WHY RESEARCHERS ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT DAIRY PRODUCTS . . .
Provide yourself and your family with a diet rich in leafy green vegetables, the very best source of calcium.

By Jeff Novick, M.S., R.D.

Dairy products have a long history in the United States, as well as a long and successful history as survival food in cold, in hospitable climates. But are they safe and beneficial to consume? According to researchers, the answer is no. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Cow's milk protein (found in all dairy products) is the leading cause of food allergies in adults and children.

2. Milk is the leading cause of iron-deficiency anemia in children. Milk is deficient in iron. Milk also can bind with the iron that is found in other foods and prevent its absorption.

3. There is some evidence that immune system reactions to dairy proteins may cause and/or aggravate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in some people. Some studies have shown that eliminating dairy products can help reduce symptoms in people with RA.

4. The protein in dairy products may damage arteries through an immune cross-reaction. High levels of antibodies to milk proteins have been found in severely atherisclerotic subjects. Even low-fat or fat-free dairy products may be culprits.

5. Dairy products have no dietary fiber. Diets low in fiber contribute to constipation and other related diseases (varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and hiatus hernia).

6. There is some evidence that cow's milk proteins may trigger Type I diabetes through a cross-reaction to the protein. Worldwide, the incidence of Type I diabetes is related to the amount of dairy products consumed.

7. Milk is touted as "Nature's perfect food" However most African Americans (70%), Asian Americans (95%), Native Americans(74%), and Hispanic Americans (53%) are lactose intolerant.

8. Dairy milk cows often are injected with bGH (bovine growth hormone). This can cause elevated levels of a substance called IGF-1. While bGH has not been found in milk, IGF-1 has been. High levels of IGF-1 may be related to an increased risk for certain cancers.

9. Dairy products contribute more saturated fat to the American diet than any other food group. Even low-fat dairy products ate rich in saturated fat. That is because most of the fat in dairy products is saturated. Saturated fat is the food component that has the strongest link to both heart attacks and cancer-diseases that kill more than half of all Americans.