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Anyone who pays moderate attention to the news knows there are certain risk factors, like family history, that skyrockets our risk of getting breast cancer and our ability to control it. We also hear about certain “controllable” risk factors; simple changes in our daily lives that could lower our risk of breast cancer or our risk of recurrence. What if one of those changes entailed giving up all dairy products? Did you know that according to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, over 70% of the world’s population is unable to digest the milk sugar, lactose, after infancy? http://bit.ly/beqodR What if Mother Nature is trying to tell us dairy is not a food we should eat? Milk’s great for baby cows, but what if it’s not good for man? <PREVIEWEND>
There’s a lot of information about the suspected link between milk and breast cancer. The science behind this link ranges from hideous stories of puss-filled cow udders, nutritionally perfect for only one purpose—feeding calves—to studies that say milk is the great savior of brittle bones, weak hearts and cancer cells gone wild. Notice I said the “science behind,” because whenever we read about a “study” or a “suspected link,” we need to see who conducted the study, as well as who paid for it.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a recent study done by nutritionist, Connie Weaver, head of food and nutrition at Purdue University, says “anything less than three glasses of milk a day, and you won’t get all of the nutrients you need.” http://bit.ly/b0lii0 While most of her funding comes from the National Institutes of Health, she is also supported by the National Dairy Council. On the other side of the science surrounding milk, PETA and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says “cow’s milk is a nutritional nightmare that doesn’t belong in the human diet.” “Gross” and “bizarre” are words they use to describe the human practice of tugging at the udders of slow-moving livestock in order to benefit from the bodily fluids they secrete. Even Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health says of milk, “the benefits are unclear, and there may be some risk.”
Breast milk, whether it comes from humans or other mammals, contains all of the natural growth factors, hormones, infections, antibiotics, additional drugs, chemicals and pesticides in which mammals come in contact. Some studies say milk causes the body to produce mucus, and cancer feeds on mucus, and therefore, by eliminating dairy products, we starve cancer cells. However, according to breastcancer.org, “a dairy-free diet is not a miracle cure.”
As long as we’re talking about studies, there’s been a lot of hoo-ha about T. Colin Campbell, PhD’s book, The China Study, a massive study of the relationship between diet and disease in over 100 Chinese villages. http://bit.ly/btvUqe The Chinese don’t eat dairy, and their breast cancer rates are very low. Breast cancer is considered the “rich woman’s disease” because only rich women, who can afford to eat a western diet high in red meat and dairy, get breast cancer, but is that really a link between dairy and breast cancer? If you look further into the China Study, only three out of the 65 counties studied consumed any noteworthy amount of dairy. In addition, they weren’t eating the hormone and antibiotic-laden cows we find in most Western cows. This could mean drawing any conclusions from the China Study is a narrow and tricky path to walk.
Since the science is still out on the link between dairy and breast cancer, you must decide this issue for yourself. My oncologist says “everything in moderation, including moderation,” so an occasional dish of ice cream or a great cheese won’t kill you. Personally, I gave up dairy and use almond milk as a milk alternative. Yes, I know, I recently wrote that nobody really knows whether almonds are a good or a bad phytoestrogen food. http://bit.ly/bky79s Trying to map out the “whys” behind the “dos” and “don’ts” surrounding breast cancer is like trying to find your way out of a Harry Potter maze. What do you have in your “Goblet of Fire?” Got dairy?
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Diana commented on 14-Jul-2010 11:53 PM I have never liked milk and the time when I did try to drink it, it made me sick... BUT! I eat cheese and it doesn't affect me. Go figure, huh. Very interesting studies about milk and breast cancer, for sure. Thanks, Brenda! Hope you're doing well! =)
JBBC commented on 15-Jul-2010 07:51 AM Excellent post Brenda and I share in your confusion at all the information (often conflicting)we are bombarded with - carcinogens lurking in the food we eat, radiation coming up from the ground beneath us, or pathogens hanging menacingly in the air waiting to strike us down at any moment. It’s little wonder that most of us think that avoiding serious illness is a mind-bogglingly complex affair. I don't have the answer to the dairy debate. I stopped consuming dairy as much as possible during my treatment but as the years have passed since then, I have added them back into my diet. The‘recipe’ for healthy living I follow involves never smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and following a healthy diet. I am hoping that will be enough, but if not, I am not going to beat myself up over the choices I am making.
