Did you know that it is not necessary to consume dairy products in order to get enough calcium? Calcium is widely disbursed throughout our food supply. It is found in tiny amounts in almost every food. There are significant amounts in almonds, barley, dark greens, dates, filbers, kale, molasses, mustard greens, oysters, peanuts, salmon, sardines, soy, spinach, sunflower seeds, turnip greens and more... 

Cows don't drink milk once it is not needed, and yet they have plenty of dietary calcium to put into their body. They get it from the greens they eat. So, doesn’t it make sense that humans can as well? There are many cultures which do not consume dairy products at all, yet they have an extremely low incidence of osteoporosis.

Besides drinking natural milk during the infancy years, what are the reasons why we should limit or avoid drinking milk? Well, there are many reasons, but let’s touch on only a few right now:

1. Milk from another animal was designed for that animal in particular. For example, cow’s milk was designed for the cow’s four stomachs and its tendency to gain thousands of pounds over a short period of time. In the early years, it makes sense that cow’s milk was not designed for human intake and is the leading cause of food allergies in infants and children. This is caused by the human body’s inability to digest lactose.
2. Dairy cows are given a growth hormone called rBGH which stimulates the release of IGF-1 into the milk of the cows. Through pasteurization, this process actually increases further and is not destroyed by human ingestion. Instead, it crosses into the bloodstream where it affects other natural hormones of the body. Research has shown that this IGF-1 causes normal breast cells to turn into cancer cells. Some countries have already banned the use of these added growth hormones. Cow’s milk also contains estrogen. Ingesting unnecessary estrogen has been linked to the increase of breast and ovarian cancer in women as well.
3. Misleading marketing campaigns advertise that drinking milk builds strong bones. The truth of the matter is that when we ingest animal proteins like milk protein, it causes the pH of the body to become very acidic. Because calcium is an excellent neutralizer, the body’s response to acidity is to pull it from the calcium stores such as our bones. This in fact is weakening our bones, rather than strengthening them.
4. Cow’s milk is a significant source of saturated fat when added to a diet, especially higher fat variations of milk. Research has shown that excessive saturated fats cause inflammation in the body that then cause a whole slew of issues. We will discuss saturated fats, inflammation, and how it affects the body in another blog. A controlled study of more than 12,000 children showed that the more milk they drink, the more weight they gained. Interestingly enough, skim milk and 1% milk actually appear to lead to more weight gain than drinking 2% or whole milk. 

The good news is that there are many alternatives. One alternative is almond milk (specifically homemade without additives), which has the same amount of calcium as cow’s milk, without all of the saturated fats and other adverse effects. The iHEALTHe’s APEX 31 Plan will show you exactly how to include proven health strategies and common sense to live the rest of your life powerfully in greater health. Take a look at the iHEALTHe’s APEX 31 Plan today.

Now you know…