Cow's milk... Is it healthy? (Erykah Foss)

9/30/2019

Humans have been drinking milk for thousands of years. According to healthline, “[Milk] provides 18 out of 22 essential nutrients. It contains more calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and protein per calorie than any other food in a typical diet.” Milk improves bone and teeth development due to its richness in calcium. The potassium in milk “can enhance vasodilation and reduce blood pressure.

Other researchers, however, find that cow’s milk cause problems in humans, like acne, an increase in allergies, development of arthritis, certain cancers, male reproductive parts, and a risk of early puberty in girls. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) claims that, "Dairy products--including cheese, ice cream, milk, butter, and yogurt--contribute significant amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat to the diet," which is linked to prostate and breast cancers.

Should we continue to drink milk? Do its benefits outweigh its costs? How much milk do you drink each day? Is it good for you? Is it possible to drink too much milk?

https://www.healthline.com/health/is-milk-bad-for-you#benefits
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190218-when-did-humans-start-drinking-cows-milk

37 Comments

Aiden

10/4/2019 09:20:29 am

I believe milk causes different reactions for different people. I’ve never had a problem with milk and I believe it’s very beneficial for my bone and overall health. I consume a lot of milk and dairy products a day with no repercussions while my friend Riley can’t drink even a little milk or his stomach aches all day. I don’t think the research in this subject can be too accurate because everyone’s body reacts differently to the substance.

I think people should try an experiment on themselves. They should cut dairy out of there diet just for a week or so to see if there are any differences in their health. People should do this with every food that is in question with them. I believe people deserve their best quality of life and this can be partly achieved with our diets.

Andy Gebhardt

10/6/2019 01:14:15 pm

I appreciate your opinion that everyone should find out for themselves whether it is harmful or beneficial. A lot of times I think we go with what others tell us but all of our bodies handle substances differently.

Faith

10/6/2019 02:35:29 pm

I also think that people should attempt to find out if milk is something they like or don't like. I cut out dairy out of my diet for a while and it improved my skins clarity, and didn't make me feel so bloated after drinking something with milk in it.

Alyssa Farnworth

10/6/2019 03:19:51 pm

I liked what you said about everyone understanding their own body and how it works. This is the case on most subjects. If everyone’s body is different like you stated, do you think it is possible that more research results could be inaccurate?

Brax Kauffman

10/6/2019 04:52:03 pm

I think I that having people try it out for a week and seeing the effects would be a great option. Do you think they could do that along with some more standard medical testing to be completely sure on how it effects their systems?

Kately

10/13/2019 07:38:53 pm

I agree, everyone's body has different needs, especially with food allergy. Sometimes allergies are developed out of nowhere, and some reactions might be more severe than others. The only way to really learn what your body can and cannot handle is to learn the hard way.

Brax Kauffman

10/6/2019 10:23:17 am

I think milk can be looked at the same way as every other substance humans consume. For some people, they can have a large amount of it and feel no negative side affects at all while others may feel sick when only drinking a little. Whether or not research shows one way or the i other, i believe that it is up for the person to be able to tell how much milk they can’t drink if any at all.
Personally I drink a good amount of milk throughout the day. I will usually have a glass with at least two of my meals and so far have seen no negatives aspects to drinking it. I think like most other substances, there is always a possibility that you can drink to much of it which could cause a variety of problems depending on the person. At its current state, milk’s benefits out way the down sides to most people and should still be seen as a part of a beneficial diet. If people think otherwise, that’s fair and they can simply choose to not drink it.

Andy Gebhardt

10/6/2019 01:16:42 pm

You mentioned milk at it’s “current state”. The variety of milk out there is impressive and while it is not dairy you can go as far as almond milk and soy milk. Do you think other options could be better? If not, what percentage milk would be the best?

Ezra

10/6/2019 06:00:52 pm

I feel that most negative side effects of milk will happen when we become older. It is true that we aren't really negatively effected now, but when we drink it for more of our life it will probably make a greater impact on our health.

Paige

10/6/2019 07:19:30 pm

I'm glad you mentioned drinking too much can cause problems and that it is a choice to drink milk or not. I feel those are very valid points in this discussion and can easily be overlooked.

Andy Gebhardt

10/6/2019 01:13:02 pm

The positive effect milk has on the human body is clear and supported by science. It helps with bone structure, strength, energy, and so much more. Mammals, including humans, all drink milk as babies and develop well because of it.
However, there are some negative effects of milk and dairy that were mentioned in the original post. These include acne, allergic reactions, and risks of cancer because of the chemicals in milk. Unfortunately, the milk itself is not always bad but when it is processed there are substances that go into it that can make it harmful.
Personally, I am not sure about drinking milk. I do like drinking it and for athletes chocolate milk is actually better for rebuilding the body than regular milk. However, my body does not always handle it well. I have noticed issues during running seasons before when I drink milk. Because of that I tend to stay away from a lot of milk and may only consume a few times a week. For others though, it is a healthy option and can be beneficial to the body.

