Milk & Milk Products: Good or Bad For Your Health?
There is ongoing debate about whether the consumption of milk and milk products provides health benefits or alternatively are detrimental to health.
One consideration is important when reviewing publications related to this topic: author/researcher bias.
As an example, I have included an article in this newsletter authored by T. Colin Campbell, PhD.
Some of you may recognize Campbell as the author of “The China Study” which concluded that research conducted in China showed that vegetarian diets were superior to the inclusion of animal protein in the diet.
Independent review of Campbell’s research showed convincingly that the data in the study was selective to prove his hypothesis and in addition Campbell is known to be a big supporter of vegetarian and vegan diets.
Here is an example of some of the rebuttals to Campbell’s study
A1 vs. A2 Protein:
This article also highlights the suggestion that the protein derived from different species of cattle can have different health effects – either good or bad. This is referred to the difference between A1 and A2 protein:
- A1 beta-casein comes from the most common cow breed that originated in Australia, United States, and Northern Europe. Holstein, Friesian, Ayrshire, and British Shorthorn features A1 beta-casein genetic material. A1 beta-casein can be found on all commercially-prepared milk.
- A2 beta-casein is protein found in milk produced by ‘old-fashioned’ cows like the Jersey, Charolais, Guernsey, and Limousin. Milk produced by other mammals such as those from human, goat, and sheep is similar to A2 dairy milk mainly due to the presence of proline (6 ,7).
Milk
produced by A1 cows supposedly produces opiate-like effects resulting in the
development of mild to serious medical conditions (2).
What is BCM7?
BCM7 (Beta-casomorphin-7), an opioid
peptide opioid peptide in A1 beta-casein
is produced as a result of the breaking off of histidine in the number 67 amino
acid chain during digestion(9, 10).
BCM7 is the reason why regular cow’s milk is considered to be a less healthy
option than milk containing A2 beta-casein.
The absorption of BCM7 into the bloodstream leads to the high incidence of
autism, schizophrenia, and other neurological disorders(11, 12, 13, 14).
Also milk contains various hormones which may be detrimental to consume:
IGF-1 has been associated in some studies with increased height as well as cancer. …
First, cow’s milk contains steroid hormones such as estradiol and testosterone, and peptide hormones such as IGF-1.
Second, drinking milk has been shown to boost serum levels of certain hormones, particularly IGF-1, in humans.
It is also well known that many individuals (approximately 25% of the population in North America) are lactose intolerant and many individuals are reactive to milk.
I have also included an abstract which suggests that milk and milk products are beneficial for human health:
“The totality of available scientific evidence supports that intake of milk and dairy products contribute to meet nutrient recommendations, and may protect against the most prevalent chronic diseases, whereas very few adverse effects have been reported”.
My personal opinion is that cow’s milk is best suited to baby cows, however this is certainly not a black and white consideration.