The Milk Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 22:22:00 +0000

Please see my new book: The Lipo Diet at: www.thelipodiet.com

Eating with Diabetes: Exposing the Common Myths

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:14:00 +0000

The following article was kindly contributed by Emma B. Wood, a dental assistant who has a blog for diabetics at www.diabeticdietrecipes.org

Maintaining a healthy diet is vital to our all-around health and wellbeing. Eating the right foods help us control illness, reduce stress, and provide assistance to prevent serious disease. However, for all those with type 2 diabetes, making appropriate food choices can be both frustrating and confusing. Because diabetes type 2 is a serious disease, debunking the following myths may actually help save the lives of countless.

Myth 1: Diabetes is due to consuming too much sugar.

The cause is not totally understood, diabetes is thought to be the result of genetics and lifestyle factors. With diabetes, your body is unable to properly convert food into glucose, which uses insulin to provide the cells with energy. Carrying excess fat can make type II diabetes more likely to occur.

Myth 2: Diabetics cannot eat sweets.

Consuming a piece of cake will not cause a medical emergency. Although sugars could be empty calories and result in weight gain if eaten in large amounts, when eaten in moderation, sweets can be part of a healthy diet, especially when combined with exercise.

Myth 3: Diabetics must consume special diabetic foods.

A healthy diet plan for those with type II diabetes is quite similar to a healthy diet for everyone - limit the fats, use salt and sugar moderately, and consume whole grain foods. Lean protein, vegetable, and fruit also help to complete a balanced diet. Many foods marketed as "diabetic" foods still usually raise glucose levels inside the blood.

Myth 4: Carbohydrates are dangerous for diabetics.

Starches are an essential part of a balanced diet. Carbs could have a significant effect on blood glucose levels, so they must be consumed in moderation. Carbs contain important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, so eradicating them from the diet is not a healthy idea.

Myth 5: Fruit can be consumed freely because it is healthy and natural.

Although fruit is chocked filled with nutrients, consuming too much of it, especially immediately can prove problematic. Also, dried fruits like dates could possibly be high in fat and rich in calories. Fruits such as these should only be eaten without excess.

Myth 6: Dairy milk consumption, as part of a balanced diet, is healthy for diabetics because milk is very low in carbohydrates.

Dairy milk is rich in galactose, casein, and harmful hormones, all of which can significantly promote diabetes in a regular milk consumer. The milk protein casein is similar in shape to the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Because the body may perceive casein as a foreign invader and attack it, it may also start to attack the pancreas cells having confused them for casein, leading to diabetes. (Cavallo, M.G., et al, Cell-mediated immune response to beta casein in recent-onset insulin-dependent diabetes: implications for disease pathogenesisk, 1996, The Lancet. 348, 9032- 926-8). Milk is rich in galactose and it “reaches high levels in human plasma following milk ingestion. Galactose increases atheromatous plaque formation in Baboons and other experimental animals, causes cataracts in rats (and possibly in humans), and is related to the onset of diabetes in humans” (Gordon, D.B. 1999. Milk and mortality: the connection between milk drinking and coronary heart disease. Livermore CA, Gordon Books, USA). Apart from the fact that milk is fattening and promotes obesity and diabetes, dairy milk is high in harmful hormones. These hormones create an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone in the human body – this in turn leads to so-called “estrogen dominance”. Several studies show that estrogen dominance can significantly increase the risk of diabetes. “Whereas estrogen impairs homeostatic control of glucose levels, natural progesterone stabilizes them. Thus, natural progesterone can be beneficial to both those with diabetes and those with reactive hypoglycemia. Estrogen should be contraindicated in patients with diabetes” (diagnose-me.com).

Now that the myths in regards to the diet for those with type II diabetes have been exposed, diabetics and non-diabetics alike will make wise decisions regarding food. Coupled with proper medical care and workout, food can continue to be considered a necessary tool to maintain our bodies healthy.

About me: Emma B. Wood blogs for diabetes recipes , her personal site she uses to help diabetics to eat healthy.

Why Fruit Juice Is So Bad For Health

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Scientists have proved for the first time that fructose, a cheap form of sugar used in thousands of food products and soft drinks, can damage human metabolism and is fuelling the obesity crisis.

Fructose, a sweetener usually derived from corn, can cause dangerous growths of fat cells around vital organs and is able to trigger the early stages of diabetes and heart disease. It is known to raise blood pressure, thus increasing the risk of a heart attack. Unlike sugar, fructose promotes triglycerides in your body which in turn promote obesity and illness.

Also fructose interferes with your brain’s communication with leptin. This results in overeating since leptin is a hormone that suppresses appetite and stops you overeating.

Several studies carried out in 2009/10 show increasingly that fructose is metabolised (used) by the body in a different way compared to sucrose (table sugar). Over 10 weeks, 16 volunteers on a controlled diet including high levels of fructose produced new fat cells around their heart, liver and other digestive organs. They also showed signs of food-processing abnormalities linked to diabetes and heart disease. Another group of volunteers on the same diet, but with glucose sugar replacing fructose, did not have these problems.

Fructose contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals, and it leeches micronutrients from your body. A mountain of evidence has accumulated demonstrating that it is absolutely terrible for your health. When you eat fruit you eat fructose, so how can fructose be so bad for health?