Tori Weir

10/6/2019 01:47:01 pm

There is always pros and cons when it comes to consuming food or drinks in the human body. Milk is one of the drinks that if a person wants it they can and it is up to them to decide whether it is good for them or not. It is really odd how milk has an affect on everyone and some have it worse than others.

Ezra

10/6/2019 01:24:42 pm

I am lactose intolerant, but I don't let it hold me back personally I love milk and think that it is very beneficial to humans. Milk has many vitamins and minerals, and it is easy when we get all of that from one thing instead of many different foods. Humans are lazy so when we can get a lot of nutrients from one thing we choose it over eating a lot. I think that it is good for us even though there are is a lot of fats in milk. For me, I have a very fast metabolism and can burn off many of the minerals and fat in milk. I eat a bowl of cereal almost everyday so I consume about a glass of milk everyday. I know that we can drink to much milk in a certain time frame, but I do not know about a glass everyday for a year would do. I think it would be healthy to keep bones strong and give energy for our day.

Tori Weir

10/6/2019 01:41:48 pm

It is interesting how some people can drink milk and others cannot. There is certainly different levels of how dairy can affect someone's health and how that person can deal with it. Why do you think humans are lazy that we choose the most nutrients item over eating it alot?

Faith

10/6/2019 02:32:12 pm

I am also lactose intolerant but still drink milk. Milk does have many benefits, but also has some downsides like causing acne. Although I still drink milk on occasion, I tend to avoid drinking it because it makes me break out.

Brax Kauffman

10/6/2019 04:55:27 pm

I think it’s interesting while you are lactose intolerant you can still get away with drinking milk. Do you know if there are different ways that being lactose intolerant affect people and if so to what degree are they? Also would you say that the benefits to out out way the negatives by a sizable margine?

Brax

10/6/2019 04:56:15 pm

Margin

Aiden

10/6/2019 05:11:23 pm

Lactose intolerant must be a very broad term as I previously didn’t know a single lactose intolerant person who could drink a glass of milk a day without feel terrible for the rest of the day. How does it affect you? Do you have to drink a lot of milk for side affects to kick in or do you experience milder symptoms.

Tori Weir

10/6/2019 01:35:55 pm

Cow's milk is not designed for human consumption and it contains on average about “three times the amount of protein than human milk does”. Studies show that it creates metabolic disturbances in humans that can cause bone health consequences. It can also cause an increase in cardiovascular mortality by drinking more than three cups of milk each day. While on the other hand, milk and dairy products were associated with reduced risk of childhood obesity and with adults it improves body composition and facilitates weight loss during energy restriction. Milk also contains choline that helps support sleep, muscle movement, learning, and memory.
What I found while researching this topic is that it will have something else to contradict it. Studies that show it benefits also have researches that can go against what it said. It all comes down to the person’s opinion and how it affects their body. Some people can not drink milk due to health reasons while others can without a problem.
Personally, I cannot drink milk because I am lactose and milk or any other dairy products affect me a lot. So instead of having cow’s milk some of the other alternatives are drinking coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk. There are other options out there in place of dairy that people who can not or do not consume it.

https://milk.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000656

Alyssa Farnworth

10/6/2019 03:15:49 pm

I liked what you said about research showing different results in every case study. Many believe that there are no risks in drinking milk, personally I did not know any of the possible risks I had only ever heard of the positives.

Ezra

10/6/2019 06:05:21 pm

I like your use of research. I agree with all your data, and I know that humans are one of the only animals that drink milk after maturing. This means all the minerals and nutrients are meant to support babies who do not get them through any other means. Together with milk and the amount of nutrients we get through other things it is to much for our bodies to handle.

Paige

10/6/2019 07:24:54 pm

I am glad that you chose to add both sides of the topic and talked about the negative effects of milk. I did not realize there were so many negative outcomes in consuming cow's milk. Are you more aware of the effects of cow's milk because you cannot drink and consume dairy products?

Faith

10/6/2019 02:51:15 pm

Milk really does have a lot of health benefits. Depending on the person, milk could be very beneficial to their health. If someone is low on certain vitamins (calcium, zinc, magnesium, etc), why not just drink a glass of milk? The only thing stopping someone from drinking milk is being lactose intolerant. An estimated 65% of adults globally, are lactose intolerant. That being said, many people choose not to drink milk for the sake of their own health.
I am included in that 65% estimation of how many people are lactose intolerant, but I think it is a little different for everyone. Drinking just a normal glass of milk makes me feel bloated and sick, whereas yogurt does not bother me. I don't know why this is. But, because I prefer not to drink plain milk, I usually go for an alternative type of milk. For example, when I go and order coffee, I always get almond or coconut milk to avoid feeling sick.

Aiden

10/6/2019 05:30:14 pm

I think it’s crazy that nearly, if not right on 65% of people suffer from at least some kind of intolerance. I guess I’m one of the lucky few who isn’t.

Madicyn

10/6/2019 05:50:30 pm

I also was not aware of how many people were lactose intolerant. Even in our small class, we have multiple people who can’t/shouldn’t/don’t drink milk due to how it reacts in their bodies. I am also a lucky one who doesn’t have to watch my dairy intake.

