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Got Milk, Got Disease

milk-carton-300x200-9531803The British Medical Journal reported in the news on October 29, 2014 on “Milk intake and risk of mortality and fractures in women and men: cohort studies.” This observational study found higher death rates for men and women who drank 3 or more glasses of milk daily, compared to less than a glass a day. There were also more fractures in general, and hip fractures, in the higher milk-consuming women. The researchers from Sweden focused on the milk sugar, D-galactose, as the trouble causer. They believe that oxidative stress and inflammation all over the body is caused by D-galactose.

An accompanying editorial in the British Medical Journal, as well as the worldwide lay press; have tried to put these findings in perspective for the consumer.  In reality, this balanced reporting has kept the consumer from making sensible decisions that would undermine the dairy industry.

Cow’s milk is not only unnecessary for strong bones and healthy bodies, but this category of food is a more important cause of obesity and illness than is red meat. See my article: When Friends Ask: Where Do You Get Your Calcium?

May I remind you of some of the harmful qualities of this product?

1) The milk sugar, galactose, is toxic. As far back as 1981, cow’s milk was reported to cause cataracts of the eyes.

2) The fat you eat is the fat you wear. (Overweight and obesity.) Whole milk is 50% fat, milk advertised as 1% (low fat) is still 18% fat, and cheese is 70% fat.

3) Risk for heart attacks and stroke is most strongly tied to animal fats also called saturated fats. Dairy fat is 97% saturated fat. Dairy is loaded with cholesterol.

4) Milk is loaded with people poisoning chemicals. High levels of pesticides and herbicides are present in these foods. They cause cancer and brain damage.

5) Milk is filthy with microbes. Cow’s milk drinkers consume bovine leukemia viruses, bovine immunodeficiency viruses, listeria bacteria, mad cow prions, and much more.

6) Osteoporosis and kidney stones are from bone loss caused by eating animal proteins and dietary acids. Hard cheese is the greatest source of dietary acids.

7) Constipation is caused by lack of dietary fiber. Dairy products contain no dietary fiber. Plus cow’s milk protein causes allergic reactions, which paralyze the bowels making it almost impossible for children and adults to move their rock-hard stools.

8) Cow’s milk protein is the most common dietary cause of allergy and autoimmune diseases, including nephritis (kidney disease) and severe forms of arthritis.

9) Lactose, the basic milk sugar, causes the majority of people worldwide to become sick with diarrhea, stomach cramps, and gas (lactose intolerance).

10) The factory farming of dairy cows is considered to be animal abuse and production of dairy foods is a leading cause of environmental pollution and climate change.

Hopefully, today’s headlines will cause you to eliminate all cows’ milk products from your life.



  1. Mary says:
    So yogurt or kefir aren’t good for you Then?
    1. Admin
      Heather McDougall says:
      Hi Mary, Not if they are made from dairy. Plant-based versions of these items are great options to try. I hope this helps.
  2. Al G says:
    Imagine telling a french person that thier cheese is unhealthy!
  3. Ken says:
    My AI buddies, ChatGPT and Grok, say that the mad cow prion is not present in milk, and milk is not considered a transmission risk for the disease. Who is correct? Can you point me to the original research which states that the mad cow prion is present in milk?
    1. Admin
      Heather McDougall says:
      Hi Ken, I would start here: https://www.drmcdougall.com/education/information-all/could-mad-cow-disease-already-be-killing-thousands-of-americans-every-year/.
    2. Ken says:
      Thank you Heather. Quite the eye-opening article. My guess is things have not changed much since that article was written.
    3. Admin
      Heather McDougall says:
      Hi Ken, You're right. Unfortunately, not much has changed. In fact, I might argue, it's gotten worse.
  4. Makusan says:
    So to clarify this issue regarding health risks from cows... Does this also pertain to organic non-fat goat or sheeps milk? That comes from private dairies, and yogurt or kifer made from the same? This is just my experience, and all of the plant-based keepers and yogurts commercial and homemade tastes like crap. I make my own soy kefir and only able to use it in making smoothies.
    1. Admin
      Heather McDougall says:
      Yes, this applies to all animal milks.
  5. Genetta says:
    Hello Mary. How can I reverse osteoporosis on the McDougall diet? Is it possible to build bone at 66? I’m taking all kinds of vitamins, as well as marine collagen and creatine.
    1. Admin
      Heather McDougall says:
      Exercise is your best defense. Please click on this link to learn more from Dr. McDougall about Osteoporosis: https://www.drmcdougall.com/education/common-health-problems/osteoporosis/.

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