SuperMom101 commented on 21-Jul-2010 03:34 PM Dear Brenda,
Great post! Thankfully I discovered the link between cow's milk (all dairy products) and breast cancer when I was diagnosed and treated over 9 years ago at the age of 37.
At that time I discovered Jane Plant's book (she's a five time breast cancer survivor) The No Dairy breast Cancer Prevention Diet. Since American beef is given growth hormones to increase their size I also avoid non organic hormone tainted meats.
As Ben Franklin said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
These days my mantra is: The Cure for Breast Cancer is prevention.
Best health always,
SuperMom101
Great post! Thankfully I discovered the link between cow's milk (all dairy products) and breast cancer when I was diagnosed and treated over 9 years ago at the age of 37.
At that time I discovered Jane Plant's book (she's a five time breast cancer survivor) The No Dairy breast Cancer Prevention Diet. Since American beef is given growth hormones to increase their size I also avoid non organic hormone tainted meats.
As Ben Franklin said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
These days my mantra is: The Cure for Breast Cancer is prevention.
Best health always,
SuperMom101
Cindy Keister commented on 19-Sep-2010 05:08 PM Brenda – I tried the Silk Almond Milk and it is delicious. Much lower in calories and sugar than 1% milk. I love it. I think I’ve found a new source of nutrition.
Thanks so much for the heads up. I love your website.
Cindy Keister
Thanks so much for the heads up. I love your website.
Cindy Keister
Bonnie commented on 19-Sep-2010 05:11 PM I was just diagnosed on Tuesday, Needless to say, I've been an emotional wreck since the biopsy last Friday. The physicians involved say things are looking very positive, and it was a miraculous find. That's comforting and I'm feeling very confident that everything will be all right. My faith and support system have really buoyed me through these initial rough waters.
Thank you so much for writing. I really appreciate being connected.I feel I'm so new into this that I don't know the right words to say).
Thank you for your kindness.
Bonnie
Thank you so much for writing. I really appreciate being connected.I feel I'm so new into this that I don't know the right words to say).
Thank you for your kindness.
Bonnie
Brenda Coffee commented on 19-Sep-2010 05:16 PM Bonnie,
We are the club you feared joining, the sisters you never wanted. I think every one of us knows exactly where you are at this moment, and you're right: The right words don't always come. Just keep moving forward and rely on your faith and your friends and know you will make it through this time in your life. I'm glad we had the opportunity to talk. Keep me posted on how you're doing.
Wishing you all God's blessings,
Brenda
We are the club you feared joining, the sisters you never wanted. I think every one of us knows exactly where you are at this moment, and you're right: The right words don't always come. Just keep moving forward and rely on your faith and your friends and know you will make it through this time in your life. I'm glad we had the opportunity to talk. Keep me posted on how you're doing.
Wishing you all God's blessings,
Brenda
Katharine commented on 22-Jan-2011 02:12 PM Thank you for your interesting and concerned blog. I certainly agree that we MUST look at who is funding these studies (look at what happened with the whole Vioxx thing).
I have 'survived' breast cancer myself, but am concerned about susceptibility to other forms. I am familiar with Jane Plant's ideas and feel they are quite sound.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to completely forgo all dairy products, but try to get cheese, for example, who producers do not feed their cows growth hormone.
This brings me to the main point of this email: I think we must--at a minimum--insist that dairy and meat producers do NOT use growth hormone. We can do this by informing others, writing and calling people involved, and ---perhaps most effective of all---refusing to buy anything that does not have a 'pledge' right on the label. Loss of income will effect more changes, alas , than any humanitarian instinct!
Thanks for reading this.
I have 'survived' breast cancer myself, but am concerned about susceptibility to other forms. I am familiar with Jane Plant's ideas and feel they are quite sound.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to completely forgo all dairy products, but try to get cheese, for example, who producers do not feed their cows growth hormone.
This brings me to the main point of this email: I think we must--at a minimum--insist that dairy and meat producers do NOT use growth hormone. We can do this by informing others, writing and calling people involved, and ---perhaps most effective of all---refusing to buy anything that does not have a 'pledge' right on the label. Loss of income will effect more changes, alas , than any humanitarian instinct!
Thanks for reading this.
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