It is true that fructose is found in fruit. However, eating small amounts of whole fruit does NOT provide concentrated amounts of fructose. When fruit is intact and whole, its fibre will somewhat moderate the release of fructose into your bloodstream, as well as somewhat moderate insulin release. Furthermore, the act of chewing the fruit in the mouth allows the fructose to be released into the body much more slowly than gulping it down as juice.

Fruit juice contains little to no fibre -- but it does contain about eight full teaspoons of fructose sugar per eight-ounce glass. This fructose is brought rapidly into your body, promoting obesity and other health problems. Drinking a glass a freshly squeezed orange juice, even if diluted with a little water, may give you some nutrients, but is super-bad for health because of the concentrated fructose. Humans were not meant to drink their fructose and for this reason you should always avoid any kind of fruit juice.

You should avoid all flavoured fizzy drinks, all kinds of fruit juice and all kinds of artificial sweeteners. Stick to water or club soda instead of fruit juice, and avoid dairy milk which is bad for health for a multitude of other reasons. Also, avoid agave syrup/nectar which is almost pure fructose! Honey is also best avoided because it is high in sugar and has negligible nutritional value.

If you must add a sweetener to your drinks or cooking use just one of the following: stevia or xylitol. Stevia is a natural low calorie sweetener that can be purchased in granular form just like table sugar. Xylitol is also a good natural sugar substitute and has the added benefit that it helps protect the teeth. Xylitol has been used safely since the 1960’s. Every household should have a stock of these two sugar substitutes.

If you need to lose weight don’t forget to check www.the-foolproof-diet.com.

I wish you a really great year in your life for 2011.

Russell Eaton

Is Soy Milk Bad for You?

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:02:00 +0000

BY AHEWCN, ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2010
(The article below is reproduced from the following website: www.whatyourbabyneeds.com/is-soy-milk-bad-for-you/)

Over the past decade, more and more health-conscious people are starting to ask “Is soy milk bad for you?” This question comes as more and more former vegetarians work hard to repair damaged health that seems to have resulted from years of relying on this bean to replace high quality protein in their diet. Here is how soy became so popular in the west.

Since the time of Hitler and Mussolini, the soybean has been increasingly recognized as a protein replacement that could feed large numbers of people on the cheap — it made up a substantial portion of their soldiers’ rations. Today, soy is said to be powerful enough to lower breast cancer, slow or reverse bone loss, lower cholesterol, reduce excess weight and stave off hot flashes.

However, if soy is potent enough to keep breast cancer rates so low in Asia, what then is responsible for their soaring rates of esophageal, stomach, thyroid, pancreatic and liver cancer? Why is it that both children and adults suffer from more broken bones in since the soy campaign began in the west 20 years ago? Clearly cholesterol levels and obesity are skyrocketing since soy was introduced to the west. And did you ever know a menopausal woman to have a sunny disposition simply by consuming this bean?

Here are just a few of the soy facts I shared with my What Your Baby Needs Before Conception class. Bear in mind that I am only keeping to the facts here. So, is soy milk bad for you? You be the judge:

Claims that soy has been around since “time immemorial” are false. Soy was first consumed only about 2,500 years ago. It was called chiang, a fermented product and ancestor of today’s miso. It was used to preserve meat and was consumed in very small quantities — basically whatever clung to the meat.

In ancient Chinese literature, soy was considered the only legume that should not be eaten. Later it was discovered that fermentation neutralized or at least weakened many of soy’s harmful anti-nutrients and the warning was (somewhat) lifted.

Tofu, a.k.a. meat without a bone, was introduced a few hundred years after the benefits of fermenting soy were discovered. It was eaten only by monks as an aid to spiritual development and sexual abstinence. Although it was probably not recognized at the time soy lowers testosterone levels — a good way to keep the monks focusing on spiritual development instead of women.

The phytoestrogens in soy bind to estrogen receptors creating serious hormonal imbalances resulting in infertility, miscarriage, lowered libido, precocious puberty in girls and breasts, hypospadias* and testicular cancer in boys.

Over 80% of all soy grown in the US is genetically engineered — another reason why soy is linked to infertility and miscarriage. Genetically engineered foods also cause infertility in offspring.

Talk to any farmer and they will tell you that soy (along with corn and skim milk) is the fastest and surest way to fatten up an animal. Goitrogens in soy are particularly hardy and block iodine uptake to the thyroid gland, which stokes the body’s metabolic fire. In a few people it speeds up the thyroid resulting in the opposite problem (extreme weight loss) and premature aging. For these people it often ends up exhausting the thyroid over time and eventually leading to sudden unexplained weight gain.

Soy bio-accumulates aluminum, a toxic heavy metal associated with cognitive decline.

Soy contains fluoride, which is associated with cretinism, learning disabilities, violence and ADD in children.

Soy contains toxic levels of manganese an otherwise helpful nutrient in trace amounts. High levels of manganese are considered by many to be the true cause of mad cow and related diseases of the brain including learning disabilities, violence and ADD.

Soy’s protease inhibitors impair protein digestion. Protease is the enzyme that breaks down protein.

