I was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1999 and I am convinced that dairy played a significant role in degrading my physical health to a point where my body could not fight the cancer that was growing within me. In fact, based on strongly scientific evidence, the dairy I consumed prior likely had a significant role in promoting the growth of cancer.
From a nutritional stand point, there are no nutrients found in dairy that are necessary for a health lifestyle that are not found in abundance in raw, fresh, organic produce. Our culture is programmed to enjoy certain foods that are dairy based or tied to a dairy consuming lifestyle however. Things like nachos, ice cream and smoothies nearly always contain dairy. Here are some suggestions for ways that we enjoy these sort of foods without the harmful affects of dairy.
There is no place for dairy in a healthy diet. If you believe otherwise then I would like to be the first to present a wealth of information, studies and real science that debunks any and all claims that dairy has in regards to the main claim to fame - bone health. Sure, the dairy industry claims that dairy is packed with nutrients because dairy is "fortified." By definition, that is true. Dairy, like many other packaged food is packed with a various additional compounds that could have an affect on the health of a consumer. Do these additives create a more healthy end result or not? The answer is that the end result does not provide improved health. The companies that manufacture products containing dairy products are not interested in your health. These companies are interested in recurring review from a client base that leads to massive profits year after year. When a packaged food company fortifies their products, it generally means they take a variety of dead minerals (in rough terms these are minerals in a rock form).
Dairy is the most harmful substance that we allow into our bodies and it is pervasive and relentless in our food supply. Start reading labels and ask yourself why dairy makes its way into so many different products. Dairy causes congestion and weight gain and is linked to many disease including cancer, heart disease and multiple sclerosis. Other than packaged food (whites & sugar), dairy is the number one contributor to obesity.
1) We make raw, fresh almond milk at home regularly. Almond milk can be vary satisfying and is easily made without any harmful substances: https://youtu.be/rV28BFO6yXk
2) Many forms of ice cream are now made without dairy. We enjoy a brand available in Seattle called Full Tilt Ice Cream but I am sure there are many others with a similar mission.
3) Although I do not particularly enjoy it, my kids have enjoyed sprinkling some non-dairy cheese on various things.
4) Smoothies can easily be made with a bit of almond milk, frozen banana and other fruits and spices for flavoring.
Doctors and medical professionals agree:
In one European study, vegans had a 30% higher risk of fracture compared to meat eaters, but they also had a significantly lower calcium intake than all the other groups. When researchers only considered vegans who ate at least 525mg of calcium a day, they found that vegans had no increased risk of fracture. In other words, the increased risk of fracture disappeared when consuming at least 525mg a day. Dr. Thomas Campbell or the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutritional Studies
“Consumption of dairy products, particularly at age 20 years, was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in old age. (“Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in the Elderly”. American Journal of Epidemiology. Vol. 139, No. 5, 1994).
“The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are the ones where people drink the most milk and have the most calcium in their diets. The connection between calcium consumption and bone health is actually very weak, and the connection between dairy consumption and bone health is almost nonexistent.” Amy Lanou Ph.D., nutrition director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C.
If you choose to consume dairy, minimize your intake to small amounts - dairy products are not essential for good health and carries potential health risks. Dr. Joel Fuhrman
Based on the research and my experience practicing medicine, I typically advise most of my patients to avoid dairy products completely. I like ice cream just as much as the next person, but as a scientist I have to look honestly at what we know. Mark Hyman, MD
Founder of Hot Feet Fitness