The Milk Myth

or

““It’s part of my culture.”It’s part of my culture.”

Milk has something for everybody.

There is one thing dairy products have more than any other food I

can think of:

contamination.

John McDougall, MDJohn McDougall, MD

Some extras you can get from milk...

• Digestion trouble

• Higher cholesterol

• Allergies

• Lactose intolerance

• Bacterial growth

• Bowel disorders

• Low blood levels of:– Calcium– Manganese– Magnesium– Zinc– Iron– Copper

Type I Diabetes factors:Type I Diabetes factors:

Early dietary exposure to cow’s milk

Short duration of breast feeding

High milk intake after age 9, or at diabetes

onset

Recent infection

Attending day care before age 3

The enemy The enemy is us?!is us?!

There is a 17-amino acid peptide chain commonly found in the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.

There is a 17-amino acid peptide chain commonly found in cow’s milk.

Both are nearly identical.

Children with IDDM had elevated serum concentrations of antibodies against bovine whey protein.

Mice, milk, and meMice, milk, and meDiabetes does not occur in diabetes-prone rodents reared on a diet free of cow’s milk for the first two or three months of life, indicating that cow’s milk protein can trigger the disease.

New England Journal of Medicine 1992

The Milk/Allergy ConnectionThe Milk/Allergy Connection• Constipation• Eczema• Dermatitis• Vomiting• Headaches• Psychological problems• Retarded growth• Fatigue• Bed-wetting

An estimated 50 million Americans experience

intestinal discomfort after consuming dairy products.

Symptoms include bloating, stomach pain, cramps, gas, diarrhea.

Postgraduate Medicine 1994

ColicColicAbout 20% of babies suffer from colic, or abdominal cramping and gas. Milk

proteins may be one of the leading causes of this digestive disorder.

Lancet 1978

Pediatrics 1991

Ethnic IntoleranceEthnic Intolerance Ethnic Group % intolerant• African Blacks ................................ 95-100• Indians ............................................. 90-100• Asians ............................................... 90-95• Native Americans ............................ 70-90• Mexican Americans ........................ 70-80• African Americans.......................... 70-75• Mediterranean Peoples .................. 60-75• North American Whites ................. 10-15• Northern Europeans ....................... 5-10

Adults who consume large quantities of milk, who have high

lactase activity,...suffer repeated small galactose challenges, accumulation of galactitol in the lens, and a greater likelihood of developing senile cataracts.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences 1982

Cow’s MilkCow’s Milk and Cataracts and Cataracts

The Pharyngitis Connection

Any time a patient of mine is found to have streptococcal pharyngitis or pyoderma, we can establish by history that he has ingested milk protein within five days...

Frank Oski, M.D.

Pediatrician

Fat Content of FoodsFat Content of Foods

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

% fat

Cream cheese

Beef,pork

Ice cream

Milk,whole

Cottaqge cheese

Grains

Legumes

Milk,skim

Fruits/veggies

Prostate & Breast CancerProstate & Breast Cancer

Nations with the highest dietary fat consumption also have the highest rates of prostate and breast cancer.

Advances in Cancer Research 1980

Cancer Research 1975

Hip FracturesHip FracturesWomen Per 100,000 Dairy/day Protein

American 102 462 gm. 106g

NZ 97 480 112

Israeli 70 315 105

Singapore 15 113 82

Bantu 5 10 47

Eskimos have highest hip fracture rate in USA, also highest calcium intake, 1,500-2,500 mg./day with 250-400 gm. protein.

The Protein ConnectionThe Protein Connection

Osteoporosis is caused Osteoporosis is caused by a number of things, by a number of things, one of the most one of the most important things being important things being too much dietary too much dietary protein!protein!

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1974Journal of Nutrition 1981

Science 1986

Causes of OsteoporosisCauses of Osteoporosis• High protein diet - over 50 gm. protein/day gives negative

calcium balance. American men and women both take more than 50.

• Tobacco use - 1% loss/year

• Coffee use (1 cup) - 1.4% loss/year

• Deficiency of zinc, fluoride, magnesium

• High phosphorus intake: Soft drinks Processed meats Milk Processed cheese Red meats Baking powder Yeast Instant soups

Protein burdens the kidneys causing heavy

calcium losses

Less than 50 grams protein produces

positive calcium balance

More than 50 grams or protein produces a

negative calcium balance

#1 A Protein-rich dietWomen average: 90-130 gramsMen average: 110-180 grams

Causes of Causes of OsteoporosisOsteoporosisHigh Phosphorous Intake

Soft drinks Processed meats MilkRed Meats Baking powder Brewer’s YeastInstant soups Processed cheese Detergents

Other Lifestyle FactorsBirth control pills Smoking AlcoholAluminum antacids Tetracycline AlumThyroid supplement Steroids High fat diet

High Intake ofSodium, Vitamin A, Vitamin D

Low Intake ofZinc, Fluoride

To Control Salt Intake...Avoid

• Canned vegetables• Bakery goods• Processed meats

Use no:• Dairy products• Salt in preparing food• Salt at the table

Result: A therapeutic low-salt diet (approximately 1 gram)

Mother’s milk350 mg/l

Cow’s milk1500 mg/l

Magnesium FunctionsMagnesium Functions• Constituent of bones and teeth

• Reduces muscular sensitivity - tremors

• Enzyme cofactor

• Prevention of disease– Osteoporosis

– Hypertension

– Cancer

– High blood cholesterol

– Heart and artery disease

Requirement: 300-500 mg. per day

• Nuts, seeds• Grains

oats corn barleywheat rice rye

• Legumes - peanuts, peas, beans• Carob• Fresh vegetables - beets, greens, squash,

green vegetables• Fruits

How much calcium How much calcium is really needed?is really needed?

According to Dr. Mark Hegsted of Harvard, we need

126 mg/day of calcium126 mg/day of calciumThe RDA is 1000 to 1500

mg/day!

1/2 cup peaches …………….…........... 38 mg

2 oz raisins ………………….…..…..... 36 mg

Cow’s milk, 1 cup ………...……......... 288 mg

Human milk, 1 cup ……….....…..….... 80 mg

1 cup cooked broccoli ….……..... 117-393 mg

Greens, 1 cup cooked ……......… 300-516 mg

Chick peas, 1 cup …….…..…............. 300 mg

Tofu, 1 cup ……………..……............ 290 mg

• Cow’s milk, 1cup.…………………288 mg.

• Greens, 1cup..………………...300-517 mg.

• Beans, 1cup……….....…….….250-325 mg.

• Figs, 3 large………………….……...78 mg.

• Apricots or peaches, 1/2 cup…....50-60 mg.

• Okra, 1cup.………………….……..290 mg.

• Sesame seed, 2 T.………………….258 mg.

• Blackstrap molasses, 2 T.……...….274 mg.

Calcium SourcesCalcium Sources

Low Absorption of Calcium Low Absorption of Calcium From MilkFrom Milk

• Only 25% of dairy calcium is absorbed by the body.

• Human milk with less than half the calcium is better absorbed.

• Kale, greens, or sesame seeds are better sources for the same reason

It’s the Law!It’s the Law!U.S Public Health Service regulation:

“Milk, after pasteuration, should

contain no more than 20,000

bacteria per millileter of milk

and no more than 10 coliform

bacteria per each milliliter.”