Soy is not a complete protein. It is missing four essential amino acids — amino acids the body must get from food. Combining it with grains does not improve it’s profile much. Your body will not wait around to for you to get the missing aminos from other foods at a subsequent meal. Therefore, the aminos in soy are essentially useless. Traditionally, Asians always consumed soy foods with animal foods such as fish or pork to help round out the protein content.

Soy is listed on the FDA’s poisonous plant database where it has confirmed over 250 known side effects.

Soy is one of the top seven allergens. It is steadily climbing to the #1 position.

If there are some benefits to soy, they would be revealed by consuming it similar to the traditional Asian way — about two teaspoons per day or less and fermented. In fact, after World War II small amounts of miso were given to Hiroshima victims to reduce the incidence of stomach cancer.

Japan and China are increasing their rates of soy consumption thanks to a US campaign led by soy producers to “reconnect Asians with their traditional diet.” Despite consuming soy in its fermented forms, the increases are resulting in the many problems listed above.

Read labels on soy milk and other products very carefully. Soy parades under many names: genistein, textured vegetable protein (TVP), vegetable oil, protein isolate, vitamin E, and lecithin. It also shows up in some of the least expected places: gravies and sauces, milk, meat (fresh and processed), supplements, medications, breads, mayonnaise and farm-raised fish. But no matter where it shows up, its effects are still the same.

The governments of New Zealand and Israel require a type of “Surgeon General’s” warnings on many soy-containing products, but especially infant formula. We would all do well to completely avoid these once-considered inedible forms of this highly toxic legume to protect our fertility and our babies’ health.

Note from Russell Eaton: for the world’s best collection of recipes for making non-soy, non-dairy milk see The Foolproof Diet (www.the-foolproof-diet.com).

Why raw milk is bad food

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:57:00 +0000

Many people argue that raw milk (unpasteurized dairy milk) is good for you and much better than pasteurized milk. The raw vs. Pasteurized debate is a long standing one and is intensifying. According to Wikipedia the debate can be summarized as follows:

"The raw vs. pasteurized debate places the alleged health benefits of consuming raw milk against the disease threat of unpasteurized milk. Although agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other worldwide regulatory agencies say that pathogens from raw milk make it unsafe to consume,[4] other organizations such as the Weston A. Price Foundation in its "Real Milk" campaign say that raw milk has health benefits that are destroyed in the pasteurization process and that it can be produced hygienically. Dr. Joseph Mercola, another promoter of raw milk, says the health benefiting ingredients destroyed during pasteurization include: valuable enzymes, unprocessed natural butterfat, healthy unoxidized cholesterol, conjugated linoleic acid, and its high omega-3 and low omega-6 ratios."

In fact, both sides of the debate are wrong. Raw milk is bad for health and so is pasteurized milk. Why? For a variety of reasons: both types of milk are rich in saturated fat, indigestible protein, mucus forming casein, harmful bovine hormones, and a host of other harmful substances.

But leaving all this aside, there is one undeniable fact: IGF-1 is present in both raw milk and in pasteurized milk in equal quantities. IGF-1 is truly bad news. Any advocate of raw milk cannot escape the fact that however organic, “nutritious”, clean, and pure the milk, it will be rich in IGF-1 hormones. Countless scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals show that IGF-1 increases the risk of cancer and other illneses in humans.

Here is just a small selection of these studies:

• IGF-1 is critically involved in the aberrant growth of human breast cancer cells. (Journal of the National Institute of Health, 1991-3).

• Estrogen regulation of IGF-1 in breast cancer cells would support the hypothesis that IGF-1 has a regulatory function in breast cancer. (Molecular Cell Endocrinology, March, 99-2).

• IGF-1 is a potent growth factor for cellular proliferation in the human breast carcinoma cell line. (Journal of Cellular Physiology, January, 1994, 158-1).

• IGF-1 plays a major role in breast cancer cell growth. (European Journal of Cancer, 29A - 16, 1993).

• IGF-1 produces a 10-fold increase in RNA levels of cancer cells. IGF-1 appears to be a critical component in cellular proliferation. (Experimental Cell Research, March, 1994, 211-1).

• IGF-1 accelerates the growth of breast cancer cells. (Science, Vol. 259, January 29, 1993).

• A strong positive association was observed between IGF-1 levels and prostate cancer risk. (Science, vol. 279, January 23, 1998).

• IGF-1 can affect the proliferation of breast epithelial cells, and is thought to have a role in breast cancer. (The Lancet, vol. 351, May 9, 1998).

• IGF-1 strongly stimulates the proliferation of a variety of cancer cells, including those from lung cancer. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 91, no. 2, January 20, 1999).

• IGF-1 is widely involved in human carcinogenesis. A significant association between IGF-1 and an increased risk of lung, colon, prostate, and pre-menopausal breast cancer has recently been reported. (International Journal of Cancer, 2000 Aug. 87:4).

• A raised level of IGF-1 has been associated with breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. (Rosemary Hoskins, Food Fact no. 2, A Safe Alliance Publication, 1998).

