You’ve seen the commercials, they’ve been around for years. From “Milk, does a body good”, to “Got Milk?” to the scrawny little kid who drinks milk and grows to be a beef cake. We’ve been taught that milk is essential to healthy living by building strong bones and muscle. These were iconic commercials that got people running to store and buying up milk products left and right. Not just milk, but all dairy products. So is milk really the miracle drink that promotes health and cures all? If you’re a calf or an infant drinking mother’s milk, then yes, otherwise, not so much. Once again, big corporations have trained us to believe their product is not only tasty, but good for your health just so they can make a big profit! So let’s open some eyes.

First and foremost, approximately 75% of the population cannot digest milk properly, aka lactose intolerance! From slight nausea to farting up a storm, everyone has a different level of tolerance. Our bodies just weren’t built to consume cow’s milk, or goats milk, or cats milk…can you milk a cat?

But your bones are weak and you need calcium? Milk is full of calcium right? So drink up! Well, you’re right in the fact that milk has calcium, but you’re wrong on all other accounts. I’m going to slap you with some surprising facts here; not only does consuming calcium have little to nothing to do with building bones, but milk actually CAUSES calcium loss in the body! Milk has an acidifying effect in the body and the best neutralizer of this effect is calcium. And where is most calcium located at in the body? In the bones! It’s worth it to note that studies have shown that countries that consume the most milk have the highest numbers of osteoporosis!

So are you doomed to osteoporosis now that milk has been debunked as being “good for bones”? Of course not. Bone health has more to do with physical activity and proper nutrition. Vitamin D3 and Magnesium supplements have much more to do with bone health than calcium. Do note that too much magnesium can have a laxative effect, so start off with low doses!

I know, I know, you LOVE ice cream or milk oriented protein shakes and just can’t give it up, am I right? Well, let me help you out the best I can. There are a couple ways to see if you’re one of the 25% that are not lactose intolerant, and if not, there are other options. The best way in my opinion is actually beyond the scope of this article, but I can give you a basic way of finding out. Remove ALL dairy products from your diet for one month but change no other aspects of your diet. After that month, slowly bring dairy back into your diet for a week or two. Maybe a glass of milk in the morning and a small bowl of ice cream in the evening. Then note any changes you may see. Nausea? Headaches? Flatulence? Mood? This will tell you what the side effect is of dairy on your body and you can make an educated decision on whether or not to continue eating dairy on occasion. As for a replacement, try almond milk or occasional soy milk. Do note that even almond milk and especially soy milk are, themselves, under investigation as to whether or not they are healthy to consume or not. Sorry, that’s nutrition for you! Science just doesn’t know everything yet, but it’s gaining knowledge exponentially year to year.

There you have it, milk is bad for you. Who knew? However, like I’ve mentioned in previous articles, life is about moderation. If you absolutely love your milk products, then have some. The body is amazingly resilient; just don’t rely on it as a daily consumption of nutrients or your body has no chance of being resilient.