Madicyn

10/6/2019 05:47:40 pm

Working at the coffee shop, I see lots of people try our alternative types of milk such as soy, almond, or coconut. It is important for my coworkers and I to follow close instruction on our orders because we don’t know why exactly the customer ordered their drink that way. Some people use alternatives for the taste, they prefer one type over the other. Others use our different options, just to try new things. And other use them because if they drink regular milk they can become extremely sick.

Sabrina

10/6/2019 05:52:03 pm

It’s interesting that you mention all of the substitutes for milk. Milk is such a big part of our culture that even if we can’t have it, we find a way to have it. If we wanted to completely get rid of milk, could we?

Kately

10/13/2019 07:49:59 pm

Dairy is consumed worldwide, and it's usually been used to make things more savory and rich. It does have several health benefits, but not necessarily required. I did not realize that the number of intolerance was as high as 65%. Humans are smart enough to engineer alternatives, and seems there was a big enough demand for it.

Alyssa Farnworth

10/6/2019 03:07:11 pm

Milk has its pros and cons as does everything else. Drinking milk is an individual decision. Each person needs to know their own body to tell how it affects them. For some milk is not a viable option, such as for those who have lactose intolerance. For most however, the benefits of milk are in great quantities. Milk has a lot of nutritional value, it provides many vitamins and minerals and can strengthen bones.
Personally, I don’t drink a lot of milk, not because I have noticed any negative side effects it’s just not something I drink on a daily basis. I feel the benefits of milk outweigh the costs for most, as for some there are no costs, for those who do have lactose intolerance their are now other viable options if they so choose to enjoy something that includes milk such as soy, almond, and coconut milk.

Erykah

10/13/2019 08:35:57 pm

I don't drink milk often either. I think children would benefit more from the calcium in milk than adults because they are growing and need to strengthen their bones. Even so, I didn't drink milk much as a child, and I am healthy now, so I think humans would live fine without cow's milk.

Paige

10/6/2019 04:34:27 pm

In researching the pros and cons of cow milk it is seen that there are a variety of benefits that come as a result of drinking milk. There are many vitamins and nutrients in milk that are beneficial to the bones and muscles of the body. One glass of milk contains 30% of needed daily calcium for adults.
Although there are a variety of benefits in the consumption of milk, there are also many harmful effects that are caused from milk. These include increased acne, eczema, allergies, and cancers. Although these are significant effects of consuming milk, many of them have outlying factors that tend to be overlooked. Acne and eczema are both skin conditions, although milk may be a common cause to these conditions, there are a myriad of factors that influence the skin. Allergies are found in nearly every known substance, and cancer is a result of growth hormones given to cows, not directly related to their milk.
Overall I feel society is surprisingly good at finding what is wrong with everything and everyone, including milk. Milk can be harmful if it is consumed outside of moderation, however, this is the case with all foods humans intake. I thoroughly enjoy milk and believe there are many advantages associated with its consumption.

https://www.healthline.com/health/is-milk-bad-for-you#milk-alternatives

Sabrina

10/6/2019 05:58:32 pm

It’s interesting that we look for the bad in everything as a society. Is this for survival perhaps? A way to make sure we know everything about what we’re consuming? Or is it for the sake of publishing something and convincing people of the bad of it?

Madicyn

10/6/2019 05:42:49 pm

Milk is a substance that adults and children a like should continue to drink. Although there can be multiple health problems related to drinking milk, there are health problems linked to every single type of food or drink we put into our systems, some worse than others, that we will never stop drinking. I do think in some cases If milk is hurting your body personally, or if you’re lactose intolerant and such, you should make the choice to stop digesting it. Overall, milk has good effects for us as well, and we might as well keep drinking it.
As a child, my sisters and I would drink glass after glass if milk. We drank it constantly, now as I’ve gotten older I don’t drink it as much, but every once in awhile the craving will show up.

Josephine

10/6/2019 09:25:07 pm

I find it odd that we take the milk from another mammal and drink it. Yes, calcium is extremely important in bone support but there are other ways to get a sufficient amount of calcium for humans to function. When I was younger I was very sensitive to certain types of foods. Due to this my mom cut milk from my diet. I was still able to get enough calcium through dairy free milk alternatives, such as soy milk, almond milk, and rice milk. I do drink cow's milk now but as I stated before cow's milk is not a nessesity in a person's diet.

Erykah

10/13/2019 08:29:33 pm

I don't think cow's milk is a necessary part of human consumption. There are many people who prefer nut or soy milk over dairy. Do you think bakers should switch to milk alternatives?

Kately

10/8/2019 08:04:59 am

I suppose we don’t really need to drink milk, but I don’t see any harm in it if you drink in moderation. Some people suspect that milk is really not good for you, but the idea that it is advertised so much for the dairy industry.

Kately (continued)

10/9/2019 01:38:49 pm

I believe drinking milk might have helped me grow as a child, and continues to keep my bones strong, but there are certainly different ways to get the calcium you need without added sugar in milk. People will have different tastes and needs that might exclude milk.

As a substitute for calcium, people eat fish, legumes, and other dairy-free things.

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