There is a lot of conflicting information circulating about dairy products. While some tout its calcium rich health benefits, others claim it is the cause of a long list of health problems. What are some of the arguments for and against dairy, and who’s right in this debate?
One of the most basic arguments against eating dairy is the fact that humans are the only species that drinks the milk of a different animal species. Some feel that drinking milk is unnatural somehow unfair to cows. After all isn’t it robbing them of the natural interaction that they should have feeding their young? To drink milk at all, past infancy, is also a strange practice compared to the habits of other species. We continue to drink milk throughout our lives, while other animals stop that practice very early on.
There are a lot of things that dairy legitimately has going for it. It is a good source of high-quality protein. Most Americans get plenty of protein through eating meat, but there are quite a few vegetarians who rely on dairy products as an excellent source of protein as well. Relying heavily on meat as a primary source of protein is also an expensive habit. Dairy is a far more inexpensive option for protein.
Dairy products are rich in calcium. Most Americans are dangerously deficient in calcium, so promoting dairy consumption has been a priority to help the general public develop strong and healthy bones. You can get calcium from leafy vegetables and broccoli, but most people don’t eat nearly enough of these types of foods to significantly increase their calcium intake.
Dairy products are also a major source of Vitamin D. This is a fortification established by the government to ensure the public is getting enough of this essential vitamin.
There are drawbacks to dairy. It can be high in fat and calories. Exceptions include lowfat cottage cheese and skim milk, but most of the foods that people love like cheese, butter, and ice cream, can add huge amounts of unnecessary calories to your diet.
Higher fat dairy products contain high saturated fat. This can increase your risk of heart disease. Dairy products can also have high levels of pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones. Lactose is also present in dairy, a type of sugar that many people have trouble digesting. Many babies and small children can be allergic to milk.
If you want to lay off dairy, there are plenty of other ways to get protein and Vitamin D, so dairy isn’t an absolute necessity to your diet. If you feel the cons outweigh the pros, then you can actually avoid dairy completely and make sure you’re getting enough calcium and Vitamin D with a daily multivitamin. And as for protein, there are lots and lots of sources for that.
If you like dairy, there are benefits to being selective about the type of dairy that you include in your diet. Choose lowfat or skim milk and lowfat cottage cheese, for instance. There are also excellent supplements such as whey protein (made from dairy) that offer a high level of healthy protein each day with very low calories.
Whether you love it or want to avoid it, the fact remains, dairy can be a great addition to your diet. But remember, it isn’t absolutely necessary, as many would have you believe.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://articlepile.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites