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So here is something to think about, if you have not done so already: humans are the only member of the animal kingdom that consumes milk as adults and the only one that consumes milk from another animal. The biological purpose of cow’s or goat’s milk is to feed a growing calf or kid, not a human. The babies of the hunter gatherers did not consume milk, this began when humans started farming the land and rearing animals.
Claims that milk is required for healthy bones because of its calcium content have little proof. In fact countries with lowest rates of dairy consumption have the lowest rates of osteoporosis. Broccoli and dark leafy greens are far healthier sources of calcium and they won’t add on the extra kilos as dairy does. Dairy is fattening. Cut dairy out of your diet and you lose weight. Unfortunately you can find dairy in many processed goods (which are already likely not to be good for you - they are processed!). Most commercial chocolate bars are made with milk, besides being loaded with sugar and a whole bunch of other ingredients your body does not like, and unfortunately vegan chocolate seems to be on the expensive side. Making your own chocolate treats from raw cacao is the best solution.
Another interesting fact is that around 75 percent of the world's population is genetically unable to digest dairy properly. That should be enough to tell us that we are not meant to have it.
Studies now show that dairy can actually feed cancer because it increases the body's level of insulin-like growth factor, a known cancer promoter. Dairy has been linked with prostate cancer in several studies. Other studies that have tried to connect dairy with other types of cancer have been inconclusive but research shows that vegans have a far less cancer rate.
Another point to consider is that dairy farms are not nice places. Cows go through hell just to satisfy human consumption. Moreover the dairy industry promotes veal. Young male calves are torn away from their mothers while they are still suckling and often kept in tiny pens where they can hardly move so they don’t build muscle. So hence the name tender milk fed veal!
You may argue that cheese tastes good and you cannot live without it. The reason is simple. Milk contains a hormone called casein which when consumed causes a release of casomorphins, a natural form of morphine, which attaches to receptors in the brain, and causes severe addictions to dairy products. This makes a person feel relaxed and happy but casomorphins cause such an addictive response that they can be compared to heroine in terms of their strength to cause food addictions and mood disorders.
The only dairy that actually has some benefits is yoghurt and Kefir because they contain naturally occurring probiotics that are needed to feed prebiotics, found in fibrous vegetables, for example. However olives,pickles, tempeh, miso and microalgaes like chlorella and spirulina are good probiotics also.
Resources and further reading
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/dairy-free-dairy-6-reason_b_558876.html
http://authoritynutrition.com/is-dairy-bad-or-good/
http://www.pcrm.org/health/cancer-resources/ask/ask-the-expert-dairy-products
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/casein-dairy-protein-and-your-health/
http://www.nutritionmd.org/nutrition_tips/nutrition_tips_understand_foods/dairy.html
http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthy-kitchen-11/dairy-truths
Claims that milk is required for healthy bones because of its calcium content have little proof. In fact countries with lowest rates of dairy consumption have the lowest rates of osteoporosis. Broccoli and dark leafy greens are far healthier sources of calcium and they won’t add on the extra kilos as dairy does. Dairy is fattening. Cut dairy out of your diet and you lose weight. Unfortunately you can find dairy in many processed goods (which are already likely not to be good for you - they are processed!). Most commercial chocolate bars are made with milk, besides being loaded with sugar and a whole bunch of other ingredients your body does not like, and unfortunately vegan chocolate seems to be on the expensive side. Making your own chocolate treats from raw cacao is the best solution.
Another interesting fact is that around 75 percent of the world's population is genetically unable to digest dairy properly. That should be enough to tell us that we are not meant to have it.
Studies now show that dairy can actually feed cancer because it increases the body's level of insulin-like growth factor, a known cancer promoter. Dairy has been linked with prostate cancer in several studies. Other studies that have tried to connect dairy with other types of cancer have been inconclusive but research shows that vegans have a far less cancer rate.
Another point to consider is that dairy farms are not nice places. Cows go through hell just to satisfy human consumption. Moreover the dairy industry promotes veal. Young male calves are torn away from their mothers while they are still suckling and often kept in tiny pens where they can hardly move so they don’t build muscle. So hence the name tender milk fed veal!
You may argue that cheese tastes good and you cannot live without it. The reason is simple. Milk contains a hormone called casein which when consumed causes a release of casomorphins, a natural form of morphine, which attaches to receptors in the brain, and causes severe addictions to dairy products. This makes a person feel relaxed and happy but casomorphins cause such an addictive response that they can be compared to heroine in terms of their strength to cause food addictions and mood disorders.
The only dairy that actually has some benefits is yoghurt and Kefir because they contain naturally occurring probiotics that are needed to feed prebiotics, found in fibrous vegetables, for example. However olives,pickles, tempeh, miso and microalgaes like chlorella and spirulina are good probiotics also.
Resources and further reading
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/dairy-free-dairy-6-reason_b_558876.html
http://authoritynutrition.com/is-dairy-bad-or-good/
http://www.pcrm.org/health/cancer-resources/ask/ask-the-expert-dairy-products
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/casein-dairy-protein-and-your-health/
http://www.nutritionmd.org/nutrition_tips/nutrition_tips_understand_foods/dairy.html
http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthy-kitchen-11/dairy-truths