem, and whenever I drink milk I get post nasal drip real bad.
Dear Jennifer,
Books have long been written on the subject of Pasteurization and Homogenization. Specifically, homogenization reduces the size of the fat globules, allowing them to pass directly into the blood stream. You know what happens, after that. Pasteurization cooks the fats, including fat soluble vitamins, producing instant rancidity, free radicals. Both of these together are a toxic combination.
In Awareness,
~Dr. Mardana
I agree that one should avoid industrial milk, a synthetic, manufactured, heavily-processed product. I think about 90% of the problems people have with “milk” are actually problems with the manufactured milk-like substance one is allowed to purchase in grocery stores.
To those who claim milk is only for babies, humans have co-evolved with dairy ruminants since before the dawn of agriculture — some 16,000 years or so — to the point that over 2/3rds of us have the ability to produce lactase as adults — something only babies do in other mammals. (If your ancestors are from central/south africa, native American, or the far east, you may lack the gene to produce this enzyme.)
Personally, I find our carefully produced grass and browse fed raw goat milk is highly beneficial to me and many others. It causes me to lose weight and to have fewer aches and pains.
I’m not saying one MUST drink milk, just that many of the arguments against are either different between individuals, or simply outright wrong.
Eat what makes you feel good and keeps you healthy, and keep it as close to the earth as possible.
Dr Mark Hyman,
I believe that you´ve really got a point that dairy products should be avoided. My problem is that you don´t present any solution for how to overcome milk addiction. You talk about giving up dairy products as if it´s a piece of cake. For me it´s definitly not.
Anybody who knows anything about overcoming milk addiction? I´m not talking about food addiction in general, but addiction specificly to dairy products.
I used to have migraines, muscle spasms, foggy memory, joint pain, cystic acne, and a load of digestive problems. I quit eating grain and dairy, and I feel the best I’ve felt in years. Grain seemed to trigger the digestive problems and muscle issues, while dairy triggered the migraines, acne, and spotty memory. Magraines are a distant memory of the past, and I have so much energy and more ability to pay attention. BEST DECISION I have made in my life. I suggest trying it just to see how you feel. It’s amazing.
This article is so great, everyone needs to read this!!! My son who is 4 year old suffered from horrible allergies when I stopped breastfeeding him, at 2 1/2 years old. He was always getting sick and had a constant cough and runny nose. He was diagnosed with asthma and started having bad asthma attacks. I felt aweful for him. He would get out of breath when running and playing with other kids. We went through 3 pediatricians who all wanted to put him on steroids and allergy medicine which I refused. I felt he was way to young to be on any type of medication every day. And I fought with the pediatricians to try and find the cause for the asthma instead of just masking the problem. After no luck with any of the pediatricians, my sister suggested taking him off milk. My son was a huge milk drinker (actually chocolate milk! but I would put 1/4 chocolate milk and 3/4 skim milk), he would drink about 5-6 cups a day! So I took her advice and started giving him almond milk, and within a couple weeks the allergies and asthma were gone. It’s been about 6 months since I took him off dairy. No running nose, no cough, and no asthma attack and he can run and play and doesn’t get out of breath, and he doesn’t get sick like he use too. I wish more doctors new the horrible effects dairy has on our bodies. I’m in nursing school to be a nurse midwife, and I tried to talk to some of my teachers about it and they say that it has never been proven!! But my son is proof!!!
Every now & then I’m tempted to believe all the raw dairy enthusiasts, because they sound very convincing. But ultimately the proof for me is how my own body reacts. For me, the most noticeable effect is menstruation. When I eat dairy, my period is painful & very heavy and seems to last for ages. When I don’t eat dairy during a cycle, my period is light and virtually pain-free, apart from the occasional light cramp. That alone is worth leaving dairy aside, for me, even though I like the taste of it. (But it’s also very addictive to me, and when I eat dairy I always crave coffee.)
Plus I also seem to get smarter when I don’t eat dairy. My mind seems to think sharper and faster when I stay away from dairy.
I am dairy free and working to free the rest of my family (5 kiddos/1 hubby
) from it. I agree completely. I have IBS and I believe that it was caused from an undiagnosed milk/lactose allergy as a child. It was hard for awhile to give up dairy 100%, but now it’s easy. I am also off of gluten and eggs – makes life interesting and can be very challenging, but why complain when what I eat is some of the best food that God created – veggies, veggies and more veggies! As I’ve worked towards healthier eating habits, it’s become very apparent how much our world is controlled and addicted to unhealthy food! Just imagine what would happen to the medical world if everyone decided to give up sugar, gluten and dairy!!!!
I have suspected for about a year now that dairy has been causing some of the very issues this article mentions. I have noticed clearer skin, better digestion, better mood, less aches/pains, and less allergy issues when I stopped all dairy for almost 2 weeks recently. The bad thing is that our entire society in America and western Europe has developed an addiction to dairy. In one form or another, it’s in everything, which makes it difficult to avoid.
I have been preaching no dairy to people for years. One thing that hasn’t been discussed is the pH of the body. Milk/Dairy makes you very acidic. This, in turn, causes the body to leach calcium from your bones to help balance your pH. Too bad the government and the dairy industry is more concerned about shareholder value than people’s health.