• By continuing to drink [dairy] milk, one delivers the most powerful growth hormone in nature to his or her body (IGF-I). That hormone has been called the key factor in the growth of breast, prostate, and lung cancer. At the very best, or worst, this powerful growth hormone instructs all cells to grow. This might be the reason that Americans are so overweight. At the very worst, this hormone does not discriminate. When it finds an existing cancer, usually controlled by our immune systems, the message it delivers is: GROW! (Robert Cohen, Milk – The Deadly Poison, Argus Publishing, January 1, 1998, ISBN: 0965919609).

• Several studies have shown powerful associations between IGF-1 and the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer, and pre-menopausal breast cancer. As a matter of fact, recent evidence indicates that high IGF-1 levels may be more important than other previously reported risk factors for cancer. The pharmaceutical industry is well aware of the increasingly clear association between IGF-1 and cancer. Chemotherapeutic drugs are being developed to block the activity of IGF-1 or enhance the activity of IGF binding protein-3. (Smith, George Davey, et al. Cancer and insulin-like growth factor-I. British Medical Journal, Vol. 321, October 7, 2000, pp. 847-48).

• IGF-1 has been called ‘plug and play cancer fuel’ by many. Here is what Dr. Sarfaraz K. Niazi (PhD pharmaceutical sciences, University of Illinois, USA) has to say regarding hormones in milk:

‘Some dairy milk samples also show noticeable concentration of a growth hormone given to cows to promote their growth and increase milk production. Being fat-soluble, hormones are more concentrated in the cream. Hormones in milk are a serious threat to health because even at very low concentrations, they can cause severe imbalance of our physiologic system. They have also been implicated in many types of cancers and decreased resistance to infections and diseases. Though prohibited in some parts of the world, unscrupulous farmers continue to use hormones. Whatever a cow eats shows up in her udders. The grass, silage, straw, cereals, roots, tubers, legumes, oilseeds, oilcakes, and milk by-products, which contain a variety of chemical additives, make the diet of modern cow. The diet of cows is rife with pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and traces of heavy metals along with chemicals from spoilage. With each glass of milk shoved down little Jane's or Johnny's throat, comes the increased chance of their developing atherosclerosis, cancer, autoimmune diseases, infections and a host of other diseases still unidentified, when they reach adulthood.’

• Levels of IGF-1 ….have been associated with prostate cancer risk in at least three prospective studies. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have provided abundant evidence that IGF-1 can promote prostate carcinogens, including the observations that IGF-1 administration induces prostate growth in the rat, and that prostate tumor development in transgenic mouse models is accompanied by elevations in IGF-1 expression. Sources: (i) Gann, Peter H., MD, ScD, Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer, Rev Urol. 2002; 4(Suppl 5): S3–S10. PMCID: PMC1476014. (ii) Pollak M. Insulin-like growth factors and prostate cancer. Epidemiol Rev. 2001;23:59–66.

• ‘We showed that IGF-1 can completely take the place of growth hormone” in breast tissue. In other words, IGF-1 can trigger cell growth without an outside cue. Estrogen can amplify the cell-proliferating effects seen with IGF-1, both in the breast and prostate. Excess of IGF-1 or estrogen occurs in the presence of the other which can cause breast hyperplasia (cell division on overdrive) putting one at risk for breast cancer.’ (Kleinberg, David L., et al, Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in the Transition from Normal Mammary Development to Preneoplastic Mammary Lesions, Endocr. Rev., Feb 2009; 30: 51 – 74).

For more information on this subject see The Foolproof Diet (http://www.the-foolproof-diet.com/).

Why India Has The Highest Rate of Heart Attacks In The World

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 10:07:00 +0000

"Heart disease is the single largest cause of death in India with heart attacks being accountable for one third of all deaths caused by heart diseases." Source: http://www.india.gov.in/

Following my previous post “What Causes Heart Attacks? It’s not what you think!” one or two people have asked me why India has the biggest incidence of heart disease. The evidence suggests there are three reasons for this:

1. India has the highest number of vegetarians per capita (per thousand of population). But unlike most vegetarians in other countries, the millions of poor vegetarian rural Indians do not have the resources or knowledge to eat nutritionally or take nutritional supplements. As a result they suffer to a greater extent from a lack of B6, B12 and folic acid (B9). These vitamins are vital in keeping levels of harmful homocysteine low in the body (remember that homocysteine is at the root of heart attacks). Note: I am not anti-vegetarian. Indeed, a vegetarian or vegan diet is better for you in the sense that the avoidance of meat, fish and dairy products helps prevent disease.

2. India has one of the highest rates of milk consumption in the world. A dramatic increase in milk consumption in India in recent years has gone hand-in-hand with a dramatic rise in osteoporosis. In 2002, some 18,000 million liters of milk where produced by Operation Flood's cooperative unions each day. As a result, milk consumption in India has risen from a low of 107 grams per day in 1970 to over 220 grams per day in 2002 – people in all parts of India are now able to buy and consume dairy milk without scarcity of supply. Since 2002, the increase in milk production and consumption in India has risen enormously, growing at a rate of over 4% per year according to FAO. This makes India the fastest growth market in the world in milk production and consumption - source: Sangita Shah, India leads global milk output in 2005, report compiled from Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) statistics, and published online January 30, 2006.

