Milk Intolerance – What’s The Answer

Neither adults or children need cows milk according to a recent report in the London Metro.

Dr Christian Jessen, a well known TV doctor wrote about the proposed cut in school milk. Ever since the 2nd world war, free cows milk has been provided to primary school children in the UK, to supplement their diet.

It is a hang-over from the austerity days following the war, when food was in short supply. The proposal to remove that service was met by public outrage and has now been reversed, so young children will still receive their daily school milk.

The question Dr Jessen poses, “Is it still necessary?”

In the UK and US there is a juvenile obesity problem boosted by an over abundance of high calorie foods being readily available, so why do kids need free milk?

He goes on to ask why humans of any age drink cows milk, which is meant to be a calf’s breast milk until they are weaned, so why are we drinking it?

Here are some facts to consider:

• A well documented report in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that drinking cow’s milk caused chronic constipation in some toddlers, which cleared up when they were switched to soy milk. Those affected children were also more likely to suffer constant runny noses, bronchospasm and skin inflammation.

• Men who consume upwards of 4 ounces of red meat a day and dairy products have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer, especially the spreading metastatic prostate cancer.

• Many adults in the world are unable to fully digest the galactose (sugar) in milk and although it contains calcium (required for bone strength), only 30% is usable by the human body.

However, milk proteins also contain phosphorus and sulfur compounds that acidify the blood which is corrected by leeching calcium from bones. This may render any benefit from drinking milk self defeating. Also research now links too high a level of calcium with prostate cancer in men and ovarian cancer in women. In the fight against osteoporosis, more emphasis is being placed on exercise for maintaining bone strength.

Where does all this leave you and your family?

Well, I consume about half a pint of semi-skimmed milk daily, with my breakfast cereal (rolled oats) and 2 cups of coffee. I also drink green tea, or South African Redbush tea without milk.

If you have milk intolerance, you could try soy milk or simply do without milk altogether. Many people never consume milk or any dairy products.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Why give milk to children? (bbc.co.uk)
• Why milk matters for children | Helen Crawley (guardian.co.uk)
• Experts sort out milk debate (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Coalition climbs down on scrapping free milk (channel4.com)
• Lactose intolerance doesn’t have to mean a dairy-free diet (theglobeandmail.com)

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