In January, I eliminated dairy for a week (along with wheat, gluten, alcohol, caffeine). I felt the best I have felt in more than 25 years (I´m going on 50). I slowly re-introced each of those things back. When I reintroduced the dairy, I immediatley felt bad. I no longer do any dairy and have reduced the other items in my life, using rice pasta and corn products, organic when I can. Since doing so, I no longer take omeprazole for acid reflux! I started having reflux about 5 years ago. 3 years ago, it got bad and I started omeprazole.The last year I was taking double dose omeprazole (per my doc). Ever since eliminating dairy I have not had to take one pill. I am flabergasted. The few times I have mistakenly consumed milk/cream (e.g. in a sauce) it has come at me. I usally calm it with an apple and or some ginger tea. I don´t even miss the milk products because of how good I feel. It is worth the trade-off.!
I have HYPERthyroidism and I have finally made some significant changes to my diet. Since May of this year I have been Gluten Free and have noticed “some” differences but nothing significant. Yesterday (August 22,2011) I started eating DAIRY FREE – I have implemented Almond Milk and it is surprisingly yummy
) which makes the transition much easier. I am hoping (praying) that the changes will be significant and notable. Dr. Hyman has NOT talked about hyperthyroidism which is completely different than hypothyroidism. I am hoping to see his views and suggestions concerning this disease. In the mean time I feel like I am his newest student and I am excited to hear someone that has a medical/nutritional perspective that makes sense. I am a woman in pursuit of optimal health.
i’m a dairy farmer and have been for years. the truth IS- without Dr. Mark Hyman here confirming his results and citing where he found this information. I have no doubt in my mind, he’s an ass. Yes, there are some and unfortunately too many that are ‘allergic’ to dairy products, but for you who have cut out dairy completely- you’re going to get osteoporosis. Second, dairy does NOT cause heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer ect. We are a non hormone induced dairy set up and i don’t believe in Oxycontin therapy with dairy cattle. As with EVERY food out there; there are some risks to allergies, but consuming dairy is NOT one of them. Some of you have said you cut out multiple items in your diet ie: alcohol, caffeine, grains, and dairy, well how do you KNOW dairy is what was causing all of your problems when you’ve cut out 3 other potentially health problem foods- never in my LIFE have i been SO OFFENDED! if ANYONE would like to know more, please ask a dairy farmer, or feel free to email me, unless you have been influence to dairy in your life, I understand it would be hard to understand the benefits, and yes, risks of dairy. I can’t believe you all would cut dairy out before researching the benefits and risks of dairy or consulting your regular physician, and listening to this BOGUS- it’s most definitely offending!
Dairy farmers are not health specialists. To be offended by scientific research and people improving their health by cutting out dairy is absurd. How you can take personal offence to another persons lifestyle choice is absolutely ridiculous.
Human beings are simply not designed to drink milk from another species and like all mammals do not need milk in their diet past weaning. It’s no surprise their are so many health issues around doing so. Vegetables and beans are far better sources for calcium without the risks to your body.
I understand you are trying to support your industry. I only hope you can one day see how unnecessary taking a calves milk from it’s mother is for human survival.
Oh dear! Dr. Hyman and the Functional Nutrition people have a most distressing way of “smoking out” people’s dietary predilections. I couldn’t give up dairy without a fight. I enjoy skim milk with my high-fiber oat bran porridge, and find that 1/3 to 1/2 tsp. of xylitol eliminates any sinus/upper-respiratory congestion. I find ice cream too sickeningly sweet (not to mention calorie-dense), so never eat it. I am well into senior hood, and have never been overweight. Non-fat cottage cheese and plain yogurt idelicious, satisfying, and in my opinion, a vital part of a varied and healthful diet, along with an abundance of vegetables and occasional small portions of meat, fish and eggs. A recent visitor to the Dr. Oz show, discussing recent anti-cancer research findings, mentioned that hard cheeses – Swiss and Cheddar, had been found to be somehow protective against many types of cancer, and that he personally eats an ounce a day of one of these cheeses. A newsletter written by editors for the Martin Edelston publishing organization reporting research findings showing that Swiss cheese was found to have a cleansing, plaque -removing effect upon veins and arteries. Talk about counter-intuitive indications! I am just not ready to eliminate dairy – yet.
Speaking of counter -intuitive findings, another episode of the Doctor Oz show discussed findings showing fish oil as effective in eliminating bacteria in the mouth, and inflammation in a number of body systems. I can imagine that tidbit to have struck fear in the heart of dentists everywhere, thinking, “Oh no, – patients with sardine-breath!”
Hi Bonnie,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Dairy. It is great that you are in good health and open to learning what works for your particular body. The idea behind functional medicine is that it is not a 1-sized-fits-all approach so what works for you might work against the neighbor’s body and so on and so forth. Essentially, we all have the opportunity to evaluate our own health conditions and be prepared to rearrange certain habits if necessary. This article points at the pattern showing that for many people, dairy can be highly inflammatory and work against their health. However if it works for you than enjoy it in moderation and choose the highest quality possible!
In good health!
Lizzy
Your article is wonderful. I have been telling people about the harms of dairy since I was 13! Of course, no one listens to a teen no matter how much of a nutritional nerd they are. Now lets talk about soy!
I cant even believe it ! Milk is treated as the ideal food in many countries !!!