Does Milk Make a Body Good?

For decades children have been taught that milk and dairy products, such as cheese and butter, are an essential part of a daily diet for good health. It has long been thought that the calcium in milk is necessary for strong teeth and bones and the protein is necessary for strong muscles.

A recent article in Discover magazine called “About Milk” (August 2000) argues against this conventional wisdom. Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a nutritional biochemist from Cornell University, argues that not only do the detriments of milk outweigh the benefits, but that the benefits may not actually be there.

Milk has long been thought of as an excellent source of calcium, which it is. However, other foods, such as collard greens, sardines, and kidney beans, have as much calcium as milk. Not only are these sources of calcium as good as milk, they are often more used by people. Typically, humans do not drink milk. Most people of Asia, Africa, Southern Europe, and Latin America do not have the enzymes necessary to digest milk once they reach adulthood. It is only due to a genetic mutation in the peoples of Northern Europe that allows them to digest milk. Humans are not only the only mammal that drinks milk when they reach adulthood, but are also the only mammal that drinks the milk of other mammals.

There is also some research that suggests that an increased amount of calcium may not make strong bones. Some research suggests that the more calcium in one’s diet, the more likely one is to suffer from broken bones. Also, there is some research that shows that humans lose the ability to take up calcium as they get older. Most of the calcium in the milk never makes it to the bones. So, it is possible that drinking milk will not help fight osteoporosis once one has passed a certain age.

Another consideration is the detriments to drinking milk. It has long been known that though milk is an excellent source of calcium and minerals, it is also an excellent source of fat and can lead to hardening of the arteries and heart disease. Also, other research suggests that other chemicals in milk may lead to some forms of cancer. Also milk is high proteins and sodium, which can leech calcium from bones.

Dr. Campbell suggests that one eat a strictly vegetarian diet. The calcium one gains from nondairy sources can be just as high without the fat and sodium that can lead to other health problems.