Humans have been consuming dairy for thousands of years, but it was not until the 1900s that it was pasteurized and then distributed nationwide. Dairy is a great source of protein, Vitamin D, and Calcium. Over the last 120 years, the government and farmers cut costs to make more profit by industrializing their dairy farms. Because of this dairy products have been shown to cause and increase in estrogen in men, testosterone in women, depression, anxiety, small bacteria over growth (SIBO), skin rashes, obesity, and much more. In this article, I will talking about dairy products and their effects on the human body.
What is Dairy?
Dairy products consist of milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, and cottage cheese. Dairy contains good amounts of calcium, vitamin D, and some probiotics if it is fermented. These nutrients are essential for proper serotonin production, bone density, and a healthy microbiome. Adults up to the age of 50 need 1000 mg of calcium per day. Women older than 50 and men older than 70 need up to 1200 mg. Your average glass of milk contains 250 mg to 350 mg of calcium depending on the quality and brand of milk. In recent years, the dairy industry has taken a hit due to some companies adding harsh chemicals to their products. This has led to people having digestive issues and resourcing to non-dairy products that do not contain near enough amounts of calcium or other important nutrients. With osteoporosis on the rise, making sure we get enough calcium in our diet is crucial for the longevity of our bones.
How is Dairy bad for you?
Since the early 1950s, the dairy industry has been injecting cattle and other farm animals with testosterone, antibiotics, and other harmful chemicals to keep up with the demand of dairy. These harmful substances can cause a number of issues with our digestive system and our hormones. Some of the issues it can cause are:
1. Higher amounts of estrogen in men
2. Lactose intolerance
3. Higher amounts of testosterone in women
4. Skin conditions
5. Bloating, constipation & gas
Dairy is also one of the top sources of saturated fat and this can cause arterial blockage. Dairy also contains higher amounts of cholesterol and sugar. This contributes to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. In 2021, a study found that dairy products could cause seasonal allergies through raising your histamine levels in your body. This is caused from a disruption in the body’s microbiota (gut bacteria).
Can Dairy be good for you?
“Quality sources” of dairy are good for maintaining bone density, calcium levels, and reduce risk of fractures. What is a quality source of dairy? Cows that are grass-fed and humanely pasture raised. We have to be careful about where we buy our produce. Shopping places like the farmers market or asking your local dairy farmers how they treat their livestock is a great way to finding quality sources of dairy. Most local farmers feed their livestock grass and quality foods to ensure they are getting the most out of their animals. Some questions you can ask are as follows:
“What do you feed your animals?”
“Do you inject your animals with any testosterone, other hormones, or antibiotics?”
“How much time do they spend outside?”
Knowing how these animals are treated and what they are being fed will give you peace of mind knowing that you are investing in a quality source.
There are many sources!
In 2020, the United States produced 223 billion pounds of dairy. Since then it has leveled off due to the exposure of animal cruelty and different lower calorie dairy alternatives. Dairy alternatives such as almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and oat milk. These dairy alternatives can be just as unhealthy as regular dairy. With all of the preservatives, sugar, and artificial ingredients, they put in them to replicate the taste. Where can you get the best dairy products without all of the harmful ingredients? Some of the best sources are as follows:
1. Organic Raw grass-fed milk (from a farmers market)
2. Organic goats milk (from a farmers market)
3. Organic kefir (read ingredient labels)
4. Goat cheese (read ingredient label)
5. Grass-fed cheese (read ingredient label)
When reading the ingredients of these products make sure that it is a short and understandable ingredient label. It just takes a little time and effort to find the right ingredient profile. Dairy has some of the most important nutrients our body needs to maintain bone density and calcium production. Making the effort to visit your local dairy farmers, farmers market, and reading labels will save you time and energy. Look at the ingredient profile example to know what to look for.
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