3. It has been reported that Indians are at greater risk of heart disease because of a genetic mutation that affects one in 25 people in India. The mutation almost guarantees the development of the disease and Indians suffer heart attacks at an earlier age, often without prior symptoms or warning. Now researchers say India, a country with more than one billion people, will likely account for 60 per cent of heart disease patients worldwide, by 2010. A study among Asian Indian men showed that half of all heart attacks in this population occur under the age of 50 years and 25 percent under the age of 40, according to the Indian organization, Medwin Heart Foundation. But although this genetic mutation increases the risk of heart disease, you don’t get a heart attack unless the arteries are clogged. Therefore, for Indians it is particularly important to avoid arterial plaque and the best way to do this is to keep levels of homocysteine low.

As explained in The Foolproof Diet, milk consumption greatly disturbs the delicate hormonal balance in the body which is vital to good health. This leads to a state of imbalance between estrogen and progesterone (known as “estrogens dominance”) which in turn leads to elevated levels of homocysteine.

Indian milk consumption in 2010 continues to rise at astonishing rates. “India is the key milk consumer, amounting to 13 percent of the world’s total and 31 percent of milk consumption in all developing countries!” Sources: (i) Delgado, C.L., 2003, A food revolution: rising consumption of meat and milk in developing countries. J. Nutr. 133, no. 11 Suppl 2, 3907S-3910S. (ii) Barry Popkin, et al, The nutrition transition in high and low-income countries: what are the policy lessons, Presentation at Int. Assoc. of Agric, Ec. Conf., Australia, Aug. 06.

So Indians get a triple whammy: 1. A lack of vitamins B6, B12 & B9 (as a result of a poor vegetarian diet). 2. A bombardment of harmful bovine hormones (as a result of high milk consumption). 3. A genetic predisposition to heart disease. These three factors combine and conspire to give Indians high levels of homocysteine which in turn greatly increases the risk of heart attacks.

By just giving up dairy milk and using easy-to-make milk substitutes you will go a long way to keeping levels of homocysteine low, thus greatly reducing the risk of a heart attack. For easy-to-make non-dairy milk recipes see The Foolproof Diet (www.the-foolproof-diet.com). This book truly makes vital reading for every indian worldwide.

Keep well,
Russell Eaton

What Causes Heart Attacks? It’s not what you think!

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:35:00 +0000

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide (source: Robert Beaglehole, et al, 2004, The World Health Report 2004 - Changing History. World Health Organization. pp. 120–4. ISBN 92-4-156265-X).

But what causes heart attacks? Conventional wisdom (e.g. Wikipedia) generally says the following: Heart attacks are caused by intense exertion, be it psychological stress or physical exertion. Also, heart attacks can be caused by a severe infection, such as pneumonia, which in turn stresses the body leading to a heart attack. Such stress causes atherosclerotic plaques (the fat in clogged arteries) to become dislodged and this in turn can block blood flow to the heart.

So we have the following sequence of events: clogged arteries and stress combine to block blood flow to a section of heart muscle, causing a heart attack. The question screaming to be answered is: what causes clogged arteries?

Again, conventional wisdom says that clogged arteries are caused by a poor diet and lack of exercise. But this answer is much too vague. Just about any illness can be attributed to a poor diet and lack of exercise.

So the question is: what specifically causes clogged arteries? Is it cholesterol, is it a high fat diet, is it a high sugar diet, is it junk food, is it just lack of exercise?

Speak to nutritionists, doctors, and health gurus and most (but not all) will say it’s a “combination of life-style factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise and obesity” that can lead to clogged arteries (what a cop out!). This is no answer.

When you study the research into this area one word keeps popping up: homocysteine. There is overwhelming scientific evidence showing that heart disease is mainly caused by homocysteine.

The link between homocysteine and heart disease/stroke is well known to medical scientists and many studies support this. “A high level of blood serum homocysteine is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease.” (Wikipedia).

The body creates excess homocysteine as a toxic byproduct, i.e. as a result of chemical reactions in the body. Elevated levels of homocysteine in the bloodstream are caused by a shortage of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid (also known as vitamin B9). These B vitamins act to break down homocysteine so that it can be safely eliminated. So when the body has enough B6, B12 and folic acid, the toxic production of homocysteine is minimized.

It has been postulated that Lp(a) is a risk factor in heart disease. But Lp(a), also known as Lipoprotein a, has been shown to become a risk factor only in the presence of homocysteine. The Mayo Clinic states: “Homocysteine is a substance your body uses to make protein [including Lp(a)] and to build and maintain tissue. But too much homocysteine may increase your risk of stroke, certain types of heart disease, and disease of the blood vessels of the arms, legs and feet (peripheral artery disease).”

So when some health professionals talk about Lp (a) being a risk factor in heart disease they would appear to be off the mark. It is more accurate to say that elevated levels of homocysteine are the root cause of heart disease.

India has the doubtful honor of having by far the largest number (per capita) of vegetarians and the largest number (per capita) of deaths from heart disease. This is no coincidence. High levels of homocysteine cause heart disease.

Several studies also show that vegetarians are at greater risk of stroke compared to non-vegetarians. For example, Dr. C.S. Yajnik points out that most Indians are vegetarian for religious and socio-economic reasons. Because of this, he says, “there is a deficiency of Vitamin B-12 among vegetarians that has led to a rise in the incidence of stroke and heart attacks. Deficiency of vitamin B 12 increases the concentration of a chemical called homocysteine in the blood which causes blocks in arteries and veins. These blocks in turn are responsible for heart attacks and strokes."

