This is one of the big topics most non-vegans just don’t get….why you should avoid dairy – and I’m talking about forever! What’s wrong with a plate of cookies and a big glass of ice-cold milk? Give up cheese? Are you crazy? My grandparents had a cow and they lives to be 95… yada yada blah blah.
Here’s the thing. First of all the dairy we have today is nothing like what we had 50 years ago. Thank the factory farms. Milk cows today spend their entire lives on a feed lot, standing knee-deep in their own poo, and stay constantly pregnant until they’re too old to birth anymore – and then they become your McDonald’s hamburger for lunch. They’re pumped full of hormones and antibiotics to keep them somewhat alive, and fed a feed concoction that could include chicken poop to other dead cows – and anything in between. It’s just a tad bit different today than grandpa milking old Bessie out in the barn. A lot different – and usually in a bad way.
But What About Our Calcium?
We need our calcium to grow strong bones!
You’ve been reading too many billboards. Think about it – calcium is a natural mineral found in the ground. Like all minerals it is absorbed into the roots of plants and is then incorporated into the stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. How do you think Cows get their calcium? How many grown cows have you seen nursing on another cow? They get their calcium by eating plants! And so can we. We (for whatever reason) decided to bypass this step and eat the cow instead.
What Plants Are High in Calcium?
To name just a few…
- Dark Leafy Greens like Kale & Spinach
- Sunflower Seeds and Sesame Seeds
- Almonds
- White Beans
- Veggies like Celery and Broccoli
- Oatmeal
- Oranges
- Blackstrap Mollasses (try our Oriental Brown Sauce)
See? Lots of plants have calcium. Just like lots of plants contain protein. This is probably one of the hardest things for non-vegans to get. We can actually get everything we need from plants!
Still not convinced?
5 More Reasons You Should Avoid Dairy – Forever!
1. Most People Are Lactose Intolerant Anyway.
About 75 percent of the world’s population is genetically unable to properly digest milk and other dairy products. And if they eat it anyway, all kinds of problems can crop up. Problems like bloating, gas, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, throwing up, and diarrhea. Ask my daughter - it’s not fun!
2. Milk Doesn’t Reduce Fractures
Contrary to popular belief, eating dairy products has never been shown to reduce fracture risk. In fact, according to the Nurses’ Health Study dairy may increase risk of fractures by 50 percent!
3. Dairy Increases Your Risk For Cancer
Research shows that higher intakes of both calcium and dairy products may increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer by 30 to 50 percent. Plus, dairy consumption increases the body’s level of insulin-like growth factor-1 — a known cancer promoter.
In the movie Forks Over Knives, Dr. T. Colin Campbell explains how he could turn on and turn off cancer cells, like a switch. What was the switch? Milk protein.
4. We’re Not Cows!
Every animal on the planet drinks milk when they are born, and naturally weans themselves off after a set amount of time. Except humans. We do stop drinking breast milk – I guess that would be too weird. So we drink cow’s milk instead. We are the only species on the planet that drinks another animal’s milk. Isn’t that kind of strange? Yeah??
Cow’s milk is made to turn a 65-pound newborn calf into a 400-pound cow in one year. We’re not cows! Human breast milk is different!
5. Got Osteoporosis?
Countries with the lowest rates of dairy and calcium consumption (like those in Africa and Asia) have the lowest rates of osteoporosis.
And the highest? World health statistics show that osteoporosis is most common in exactly those countries where dairy products are consumed in the largest quantities – the United States, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Gee – what a coincidence.
Not Convinced?
I guess that at this point if you’re still not convinced – then try this little experiment at home.
Try giving up all dairy for just 2 weeks. Yes – I mean avoiding all milk, cheese, yogurt, AND ice cream. After 2 weeks see if you feel better. You should notice improvements right away with your sinuses, headaches, bowel habits, energy, and weight.
Feeling better?
Ok now start eating dairy again and see how you feel. If you start feeling crappy again…..then you’ll know.
Milk is for baby cows – not humans.