Dairy Myths: They Do a Body Bad!
Don't let these dairy myths keep you from enjoying some of the best things in life.
It shouldn't be surprising that dairy myths are common, since a) a good portion of the human diet is dairy related; and b) all common foods are plagued by myths about their nutritional value and health effects. In this case, though, the myths can keep you from enjoying everything from ice cream to (gasp!) chocolate.
That being the case, we thought we'd bust a few of these spurious rumors about our friend milk, and go about clearing its good name with the bright light of fact.
Myth 1: Dairy products cause kidney stones.
This is one of the more persistent dairy myths, and it makes sense on the face of it: after all, milk contains calcium, and kidney stones are caused by the buildup of something called calcium oxalate. But as with many commonsensical conclusions, this one's wrong.
Recent studies prove that excess calcium intake doesn't spur kidney stone growth, and in fact, calcium-rich diets can help reduce the risk of kidney stones. The calcium keeps oxalates (a substance found in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains) from being absorbed by the body; instead, it's safely excreted in the urine.
Myth 2: Drinking milk causes juvenile diabetes/early puberty.
Both concerns are dairy myths, easily deflated by the scientific evidence. So while it's been proposed that bovine proteins in cow's milk may spur an immune reaction that kills insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, thus causing juvenile diabetes, there's no real evidence for a causal link.
Similarly, while children do seem to go through puberty earlier than ever these days, there's no evidence that the proteins or hormones (artificial or natural) that may be in milk are the cause. High-fat diets are more likely to be the culprit, and in any case better nutrition does tend to result in earlier onset of puberty.
Myth 3: Skim milk is just watered-down regular milk.
Anyone who's ever looked at skim milk can understand the rationale behind this dairy myth, but the truth is that skim milk really is skimmed -- it's just had the fat removed. All the natural calcium, phosphorous, potassium, and other nutrients are still there, and often Vitamin D and A are added for good measure.
Myth 4: People who are lactose intolerant can't have milk, ice cream, cheese, or any other dairy product.
Hold your horses, now -- this is like saying diabetics can't have sweets. The answer for both is the same: moderation. Even if you have trouble digesting lactose (milk sugar), which may cause gastric upset and bloating in some folks, a small amount won't hurt you.
The fact is, even the lactose intolerant can ingest up to two cups of milk a day, if you spread it out over the day. In fact, cheese, yogurt and ice cream are generally better tolerated than milk. So as long as you know your limits, you don't have to let this dairy myth ruin your day.
