The first time I was introduced to the idea that milk is not meant for humans was in a landmark book.

Diet for a New America was a trailblazer in introducing ideas of vegetarianism to a wider population of people. While it didn't cause me to go vegan, it did make me think.

It made a simple argument. Milk is what mammalian animals create in order to nurture their young. Cow's milk was not intended to become an industry. Cow's milk was never intended for humans. Cow's milk is for baby cows. It has just what they need to grow up big and strong.

Much like the milk that comes from human mothers, it flows as long as it is being used. So, once the baby no longer needs the milk, the milk 'dries up' and the breasts or teats stop producing and go back to just being there.

Not only is cow's milk not intended for humans and is not very good for us, but the process of creating it is cruel. Any nursing mother could tell you that if someone were to artificially keep their breasts producing milk for the rest of their lives, it would be a nightmare. But that's how it's done in the dairy industry. They must milk the cows every single day in order to keep the milk flowing. Cows, like other mammals, don't produce milk unless they have recently given birth. Their supply will last as long as it is needed. The need is indicated by use. If baby cow is still feeding from the teat, or if a farmer is milking it, it will keep producing. It's not naturally supposed to create milk forever. That happens because of the farmer's practices of milking every day.

The practice might not be much better or worse than other farming that produces meat, and the point of this article is more to help you than the cows, but I did want to mention it, because the cruelty aspect, along with the negative environmental impact large factory farms have are all reasons that we could pull back on milk production

The only mammalian milk that you are supposed to consume came from your mother. The idea that milk is a healthy drink has been created by the U.S. government in their support for dairy farmers. They pay celebrities to don the milk mustache and convince us that drinking milk leads to strong bones and healthy bodies.

It doesn't. It's not good for us, but the myth they've created has become so pervasive that it's harder to find someone who knows that milk is bad for us than to find someone that thinks it is a really healthy food.

Eaten in moderation, or even a little less than that, and milks, creams, cheeses, dairy in general can be ok.

As CSU nutrition scientist Laura Bellows says, "There is no bad food only bad amounts."

The amount of dairy we consume should be low.

Here's the simple lesson: milk from mammals is intended only for that mammal's baby. The way that we feel about milk, and the fact that it is considered a 'health food' by most is a perfect demonstration of how sideways our food beliefs and practices are in America.

It's the reason why we need to read beyond the headlines, between the lines, and stop looking to the government for nutrition advice. They've failed us, but we can't blame them. As we know, only we are responsible for our health.

Unfortunately, at this point, a healthy dose of skepticism will be required to figure out what is actually good for us and what is just good marketing.

So, let us add to our healthy curriculum.

As Dr. Mark Hyman (I love an M.D. that thinks out of the box!) says in the video above:

  • Cut down on sugar from 185 pounds per year (the amount the average American consumes) to less than 1 pound per year
  • Avoid dairy
  • Avoid flour products (except as a treat)
  • Stick to whole food carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans nuts, and seeds

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