Milk Does NOT Do Your Body Good
By Dr. Maurice Hinson
I can recall as a kid seeing the ads of some of my favorite celebrities in their milk mustache and being told how good milk was for my body given its unparalleled source of Vitamin D and calcium. But the mere thought of drinking milk would be nauseating because actually drinking it would have me on the toilet with the upmost regret. I’ve been lactose intolerant for as long as I can recall, later learning that the cause was because I lacked the enzyme, lactase, which breaks down the lactose found in milk. It later became apparent that I was not alone. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, an estimated 38% of Americans are lactose intolerant, while 75% – 95% of people of African and Asian decent are lactose intolerant according to MedlinePlus (a service of the National Library of Medicine). So, how can milk “do your body good” if so, many people are intolerant to it? Make it make sense to me. But unfortunately, my journey into medicine and interest in scientific research has led me to some dark revelations about the impact of dairy on our health, which makes its consumption make even less sense. This article is meant to shed some light on these unspoken truths. And understand that my hope is not to demonize cow’s milk by any means because it’s phenomenal at what it was intended for – to support the growth of a baby calf into a 2,000lb adult cow. But rather to strongly suggest that perhaps for us humans, especially those of African and Asian descent, it may not be the best option for our Vitamin D and calcium.
First, lactose intolerance is not a benign phenomenon – or just a simple upset stomach. The abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation associated with lactose intolerance is an indication that something is going terribly wrong. It’s a potentially inflammatory process which results in poor digestive function. In fact, scientific research has demonstrated that calcium absorption is decreased when lactose intolerant people ingest lactose-containing products as referenced on the National Library of Medicine website. This suggests that all the good things that milk contains may not be absorbed properly in those who are lactose intolerant. Additionally, the consumption of dairy products leads to the formation of acidic compounds after digestion, even in those who are lactose tolerant. Excess acid in the body leads to severe dehydration and chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation leads to the development of chronic disease, like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disease, kidney disease, liver disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression/anxiety, and even CANCER.
In fact, according to several recent studies, dairy consumption can increase breast and prostate cancer risk by up to 55% and 62%, respectively. In addition to its acid forming potential, the presence of certain hormones found in milk, like prolactin and oxytocin, have been linked to increased cancer risk.
Maurice D. Hinson, MD is the Founder/CEO of MediRootz Medical Group, a telehealth based primary care practice committed to providing equitable access to high value primary care. Dr. Hinson received his BA in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University, his Medical Degree from Drexel University College of Medicine, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center.