Dairy: The Truth About It

Medically Reviewed
October 8, 2014
At Nava Health & Vitality Center, we strongly believe that there are foods on the market that weaken or can be harmful to the human body, especially dairy. To restore acid/alkaline balance, give you more energy, restore vitality and help you to lose weight, we ask that you consider limiting or eliminating three major food groups.
These foods are dairy, sugar and wheat.  
Today I will discuss dairy.
If you were to believe the commercials it would be easy to assume that milk could cure all the ills of the world, “Milk does a body good!”  We are led to believe that dairy is a great source of calcium and other nutrients. We are told it is a pure food and a wholesome part of our diet. Dairy is even part of the food pyramid.
The advertisements have led us to believe that dairy is the key element to a healthy diet.  
The fact is that the human body has a difficult time with dairy and for many people drinking milk is actually quite unhealthy.
If you look at nature, it will give you a few clues as to why milk is harmful to humans. We are the only species that drinks the milk of another species. If we were meant to be drinking milk, it would stand to reason that we would go with a species closer to our own, the monkey or ape for example.
Mention monkey milk and most people look at you like you are crazy, but how exactly is cow’s milk a better option?

The dairy on our shelves is for baby cows. 

It is designed to make a little 100-pound animal into an 1800-pound adult cow. The sugars and protein proportions are off for humans. Mother Nature has the nutrient ratios in milk to help the cow, and when you drink that milk, you are drinking something that is not suited for a human.

Consider the glycemic load…  
Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine said that; “Sugar, in the form of lactose contributes about 55% of skim milk’s calories, giving it ounce for ounce, the same calorie load as soda.”
Here is additional cause for concern; the sugar and proteins (lactose and casein) in cow’s milk are very difficult for us to breakdown, leading to many disruptions in human health. There are tons of health complications that arise from casein and lactose intolerance that do not manifest as only “tummy trouble.” Your skin, hair and even immunity can be affected.
Still not convinced?

Consider this; we are the only species that drinks milk past the point of weaning. You will never see an 18-year-old ape drink the milk of its mother or another female ape.

The bodies of nursing children produce enzymes that break down the sugar in milk. As the human body ages, we lose much of that capacity. This is why we may see dairy allergies manifest as children get older.

Adults cannot digest dairy easily.
No matter what pastoral setting is on the front of the carton, these cows are not in pleasant surroundings. Nature didn’t intend cows to make the amount of milk they are now producing. Some cows are treated with synthetic hormones such as recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to make sure their milk keeps flowing, which can lead to mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary glands in the cows.

Along with these hormones, antibiotics (for infected udders), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are also given to the cows.

All of these things pass through the cows system into their milk. Many of the above mentioned have not only been linked to cancer but also linked to issues with the immune, central nervous and reproductive systems.

This explains why for many, getting off of dairy relieves symptoms including; bloated belly, PMS, congested throat, swollen sinuses, lethargy, depression, cravings, gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea, and flatulence.
The bottom line here is to try to eliminate dairy from your diet, particularly milk and milk based products.
Regardless of how you do it, we recommend you at least try it. 
Start by taking a few baby steps. Go off of dairy for a few weeks and see how you feel. Keep a diary to track your digestive health, how you feel, changes in your skin and even the intensity of allergy symptoms.
You may be shocked at the results. 

I will return next week with part two of my dairy discussion. If you have questions, please give us a call.

[UPDATE: Click here to read part two.]

Have you eliminated dairy? If yes, please share your personal results below in the comments section.