I totally agree with Richard Hoad’s response to the disturbing article entitled Doctor: Beware Of Milk in the October 11 NATION.
As if our dairy industry isn’t having enough problems, we host a lecture by one Dr Ervin Davis who identifies cow’s milk and other dairy products as some of the foods causing cancer in adults. The lecture was sponsored by none other than our university and our Central Bank!
In spite of major problems with my LIME Internet, I managed to Google Dr Davis and could find no information on his experience – only that he is president of the Healthy Lifestyle Choices Global Institute. Personally, I would prefer to heed one of our own, Professor Henry Fraser, who has made nutrition studies one of his major subspecialty areas for 50 years and who has regularly supported drinking milk in his weekly columns.
For instance, he notes: “Milk is an essential staple in a healthy diet – indeed in some societies milk and yoghurt comprise most of the diet . . . . Greater consumption of milk and milk products is a must . . . . Milk contains not just protein and calcium, key nutrients, but many other vitamins, minerals and substances like linoleic acid that are linked to many health benefits . . . . But for the overweight and those with diabetes or lipid problems, two per cent milk is best. And for those with some lactose intolerance, lactose-free milk and yoghurt fill the bill . . . . Yoghurt is widely considered the healthiest of foods . . . . Pint for pint, plain yoghurt has more protein than milk, and many other health benefits.”
Professor Fraser continued: “There are people out there, both locally and on the Web, promoting urban myths of three kinds: (1) That milk is causing allergies in children. This may be true for 0.1 per cent of all children, but Pine Hill says their market survey indicates mothers are being so advised . . . presumably by quacks masquerading as health carers. Unfortunately, quackery is alive and well in Barbados, with no apparent way of controlling it. (2) That we’re all lactose intolerant, so shouldn’t drink milk. Black populations have a higher prevalence of lactose intolerance, but I’m lactose intolerant (partially) . . . but like most lactose intolerant people, I can get away with any amount of yoghurt and a moderate amount of milk and cheese. And finally, the latest urban myth, that the casein (protein) in milk might cause cancer! Well, the whey protein, great for muscle building, is the other protein in milk, and there’s a huge amount of evidence that it blocks cancer cell growth.”
I did my own research on the Net and found that studies investigating a link between cancer and dairy products have not given clear results. On the other hand, recent research shows that a higher intake of calcium found in dairy products can protect against bowel cancer. Doctors and nutritionists recommend a healthy, well-balanced diet. Milk, which is an important source of calcium, should be part of that diet which should also include fibre, vegetables and limited alcohol (www.cancerresearchuk.org).
But is it milk that’s the problem or how the cows are treated? Barbados has a record number of centenarians and I’m sure that most of them drank fresh milk from the cow in the backyard with no problems whatsoever. In fact, the evidence provided on the Web supports my contention that we should be hesitant about importing milk (particularly from the United States) and should build our own dairy industry where we know the milk is free of dangerous hormones.
Harvard Medical School has provided a comprehensive review of the evidence linking consumption of milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormones with an increased risk of breast, prostate and colon cancers. The International Journal Of Health Sciences states that high levels of IGF-1 contained in milk from cows injected with synthetic bovine growth hormone provide a potential for breast and gastrointestinal cancers.
This hormone is used in the United States to increase milk yield. The Food and Drug Administration apparently insisted that the product be labelled in such a way that consumers can make an informed decision. The hormone has been banned in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and Canada and the European Union don’t accept milk from cows treated with it.
So let’s continue to drink healthy, hormone-free milk from our Bajan cows and support the local dairy industry!
• Dr Frances Chandler is a former Independent senator.