You would think that a vegetarian diet is going to provide the body with plenty of B6, B12 and folic acid. However, this is not the case. B6 and B12 are more plentiful in animal foodstuffs. Furthermore, folic acid although available from plant foods such as green leafy vegetables, is easily destroyed in cooking. As a consequence, vegetarians can often suffer from a shortage of B6, B12 and folic acid and consequent raised levels of homocysteine.

Furthermore, it is now known that estrogen dominance promotes homocysteine. What happens is that the B vitamins get used up trying to neutralize (break down) the excess estrogen in the liver. As a result, less B vitamins are available for breaking down homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine then act to promote clogged arteries.

And what are the two main dietary causes of estrogen dominance? The answer is simple: dairy and soy products. By just eliminating dairy milk products and soy products from your diet you greatly reduce harmful estrogen dominance. This in turn greatly reduces elevated levels of homocysteine.

For the evidence that dairy and soy products are the two greatest dietary causes of estrogen dominance see The Foolproof Diet (www.the-foolproof-diet.com). Do a search on google for “estrogen dominance” and you will find lots of information explaining why estrogen dominance is so harmful to good health.

A 21 year study of statistics by the OECD shows that homocysteine is responsible for clogged arteries.

“Homocysteine does this by injuring the lining of the coronary arteries and by thickening of the wall of the arteries, regardless of the level of cholesterol in the blood. Homocysteine interferes with the way cells use oxygen, resulting in a build-up of damaging free radicals. These reactive chemical forms can oxidize low-density lipoproteins (LDL), producing oxycholesterols and oxidized fats and proteins within developing plaques. Also, homocysteine stimulates growth of smooth muscle cells, causing deposition of extracellular matrix and collagen, which causes a thickening and hardening of artery walls.” (source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, O.E.C.D., Food Consumption Statistics 1955-1971. Paris, 1973).

So what causes heart attacks? To blame factors such as obesity or a poor lifestyle is a complete cop out and reflects the ignorance of the person saying this. Heart attacks are mainly caused by elevated levels of homocysteine in the body. And how can you best avoid harmful homocysteine? By simply avoiding dairy and soy products you will go a long way to reducing levels of homocysteine in the body and greatly reduce the risk of clogged arteries and heart attacks.

For foolproof evidence that levels of homocysteine can be greatly reduced by simply avoiding dairy milk and soy foods, see The Foolproof Diet (www.the-foolproof-diet.com).

Keep well,
Russell Eaton

The Big Elephant In The Room

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:39:00 +0000

MAP is the big elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. The milk industry pretend it’s not there but growing evidence means it can no longer be ignored. The elephant is getting bigger.

MAP stands for “Mycobacterium Avium subspecies Paratuberculosis”. Here is an extract from an article published in the Los Angeles Times:

Milk May Be the Carrier of Crohn's

If, as some scientists are now convinced, Crohn's disease is caused by a microorganism, the question becomes: How is it transmitted?

The shocking answer, they say, is through that most sacrosanct of beverages--milk. The microorganism under suspicion, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, or MAP, is common in U.S. dairy herds, activists argue, and it is not killed by conventional pasteurization.

Transmission of MAP from infected cattle to humans through milk could explain much about the occurrence of Crohn's, including its geographical distribution and rising incidence.

The purported spread of MAP through milk "constitutes a public health disaster of tragic proportions," said Dr. John Hermon-Taylor of St. George's Hospital Medical Center in London.

Both the U.S. dairy industry and the Food and Drug Administration argue vehemently that the U.S. milk supply is safe and that pasteurization is effective at removing any potential threats.

Source: LA Times, September 18, 2000, Home Edition, Section: Health, Page: S-1.

In recent years the incidence of MAP in pasteurized milk has been getting worse, not better. Here is an extract of a recent study on the incidence of MAP in milk:

MAP causes Johne’s disease in ruminants, a chronic enteritis evocative of human inflammatory bowel disease. In industrialized countries MAP has been cultured from pasteurized milk, compounding the increasing concern that MAP may be zoonotic. We corroborate the presence of viable MAP in the food chain reported from industrialized countries. With the increasing concern that MAP may be zoonotic, these findings have major implications for healthcare in India.

Source: Presence of MAP in commercial pasteurized milk, and milk products in India (Shankar H, et al, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2010 Feb;14(2):e121-6. Epub 2009 Jul 2).

But wait, from the horses mouth there’s more :-). Even the British Food Standards Agency (which includes dairy farmers on its board of directors) admits that “MAP is found in approximately 2% of pasteurized milk on retail sale”.

As if that’s not enough, here is a letter just posted to the Daily Mail newspaper in the UK

I strongly advise that pregnant women should be extremely careful drinking any milk, raw or pasteurised. This advice to drink more milk by health officials led to my wife contacting Crohns Disease & Ulcerated Colitis, that very nearly KILLED her. Until the Dairy Industry can be bothered to get MAP- Mycobacterium sub species avium Paratuberculosis out of milk, it is NOT SAFE to drink for many. MAP is Zoonotic, animal to human, survives pasteurisation, cannot be made by human, comes from outside source, & the cow who suffers with Johnes disease ( Crohns in humans ) passes this MAP bacteria to humans via it's milk & faeces which also go into water supplies, also infecting other animals in the environment. MAP can travel the birth cord to the unborn as it can cow to calf. Cattle with MAP are now to be treated with a new dna anti-map vaccine which is being developed for humans at Kings College Hospital with Prof John Hermon Taylor backed by my campaign - The Chronic Crohns Campaign UK.

