Should You Drink Milk?

Timothy B. McCall, M.D.

A recent study that linked milk with prostate cancer has renewed the controversy over what dairy industry advocates used to call the “perfect food.” The study of almost 21, 000 US physicians found that men who consumed more than two and a half servings of dairy products a day were about a third more likely to develop prostate cancer.

Milk does have a lot going for it. It’s a great source of calcium and studies show that most Americans don’t get enough of this bone-building nutrient. At greatest risk are teenagers—particularly teenage girls—whose low calcium intake is putting them at serious risk of osteoporosis in later life.

You can get as much calcium as you need from dark green vegetables, fortified orange juice and supplements but the problem is that most people don’t. And the soft drinks many kids now substitute for milk not only lack calcium, they actually leech this vital mineral from bones.

But milk is far from a perfect food. High levels of saturated fat contribute to obesity, heart disease and other maladies. Part of the solution here is to switch to skim or one percent milk and to cut down on or cut out butter, cream and cheese.

Another problem is the high degree of intolerance to lactose, the primary sugar in milk, particularly among some minorities. People who lack the enzyme necessary to digest lactose can develop abdominal cramping, bloating and diarrhea. These people often can tolerate yogurt and, according to recent studies, the occasional glass of milk, especially if it’s consumed with a meal. Another option is to buy milk that contains the enzymes necessarily to digest lactose (LactAid, etc.).

Some alternative physicians believe that milk increases mucus production and can exacerbate various problems including allergies, asthma and respiratory infections. Most conventional doctors dispute the idea but, if you’re willing to try it, I think it’s reasonable to simply go off dairy for several days and see if your symptoms improve. If they get worse when you reintroduce milk, that’s evidence that you may be better off without it.

Also of concern are some of the additives and contaminants that can make their way into dairy products. The US is the only country in the world that allows bovine growth hormone (BGH) to be injected into cows to increase milk production. Using this hormone may increase the levels in milk of insulin-like growth factor-1, a substance that has been linked to cancers of the breast and prostate. Using BGH also appears to increase the rate of mastitis among cows, meaning the antibiotics used to treat these teat infections could make it into the milk. If you can afford it, organic milk may be a safer option.

If you don’t mind the taste, soy milk is an excellent alternative. Look for calcium-fortified varieties. While the taste is getting better, I can’t say I’m a huge fan. One solution I’ve found is to mix soy milk with the one percent I usually buy.

Health concerns or no, I have to admit that I’m still not prepared to give up entirely on sharp cheddar cheese, milk in my tea or the occasional chunk of milk chocolate.

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