Review of research on the dangers of milk and dairy products for the health of the body – 6 facts

Milk is a nutritious liquid that is secreted by mammary glands of mammals (including humans).

While almost all official health organizations consider dairy products to be healthy, some people are convinced otherwise.

There is an opinion that milk can harm the body, since it is unnatural for an adult to consume it, but it is necessary only for children in the early stages of development (in the first years of life).

Let's analyze the available official research and figure out where the truth is and what is a myth.

Is it natural for a person to drink animal milk?

Humans are the only representatives of mammals who consume milk in adulthood. Man is also the only creature that uses milk from other biological species.

Biologists assure that cow's milk (as well as the secret of the mammary glands of other mammals) is intended exclusively for feeding cubs (calves), adults no longer need it, since they receive all the necessary valuable nutrients from their usual food.

If you look at the problem from an evolutionary point of view, there is no need for humans to drink the milk of other animals. Other food products (meat and vegetable food) can ensure the full growth and development of the body, the formation of all organ systems.

However, people gradually, as they developed, began to consume milk on a regular basis. This trend was observed mainly among representatives of the Caucasian race. According to experts , similar eating behavior led to a rearrangement of genes , which made it possible to overcome lactose intolerance and digest milk (even if not completely).

As a result, certain large groups of people gained the ability to digest milk (without developing allergic and adverse reactions), that is, it became physiological for them. Archaeological finds indicate that for the first time people began to use dairy products in the 7th century BC (the population of the northwestern part of Anatolia).

For a long time (before the 21st century), it was believed that milk was an extremely useful and important product for human health, which contains a lot of essential substances.

But lately unconditional the benefits of milk and dairy products, as well as the absence of harm from them, were questioned. And first of all, this is due to such a concept as lactose intolerance.

The majority of the world's population is lactose intolerant

The main carbohydrate found in milk and dairy products is lactose. It is a disaccharide consisting of two simple sugars: galactose and glucose.

For the assimilation of this substance, a special enzyme is needed – lactase, which is produced in the human body only during the first few years of life. It is necessary for the assimilation of mother's breast milk and obtaining all the necessary vitamins and macronutrients.

According to scientists from the UK , with age, the majority of the world's population gradually inhibits the production of this enzyme and may stop altogether.

Lactose intolerance is to a certain extent characteristic of 75% of people around the globe and is expressed differently among different nationalities. The most unfavorable situation is observed in China and South Africa.

In Russia, lactose intolerance is detected in 11-25% of people (according to various sources).

In the absence of the enzyme lactase in the human intestine (it is synthesized by the duodenum), bacteria begin to independently ferment galactose, while a complex of gases is released – hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide, which lead to numerous digestive disorders. These fermentation products in combination with carbohydrates themselves increase osmotic pressure in the lumen of the digestive tube, provoking perspiration of water and electrolytes through the wall of the intestine and the development of massive diarrhea followed by dehydration.

Disruption of the well-coordinated work of the gastrointestinal system also disrupts the course of all processes of splitting nutrients (other carbohydrates, proteins and fats), reduces the intensity of absorption of vitamins and other biologically active substances. Against the background of pathological processes, exhaustion of the body develops.

Persons with lactose intolerance, expressed slightly, are allowed to consume certain dairy products that have undergone the fermentation process ( kefir , cottage cheese, yoghurts , cheese), since they contain lactose splits to lactic acid and carbon dioxide.

6 arguments "Against" the consumption of dairy products

The main disadvantages of milk consumption based on scientific evidence are discussed below.

1. Increases the risk of prostate cancer

According to Norwegian scientists , high consumption of dairy products increases the risk of prostate cancer (prostate).

The pathogenesis is based on an increase in insulin-like growth factor 1, which always increases in blood serum against the background of consumption of milk and dairy products. Chinese scientists have come to such disappointing results .

According to Italian scientists, insulin-like growth factor 1 enhances tumor development, significantly increases the survival of malignant cells in conditions of immune aggression. This active substance actively circulates in the blood (after milk consumption) and can cause or accelerate the growth of any malignant process. Therefore, although at the moment only an increase in the risk of developing prostate cancer has been proven, it is impossible to exclude an increased risk in relation to other organs.

However, it should be noted that milk intake can contribute to the prevention of colorectal cancer. We will talk about this below in the section on the positive sides of milk.

2. Perhaps it accelerates aging

Studies on mice demonstrate that the amino acids contained in milk increase the activity of a special signaling protein mTORC1, which activates the synthesis of protein components in cells (mainly in muscle tissue).

As a result, a large volume of proteins accumulates, and old protein fractions do not have time to be disposed of.

Against this background, there is a decrease in the duration of the existence of cellular units, the rate of apoptosis increases &8212; natural programmed cell death.

3. Worsens the condition of the skin

Research demonstrates that drinking large amounts of skimmed milk in adolescence increases the risk of acne formation.

The use of low-fat dairy products in the diet also provokes the development of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the skin and subcutaneous fat due to the suppression of local factors immunity and hormonal changes at the body level (milk contains a lot of estrogens).

There is a negative effect of milk on the course and prognosis of eczema.

Scientific papers also indicate that milk can increase the incidence of skin allergic pathologies.