Source: Letter to The Daily Mail, by Tim Page, Wadhurst, East Sussex, United Kingdom, 27/5/2010.

How much longer will the big elephant be ignored?

Keep well,
Russell Eaton

P.S. For the world’s best collection of non-dairy milk recipes see The Foolproof Diet (www.the-foolproof-diet.com).

Save money - make your own super nutritious almond milk

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:26:00 +0000

Almond milk is made from almond nuts. The almond tree reaches a height of 3-7 M (9-22 ft) and has beautiful pink or white flowers that bloom in spring. The dry, leathery almond fruit surrounds the almond nut which is harvested when the fruit dries and splits open.

Milk made from almonds has a delicious light nutty flavor, and it makes a refreshing drink straight from the fridge. It can be used just like regular milk, or as a ‘non-dairy milk’ in just about any recipe.

Almonds without their shells can be stored for up to 1 month if kept airtight in a cool dark dry place, or up to a maximum of 12 months in the refrigerator if kept air tight. Almonds can be frozen for 2-3 years depending on temperature.

Almonds are particularly nutritious in protein, iron, vitamin E, zinc, and vitamin B2. They also have valuable amounts of magnesium, potassium, and folate (folic acid). Among the nut family, almonds provide the richest source of calcium.

Almonds contain more magnesium than oatmeal or even spinach, making a valuable contribution to good health: magnesium is needed for healthy bones, and for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, and is involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. One ounce (about 23 almonds) provides more than a quarter of your daily needs for magnesium.

For weight-conscious people, almond milk is low-fat and low-carbohydrate, and is therefore ideal as part of any weight loss plan. A study carried out by Dr. Gary Fraser (City of Hope Medical Center and Loma Linda University in California) found that eating a modest quantity of almonds daily (approximately 2 ounces or 40 almonds) resulted in increased unsaturated fats intake with no significant changes in body weight.

Making almond milk is quick and easy. It is best to soak the almonds overnight in purified or boiled water (the water must be cold when used for making milk). Then strain, dab nuts dry and freeze. The almonds nuts are then ready for making milk whenever you like. Using soaked/frozen nuts provides a much creamier and more nutritious milk than using dried nuts without first soaking.

To make milk, blend one part of nuts to five parts water. Always use the purest drinking water for making milk; otherwise the milk will spoil quickly. Add a teaspoon of sugar for taste. Better still add a teaspoon of Xylitol (a natural sweetener that protects your teeth and gums). Never use warm or hot water when making milk as this will greatly reduce the shelf life of the milk in the fridge.

Blend the milk for 1 – 2 minutes. There is no need to strain the milk after blending; just store in an airtight container in the fridge and use like regular milk. Shake or stir before serving. It will typically stay fresh for 4-5 days just like regular milk.

For more super delicious and nutritious milk-making recipes see The Foolproof Diet (http://www.the-foolproof-diet.com/).
Keep well,
Russell Eaton

Maple Syrup Is Your Tasty Food That Can Fight Cancer and Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:03:00 +0000

(Article contributed by Sandy Harris)
Are you looking for a natural solution to reduce the risk of diabetes and slow down the growth of cancer cells? Your search is probably over because recent studies have shown that maple syrup holds the key to these problems.

US researchers have found that maple syrup has the ability to substantially decrease the risk of diabetes. The syrup also showed great potential in slowing down the growth of cancerous cells.

Maple syrup has thirteen active antioxidant substances. These antioxidants were previously unknown but were discovered only recently. Because of these antioxidants, researchers have firmed up that maple syrup has a great potential in fighting cancer growth, diabetes, and infections.

Food for Diabetic Sufferers

Researchers found out that maple syrup contains phytohormone and abscisic acid. This acid is the primary agent that serves as an effective defense against diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The acid releases insulin through the pancreatic cells and can enhance the increased sensitivity of the fat cells to insulin. These actions proved that claims that maple syrup is very effective in controlling diabetes.

The studies were brought before the American Chemical Society in San Francisco. The results were reviewed by experts and other researchers.
Maple Syrup as Your Best Chance against Cancer

A study punished in the Journal of Medicinal Food showed that maple syrup can significantly inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. This study was conducted by Quebec scholars. It seeks to prove the impact of maple syrup against cancer cells.

Based on the Quebec research, the growth of cancer cells can be inhibited by maple syrup. Specifically, the syrup is very effective against brain, prostate, and lung cancer. Unfortunately, maple syrup has minimal impact against breast cancer growth.

Your Tasty Alternative to Fight Cancer and Diabetes

Maple syrup can serve as your tasty alternative in fighting cancer and diabetes. There are many anti cancer foods today like blueberries, tomatoes, broccoli, and carrots. However, recent studies have shown that maple syrup is more effective against cancer compared to other anti cancer foods.

