I recently came across a commentary in the May 2009 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. You can read part of the argument here but I'll highlight the key points... taken directly from the article.1. Osteoporotic bone fracture rates are highest in countries that consume the most dairy.
2. Most studies of fracture risk provide little or no evidence that milk or dairy products benefit bone.
3. Accumulating evidence shows that consuming milk or dairy products may contribute to the risk of prostate and ovarian cancers, autoimmune diseases, and some childhood ailments.
4. Bones are better served by... focusing efforts on increasing fruit and vegetable intakes, limiting animal protein, exercising regularly, getting adequate sunshine or supplemental vitamin D, and getting approximately 500 mg Ca/d from plant sources.
The article was specifically talking about dairy use while on a vegetarian diet. The counterpoint authors conclude, "Therefore, dairy products should not be recommended in a healthy vegetarian diet."
So if milk doesn't strengthen bones as we've all been lead to believe, then why do we consume so much of it?
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