Got BS?
Before I talk about some of the pitfalls of dairy, first I have to give kudos to Matt for going as far as he did in his detox. It takes an awful lot of will power; we?re all human and have soft spots for certain foods. For me if I?m going to waiver in my diet (and believe me it does happen) it usually has to do with something chocolaty and made with some dairy in it.
We are all familiar with the dairy ads ‘Got Milk?’, milk mustache campaigns. Cow?s milk is the best and only way to get your calcium, right? In actuality, the FDA has found no evidence that cow?s milk reduces the risk of osteoporosis in men or women. And what the ads don’t tell us are the unwanted side effects such as an increased risk of prostate and ovarian cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Along with that, in this country, pasteurized cow’s milk is the number one food allergen. It is known to cause diarrhea, cramps, bloating, gas, gastrointestinal bleeding, iron-deficiency anemia, skin rashes, atherosclerosis, and acne. Sounds fun, right?
So, what will happen to your bones and teeth if you stop drinking milk? The majority of the world’s population takes in less than half the calcium we in the US are told we need and yet they have strong bones and healthy teeth. It is possible to obtain all your calcium from dark green vegetables. Or, you can always supplement with a vitamin. There is an inexpensive source called Calcium Citrate, which contains other minerals needed for healthy bones. Also soy and rice milk that are fortified are good sources. Try going without for a week or two, and see how you feel. For me I noticed that I wasn?t as congested, or had to clear my throat as much, and later on I noticed I stopped getting my frequent sinus infections.
Hopefully some of you were inspired by Matt?s detox to try some or all of it yourselves. If anyone is interested in more information on the health benefits of going ?veg?, much of my information was obtained from the book: The Food Revolution by John Robbins, and this website: http://www.mercola.com/article/milk/no_milk.htm.
~Julie~