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Milky Away!
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Want to wean yourself off dairy? Get a nutritionist!
“The myth that osteoporosis is caused by calcium deficiency was created to sell dairy products and calcium supplements. American women are among the biggest consumers of calcium in the world, and they still have one of the highest levels of osteoporosis in the world. And eating even more dairy products and calcium supplements is not going to change that fact.
- Dr. John McDougall, author of The McDougall Program
This week, The Weekly Beet reports on the damaging effects of milk on the human body. Mary Kent gets serious and moooo-ves cow's milk away, sharing a few healthier alternatives.
 The dairy industry's infamous two words, Got Milk?, accompanied by their endorsing celebrities sporting milk moustaches was certainly a sneaky way to increase the devotion of America's milk drinkers a few years ago. And, what about Milk It Does The Body Good? Yep, that's some seriously healthy wording for ya! With billions of dollars in sales and millions spent on marketing, it's a given that such a powerful industry could have such an unhealthy monopoly on calcium. For years we were convinced that milk was the best absorbable source of calcium for children's growth, mommy's perfect posture, and the elderly's breaking bones. With osteoporosis affecting 44 million women in the US alone, it's clear that milk is not helping America's women stand tall! American dairy farmers produce 163 billion pounds of milk per year and the average American consumes over 600 pounds of dairy a year, including about 420 pounds of milk and cream, 70 pounds of milk-based fats and oils, 30 pounds of cheese, and 17 pounds of ice cream. With a dairy overdose like this, it's no wonder we're all breaking bones and bent over, not to mention overweight, coughing, sniffing, and sneezing. The answer is simple: dairy products are not the best source of calcium and actually do more harm to the body than good!
 The following is a list of the health complications that stem from being a milk-aholic:
- Asthma
- Heart disease
- Ovarian and breast cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Obesity
- Ear infections in children
- Increase in mucous production
- Diabetes
- Kidney Stones
Antibiotics, hormones, chemicals, and pesticides are among the many hidden ingredients that make up a glass of non-organic milk. We also researched and found that non-organic milk contains about 59 hormones, the cholesterol of 17 slices of bacon per cup, traces of up to 53 antibiotics, 200 times the safe levels of dioxins and other yucky things we just can't bear to discuss. Also, milk contains lactose (sugar), casein, and whey, which add nothing more than fat and calories to the body. Yes, The Beet says it's time to go
NOT Milk!
Can't seem to live without the milky stuff? Here are The Beet's alternatives to cow's milk that everyone should know about:
 - Raw Milk or at least drink Organic Milk. Click here for a great article on Raw Milk vs. Pasteurized Milk.
- Goat Milk
- Almond Milk
- Rice Milk. Our favorite brand is Rice Dream or Pacific.
- Quinoa Milk
- Soy Milk (not our favorite choice, but a healthier
option).
- Hazelnut Milk
- Oat Milk
- Multigrain Milk
It's also important to know there are many foods that contain more calcium than dairy products. Here are The Beet's top 5 picks of foods high in calcium:
- Sesame Seeds
- Tahini
- Flax
- Almonds
- Parsley
Click here and scroll down to see an excellent listing of foods high in calcium. You will notice that cow's milk is #41 on the list, whereas sesame seeds are #1.
Moooo-ve over milk! There are alot of healthier choices out there. Don't miss a Beet. Stay tuned for next week.
Love,
Mary Kent
PS. Mary Kent is wearing cashmere top by Hvana, while drinking Rice Dream.
PPS. Check out Jeanne Fitzmaurice Founder of Design-her Gals, LLC and The Gal to Gal Foundation on Ladies Who Launch.
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