4. Contains a lot of female sex hormones

Milk contains a lot of female sex hormones. About 90% of them are accounted for by estrone, according to experts from New Zealand .

Japanese studies have revealed that taking cow's milk increases the concentration of estrone and progesterone in the blood serum of men, while simultaneously suppressing the release of testosterone, which can be harmful to men's health.

It can also negatively affect sexual development during adolescence.

5. May cause allergic reactions

Many people (up to 3-5% of the population) have various allergic reactions to milk and dairy products.

Allergies most often develop in response to contact with the protein casein, less often lactose.

Allergopathologies can have any character:

• Anaphylactic shock;
• Angioedema (Quincke's edema);
• Isolated skin itching;
• Urticaria;
• Atopic dermatitis.

6. According to some reports, it can increase the frequency of bone fractures

Despite the fact that milk contains a lot of valuable macronutrients that contribute to increase bone strength and is generally considered useful for the musculoskeletal system, there are studies that have revealed negative dynamics.

Scientists from Sweden have identified that frequent milk consumption among women is associated with a higher fracture rate. Scientists associate the negative impact on bone tissue with the evolutionary inability of the human body to consume animal milk.

American scientists recommend limit milk consumption in middle and older age, and restore the deficiency of valuable vitamins and minerals through vegetables and fruits.

5 arguments "For"

Milk is considered one of the most useful products due to the presence of a large complex of valuable essential amino acids, vitamins, macro- and microelements.

The main benefits of eating are as follows:

1. Strengthening bones and teeth. Dairy products are rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, as well as essential "structural proteins". It is these substances that ensure the normalization of mineral metabolism and maintain bone density, which is especially important for elderly people. Proven that the deficiency of milk and dairy products leads to the early development of osteoporosis (decrease in bone density), which increases the risk of fractures several times. This disease occurs, according to scientific data , for every 3rd woman and every 12th man after the age of 50. Drinking 200-400 ml of milk per day can prevent the development of this condition. It is also important to note that according to Brazilian scientists , children in whose diet milk plays a minor role are more likely to suffer from dental caries.
2. Maintaining an adequate body weight. Milk, according to scientists , even due to the high fat content, does not lead to obesity, but, on the contrary, promotes weight loss. This trend is associated with a variety of mechanisms: the rapid development of a feeling of satiety due to changes in the hormonal background, activation of pancreatic enzymes, enveloping of the stomach and increased afferent impulses to the "satiety centers" of the brain. Also milk is rich linoleic acid, which prevents the creation of fat depots in the body and activates lipolysis processes. Therefore, the opinion that you can not eat dairy products during weight loss is a myth.
3. Prevention of colorectal cancer. Scientific research notes the effectiveness of milk in the prevention of colorectal cancer – malignant degeneration of cells of the colon and rectum. Consumption of dairy products can reduce the risk of developing pathology, according to research , by 10%. Antioxidant components, as well as calcium and vitamin D, play a leading role in inhibiting the proliferation of malignant cells.
4. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular mortality. Milk has a complex effect on all components of the metabolic syndrome: it reduces body weight (due to adipose tissue), normalizes the metabolism of cholesterol and its fractions, glucose, and insulin. Scientific papers show that milk consumption is inversely related to the frequency of development of pathologies of a cardiological profile.
5. Prevention of diabetes mellitus. The active components of milk are able to interfere with glucose-insulin metabolism: they increase the sensitivity of insulin receptors located on the cell membranes of muscle and adipose tissue.

The content of the most valuable substances in milk is presented in the table.

Top 4 Alternatives

Due to various reasons (lactose intolerance, ideological beliefs, etc.), some people refuse to consume animal milk. About the consequences of giving up milk read in a separate article.

The most optimal options for non-animal milk are considered below:

1. Soy. Soy milk contains a lot of valuable protein that can satisfy almost all the needs of the body (however, the amino acid composition is more meager). It is also an important source of potassium. At the same time, soy milk, like regular milk, is rich in estrogens, which reduce the level of testosterone in the body of men and induce the formation of secondary sexual characteristics.
2. Almond. is a finely ground almond mixed with distilled water. The product is subjected to several filtration stages in order to remove all solid suspended components. It contains about 2 times more protein than cow's or soy milk, has a pleasant taste and aroma. The drink is low in calories (about 17-21 calories per 100 g), does not contain saturated fats. The only drawback is the presence of emulsifiers (carrageenan), which are added to improve the texture and increase the shelf life.
3. Hemp. Is made by mixing seeds with water. It has an earthy-nutty color and a rich taste. It does not contain substances capable of affecting the psyche, and extremely rarely causes allergic reactions. Scientists note the high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in the drink.
4. Rice. Is made by mixing boiled rice, brown rice syrup and starch, as well as water. It is considered a safe food product that cannot cause sensitization of the immune system. The product is rich in proteins and vitamin D.

Conclusion

Thus, milk cannot be considered a completely safe and certainly useful product. There are hundreds of studies that have proven both the positive and negative effects of the product on the human body.

Dairy products are much more likely to harm people with lactose intolerance.

Experiments are currently being actively conducted and options for the full-fledged replacement of milk with other components of the diet are being developed.