by Charlotte Louise Nystrom

Created on: September 06, 2007   Last Updated: December 02, 2008

Milk can be beneficial especially to young children. It offers ample calcium and complete proteins. Milk contains a good amino acid balance and many b vitamins- not to mention several minerals. However, one must also consider the source. Milk cows are often mistreated and are forced to live in a very stressful environment. It is not a big leap to assume this affects the quality of the milk and the potential for negative aspects to be passed on to the consumer.

A human mother produces milk for her baby just in time for the newborn baby. Mother's breast milk has all the right nutrients to help her baby thrive. Similarly, a female cow produces milk purely for newborn baby calf. Human babies and calves alike get the best start at healthy development when they consume adequate amount of mother's milk full throughout the first year of life. Unfortunately, in the busy twenty-first century more and more mothers are forced to return to work too soon to continue breastfeeding, or are just plain too busy.

For whatever reason more infants are being weaned to cow's milk before their bodies are ready. Cow's milks is just not an adequate substitute for mother's milk. (The use of commercial formulas is an entirely separate issue which can be discussed with your baby's doctor.) As babies have been introduced to cow's milk earlier and earlier so has the occurrence of Type I Diabetes risen higher and higher. Not surprisingly research is now beginning to show a significant link between early cow's milk consumption and the risk of developing Type I diabetes. If a child's digestive and immune systems are not yet developed enough to handle cow's milk, the results can be devastating.

In recent years the consumption of dairy products has been linked with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Research has also shown that foods containing an excessive amount of calcium, such as fortified milk, can suppress the body's production of the ever essential vitamin D. When our bodies do not have access to enough Vitamin D we become vulnerable to not just prostate, but a variety of cancers and auto immune diseases. One Common misconception is that Milk is the ultimate source of Vitamin D. However many studies have suggested that milk's high calcium content can often prevent the body from using the vitamin D often added to dairy products. A better source of Vitamin D is natural sunlight.

Milk is also high in fat, it raises cholesterol, blood triglycerides, and ones risk of arteriolosclerosis.

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