Milk Myths
There are plenty of ‘milk myths’ doing the rounds. Most of these are not scientifically proven, but let’s have a look at some of the most popular ones:
- ‘Milk contains too much protein, which leaches calcium out of the bones’ - the warning that high protein intake can leach calcium out of bone is expressly directed at high meat protein intakes, not protein derived from milk and dairy products. If you drink two cups of skimmed milk a day, you won’t be burdening your body with excess protein. Just make sure that you are not eating large quantities of meat three times a day.
- ‘Milk is responsible for too many allergies, and should be avoided’ - some individuals do suffer from milk allergies (they either react to one of the proteins in milk or to the milk sugar, lactose, which can cause lactose intolerance). If you have been tested by a pathology laboratory and have been scientifically diagnosed with milk allergy or lactose intolerance, then you do need to avoid milk. Try using soymilk substitutes, such as SoFresh which is also supplemented with calcium. If on the other hand, you have not been diagnosed by means of medical tests, and are cutting out milk and dairy products just because you think you may be allergic, you should have the tests done because you may be depriving yourself of a valuable source of readily available, inexpensive calcium and vitamin D.
- ‘Milk is only for babies and adults don’t need it!’
This type of illogical reasoning could also apply to all other
foods that human beings have been eating for thousands and thousands
of years. In fact, if we take this reasoning to its extreme, then
adults should not survive on anything but mother’s milk - which is
of course an impossibility. The human race has had ample time to
adjust to drinking cow’s milk and we have relied on this source of
calcium for millennia. So, even if your blood group indicates that
you are a ‘primitive’ member of modern humanity, remember that
the theory of the Blood Group Diets is not scientifically proven
(why every member of the human race with a specific blood group
should be allergic to milk, or wheat, or food X, and that by cutting
out this food you will lose weight, remains a mystery and smacks of
another diet myth). Most adults can use milk with safety to boost
their calcium and vitamin D intakes, unless they have a proven milk
allergy.
By having just two cups of skimmed milk a day you can protect your bones and teeth from deteriorating as you grow older. Simple, but effective. – (Dr Ingrid van Heerden, DietDoc)
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