If June was National Dairy Month, then July has become take milk off of school lunch menu month – as the U.S. government has been petitioned by a national group of doctors, asking that the federally funded National School Lunch Program quits including milk as a requirement.
Some of the primary reasons for petition, which is consistent with numerous studies showing problems and health risk from drinking too much milk, include the following:
- Milk is one of the biggest sources of saturated fat in the diet
- Milk contains a lot of sugar and animal protein
- Milk is not as good of a source of calcium as many foods that are more nutritious
- Milk allergies are widespread with millions of people lactose intolerant
- Milk doesn’t lower the risk of bone fractures
Walter Willett, MD, PhD, professor of epidemiology and head of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health says:
“One of the main arguments for USDA recommendations is that drinking milk or equivalent dairy products will reduce the risk of fractures. But in fact there’s very little evidence that milk consumption is associated with reduced fractures.”
Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the PCRM says:
“One of the only reasons people talk about dairy, or promote it at all, is because it is going to help build strong bones,” “Research has now made it abundantly clear that milk doesn’t build strong bones. Whether we are talking about children who are forming bones or older people who are trying to keep their bone integrity, milk doesn’t have a beneficial effect on either one.”
The US FDA says:
“While the perceived nutritional and health benefits of raw milk consumption have not been scientifically substantiated, the health risks are clear.”
Drink Almond Milk And Eat Kale
Look at the nutrition facts for 2% fat milk, almond milk, and kale – and compare them for their relative nutrition on a calorie basis.
2% Fat Milk
Almond Milk And Kale
1 cup of milk is 122 calories, of which 35% come from fat, and I will also be getting 12g or 39% of the calories from sugar. The milk does have 8g of protein, but as mentioned above it comes from animal protein, and it does have 29% DV of calcium.
Now, if I eat a cup of kale and drink a cup of almond milk, I will have consumed only 73 calories. I will be eating no saturated fat [the fat from almonds is a good fat] no sugar, and also getting 29% DV of calcium.
Yes, I will only be getting 3g of protein instead of 8g, but who cares – that will easily be made up from other sources that are far more healthy.
And Kale is one of the most complete and balanced food nutrient sources available. Have you ever been in a Whole Foods and seen the sign hanging that ranks Kale as a 100 for nutritional value; the other food rated as 100 was also a green.
Click on the following link for the full nutritional content from Kale:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2461/2
There is no doubt that the ‘milk wars’ are going to continue. For myself, I think I will go drink another almond milk and Kale smoothie, and add a scoop of raw plant protein powder to it – I would sure hate to miss out on those 8g of animal protein from the milk I am not going to drink 
And if you want a great resource that teaches nutritional health benefits, and how to transform your life from eating living plant based whole foods – then take a look at the Eating For Energy Nutritional Health Plan.
News Discussing Health Risks From Drinking Milk
Doctors Petition USDA to Remove Milk from School Lunches
Should milk be removed from school lunches due to saturated fat and other health risks or is it a healthy lunch addition? … There’s limited proof that milk improves bone health or reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Dairy foods …
The Milk Wars: Should Milk Be Taken Off The School Lunch Menu
And for millions of Americans who are allergic to milk — including 1.3 million children — or intolerant to the lactose it contains, drinking milk carries potentially severe health risks. (MORE: 9 Kid Foods To Avoid). “One of the …
Milk proteins, milk sugar, fat, and saturated fat in dairy products pose health risks for children and encourage the development of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that …
Raw Milk: Clear Risks, No Benefits
The FDA has gone so far as to say that there are no benefits to drinking raw milk: “While the perceived nutritional and health benefits of raw milk consumption have not been scientifically substantiated, the health risks are clear …
About Barry Lutz
