Jorge thought carefully and wrote on 1/25/2005 10:53 AM:

Perhaps this too...

Lance
*****

The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA)
April 16, 2002 Tuesday ROP Edition
SECTION: FEATURES, Pg. 21
LENGTH: 1022 words
HEADLINE: HEALTHY EATING
BYLINE: Joan Endyke

BODY:
Despite claims, milk does a body good

Joan Endyke

Most of us grew up being told by our mothers that in order to be strong
and healthy we needed to drink our milk. Today, however, mothers are
questioning this wisdom.

With the arrival of the information superhighway, milk is getting a bad
name. Organizations such as Veggie Power and Notmilk.com contend that
milk is unhealthy. Milk causes obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
and it even makes kids sick, according to anti-milk organizations.

So where does the truth lie? Let's take a look.

Claim #1: Milk and dairy products cause obesity and heart disease

No one food or food group causes obesity or heart disease. Excess
calories in the diet and lack of exercise are the culprits expanding our
waistlines and stressing our hearts, while excess saturated fat and
cholesterol clog our arteries. Many whole-fat dairy products, including
ice cream, cheese and whole milk are high in calories, saturated fat and
cholesterol. There is, however, a low-calorie, low-fat or fat-free
version to every dairy product available, which would negate this claim.
The American Heart Association recommends three or more servings of
low-fat dairy products each day.

High blood pressure also increases the risk of heart disease. The DASH
(Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) study found blood pressure
could be lowered as easily with medication as with low-fat dairy
products and a healthy diet, high in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins
and some nuts and fats.

Claim #2: Milk causes cancer

Numerous research studies have examined the relationship between milk
and cancer. So far, only prostate cancer appears to be related in some
studies. Recent findings from the Physician's Health Study found men who
consumed high intakes of dairy products to have a higher incidence of
prostate cancer. However, the authors noted that their dietary data was
incomplete and consequently, they were unable to examine the total fat
or protein in the diet, which may have been a factor. Other studies have
found dietary fat intake to be a strong predictor of prostate cancer risk.

According to the National Cancer Institute, studies have found high
calcium intakes to lower blood levels of vitamin D, which is thought to
be cancer-protective. Data from the Health Professionals follow up study
found high daily calcium intakes (greater than 2000mg), from
supplements, increased the risk of prostate cancer, in the absence of
dairy consumption. They conclude this finding suggests prostate cancer
risk is specifically related to calcium supplements rather than dairy
product consumption. Two thousand milligrams of calcium is almost twice
the Dietary Reference Intake of 1200 mg for men.

Some groups opposed to milk claim that insulin growth factor in cow's
milk increases the risk of cancer. Although more research is needed,
interestingly, a study in the September, 2001 issue of the Journal of
the National Cancer Institute found just the opposite. Men with high
insulin growth factor levels who frequently consumed low-fat milk, had a
60 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer than the non-milk drinkers.

Claim #3: Milk causes diabetes

The American Diabetes Association recommends low-fat and fat-free dairy
products, citing the role they play in preventing osteoporosis. A
Finnish study, The Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Study,
linked cow's milk consumption with Type 1 Diabetes when it was given to
infants during the first year of life. This led many to believe that
milk causes Type 1 (insulin dependant) diabetes. Milk, as well as other
foods, are not recommended before the age of one year because of the
risk of allergy. It has been postulated that an auto immune-type
reaction may be responsible for destroying the beta cells in the
pancreas, which make insulin. Although more research is needed,
introducing potential allergens too soon may have been the cause of the
increased diabetes cases, rather than milk by itself.

Milk has not been identified in research to be a causative factor in the
development of Type 2 diabetes. Obesity, lack of exercise and poor
quality diet are the main lifestyle factors associated with Type 2 diabetes.

Claim #4: Milk makes kids sick

Lactose intolerance is the real issue here. Lactose intolerance is the
inability for a person to digest lactose, the primary sugar in milk,
because of a shortage of lactase -- the enzyme that digests the lactose.
Consuming milk with low levels of lactase in the gut may cause nausea,
cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea. These symptoms are not dangerous,
but often are uncomfortable.

Up to 75 percent of all African Americans and American Indians, and 90
percent of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant. Persons of northern
European descent are least likely to be intolerant. In rare cases,
children can be born without the ability to produce lactase.

Many people who are lactose intolerant can consume small portions of
dairy products, for example 4 ounces, rather than 8 ounces of milk, or
different types of dairy, such as hard cheeses, without experiencing
symptoms. The type and amount tolerated is different for each person.

The American Dietetic association recommends 2-3 serving of low-fat milk
and dairy products each day. Children especially need calcium and
protein to build strong bones; both are found in abundance in milk.

If a child or an adult enjoys milk, does not experience an allergic-type
reaction or diarrhea, then current research does not support a need to
avoid it.

Joan Endyke is a registered dietitian with a master's degree in
nutrition and food science, and also a certified diabetes educator. She
is the nutrition director at Fitness Unlimited.