[684] in Vegetarian_Support_Group
dairy
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (elsiedee@MIT.EDU)
Wed Oct 18 23:15:40 1995
From: elsiedee@MIT.EDU
To: vsg@MIT.EDU
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 23:13:37 EDT
What's Wrong with Dairy Products?
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o Contact information
Most Americans, including many vegetarians, still consume large
amounts of dairy products. Here are ten reasons why it is a good idea
to eliminate dairy products from one's menu.
One: Fat and Cholesterol
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dairy products contribute cholesterol and fat to one's diet. Cheese
and ice cream are loaded with fat and cholesterol.1 Studies comparing
the cardiovascular status of ovo-lacto-vegetarians and vegans have
proven that while both are healthier than meat-eaters, vegans have
better cardiovascular status than vegetarians who consume dairy
products.2,3 Skim dairy products are considerably lower in fat;
however, they retain the problems noted below.
Two: Iron Deficiency
++++++++++++++++++++
Iron deficiency is more likely on a dairy-rich diet. Cows' milk
products are very low in iron,1 thus, if they become a major part of
one's diet, iron deficiency is more likely. In addition, clinical
studies have shown that infants consuming cows' milk lose small
amounts of blood from their digestive tracts.
Three: Diabetes
+++++++++++++++
Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type I or childhood-onset) is linked to
dairy products. Epidemiological studies of various countries show a
strong correlation between the use of dairy products and the incidence
of insulin- dependent diabetes.4 This is only an association, but
researchers have long suspected that an autoimmune reaction is the
cause of this disease. Some speculate that dairy protein may spark the
reaction.
Four: Ovarian Cancer
++++++++++++++++++++
Ovarian cancer is linked to dairy products. The milk sugar lactose is
broken down in the body into another sugar, galactose. In turn,
galactose is broken down further by enzymes. According to a study by
Dr. Daniel Cramer and his colleagues at Harvard,5 when dairy product
consumption exceeds the enzymes' capacity to break down galactose,
there is a build-up of galactose in the blood, which may affect a
woman's ovaries. Some women have particularly low levels of these
enzymes, and when they consume dairy products on a regular basis,
their risk of ovarian cancer can be triple that of other women. The
problem is the milk sugar, not the milk fat, thus non-fat dairy
products cannot solve this problem. In fact, yoghurt and cottage
cheese seem to be of most concern because the bacteria used in their
manufacture increase the production of galactose from lactose.
Five: Cataracts
+++++++++++++++
Cataracts are also linked to dairy products.6 The galactose that is a
breakdown product of lactose also appears to damage the lens of the
eye, leading to cataracts. There are other factors which also
contribute to cataracts, such as ultraviolet light.
Six: Lactose Intolerance
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Many people, particularly Asians and Africans, are unable to digest
the milk sugar, lactose. Diarrhea and gas can result. On the other
hand, they may be the lucky ones. Many Caucasians can tolerate
lactose, only to be unable to rapidly breakdown the galactose which
circulates in their blood, possibly contributing to cataracts and
ovarian cancer, as noted above. Lactose intolerance may be nature's
early warning system.
Seven: Food Allergies
+++++++++++++++++++++
Milk is one of the most common food allergies. Respiratory problems,
canker sores, skin conditions, and other subtle and not-so-subtle
allergies can be caused by dairy products. The sad thing is that many
people never know that they have a dairy sensitivity; they think that
their problems are "normal." If they give themselves a break from
dairy products, they might get a very pleasant surprise. Asthmatics,
in particular, should give themselves a long vacation from dairy
products to see whether their condition improves.
Eight: Toxins
+++++++++++++
Like other products from animals, breast secretions contain frequent
contaminants, from pesticides to drugs. About a third of all milk
products are contaminated with antibiotic traces. The dairy industry
slogan "something for every body" takes on a different meaning doesn't
it?
Nine: Osteoporosis
++++++++++++++++++
Dairy products, despite common myths, do not stop osteoporosis.
Evidence shows that the rate of bone loss is largely unaffected by
dairy products.7 Numerous studies have shown that the countries with
the highest intake of dairy products also have the highest incidence
of osteoporosis, and that consuming large amounts of diary products
simply will not maintain bone density.
Ten: Colic
++++++++++
One out of every five babies suffers from colic. Pediatricians learned
long ago that cows' milk was often the reason. We now know that
breast- feeding mothers can have colicky babies if the mothers are
consuming cow's milk. The cows' antibodies can pass through the
mother's blood stream into her breast milk and to the baby.8
References:
+++++++++++
1. Pennington JAT, Church HN. Food values of portions commonly used.
New York: Harper and Row, 1985.
2. Sacks FM, Ornish D, Rosner B, et al. Plasma lipoprotein levels in
vegetarians: the effect of ingestion of fats from dairy products. JAMA
1985;254(10):1337-41.
3. Kestin M, Rouse IL, Correll RA, Nestel PJ. Cardiovascular disease
risk factors in free-living men: comparison of two prudent diets, one
based on lactoovovegetarianism and the other allowing lean meat. Am J
Clin Nutr 1989;50:280-87.
4. Scott FW. Cow milk and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: is
there a relationship? Am J Clin Nutr 1990;51:489-91.
5. Cramer DW, et al. Galactose consumption and metabolism in relation
to the risk of ovarian cancer. Lancet 1989;2:66-71.
6. Simoons FJ. A geographic approach to senile cataracts: possible
links with milk consumption, lactase activity, and galactose
metabolism. Digestive Disease and Sciences 1982;27:257-64.
7. Kolata G. How important is dietary calcium in preventing
osteoporosis? Science 1986;233:519-20.
8. Clyne PS, Kulczycki A. Human breast milk contains bovine IgG.
Relationship to infant colic? PEDIATRICS 1991;87(4):439-444.
For more information, contact:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
P.O. Box 6322
Washington, DC 20015
(202) 686-2210
Jonathan Esterhazy / Manitoba Animal Rights Coalition /
jester@mail.cc.umanitoba.ca