Laboratory testing results also show that the syrup is more potent compared to the maple sap. It is also ideal to use the pure dark syrup rather than the lighter syrup. Dark syrup has high color oxidation. This is the reason why darker maple syrup should be preferred. So if you want a better alternative to fight cancer and diabetes, then your favorite maple syrup is a good option.
Reference: Journal of medicinal food. 01/02/2010; ISSN: 1557-7600, OI: 10.1089/jmf.2009.0029

This article was contributed by Sandy Harris who writes for the diabetic diet blog, her personal hobby blog focused on tips to prevent, cure and manage diabetes using healthy snacks and recipes.

Note from Russell Eaton: the glycemic index count for maple syrup is between 60 and 65 which is verging on high. Therefore diabetics should be aware of the impact that maple syrup can have on the level of glucose in the blood. This apart, maple syrup is an excellent sweetener, and indeed I recommend it in my book The Foolproof Diet (http://www.the-foolproof-diet.com/). The Foolproof Diet provides the world’s best collection of recipes for making non-dairy milk, and maple syrup is the perfect sweetening agent for these recipes.

How To Lose Weight In A Week

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:27:00 +0000

‘How to lose weight quickly’ diets are all over the media, on television, websites, newsstands, radio, magazines and books.

Most overweight people want to know how to lose weight in a week. They are, quite rightly, desperate to lose excess weight and will grasp at anything that promises how to lose weight fast. But many of these “lose weight fast” diets are based on false promises and ill-founded opinions, and can actually be harmful and even counter-productive, leading to greater weight gain!

Here are just some of the myths and misinformation promoted by “quick weight loss” gurus:

Myth: cut calories to lose weight.
Reality: cutting calories makes the body think it must preserve fat, and so you put on weight instead of achieving weight reduction.

Myth: following set menus and eating plans can help lose weight.
Reality: most diet books and weight loss plans promote set menus of what to eat when. This never works because food preferences and lifestyles vary so much. Indeed, by following any kind of set food menus, day in day out, you are more likely to gain weight because you will either go hungry or get too bored with the monotony. Then when you give up the set menus you will quickly re-gain your weight (and more) as you go back to your old eating habits.

Myth: eating whole grain and fiber-rich foods is healthy and will help you lose weight.
Reality: whole grains are no healthier than milled grains, and do nothing to promote good health or help you lose weight. Furthermore, there is plenty of scientific evidence showing that a high-fiber diet is bad for health. Fiber robs the body of vitamins and minerals. This leads to poor nutrition, which in turn prevents safe and healthy weight loss. We do not need much fiber in our daily diets and getting enough is very easy. Exhortations to eat more fiber are counter-productive.

Myth: fruit juice is non-fattening and healthy, as part of a well-balanced diet.
Reality: drinking fruit juice is more fattening and unhealthier than just about any other kind of food. Fruit juice gives the body a blast of fructose sugar without being bound up with fiber – this goes straight to body fat giving you quick weight gain, and is much worse for health than even table sugar!

Myth: you should eat less and exercise to lose weight.
Reality: The less you eat the more fat you put on because any kind of food restriction makes the body store more fat. When you exercise more you make yourself feel more hungry and exhausted, and you end up stuffing yourself with junk food which just makes you fatter. The secret is to exercise the smart way so that you don’t feel hungry and exhausted.

Myth: drink less water so as to reduce water retention and feel less bloated.
Reality: you must drink plenty of water to lose water retention (not less!). When you drink plenty of water the body will “think” it no longer needs to retain water in body tissue, and you quickly lose excess water.

Myth: a good way to lose weight is to increase your metabolic rate so as to burn fat fast.
Reality: your heart should sink when you come across such ridiculous notions. The metabolic rate is nothing more than a set of many different chemical reactions inside the body. Some of these chemical reactions work faster than others at different times of the day or night depending on a multitude of factors. In fact, fatter people tend to have higher metabolic rates (i.e. burn fat/energy faster) because of their higher body mass. To use (or attempt to control) the metabolic rate as a way of losing weight is like using a table-tennis ball to play tennis (impossible!).

How to lose weight in a week is a question many people ask. And yes, you can lose weight in a week, safely, quickly and easily if you know how. But 99% percent of dietary advice about how to lose weight quickly is completely wrong. Worse still, if you don’t do it right, any attempts to lose weight quickly will re-bound and you will end up putting on more weight than before.

You definitely don’t want to lose weight in a week and then put it all back the week after. Yo-yo dieting ruins your health and prevents weight loss. You want to lose weight quickly, but permanently. All human beings are the same biologically. Therefore there can only be one best way for a human being to lose weight quickly, safely, and permanently.

In recent years medical research into weight loss has made exciting discoveries and now there is a kind of consensus on the best way for any human being to lose weight safely and quickly. A key point that has come out of this research is that you gain weight when your hormones are out of balance (not functioning properly) and you lose excess weight when your hormones are in balance.

What makes your hormones go out of balance? Several factors, but by far the biggest factor is the diet. And dairy milk products are increasingly being seen as the biggest dietary cause of hormonal disharmony. It's not the fat in milk that causes weight gain, its the havoc caused by dairy milk to your hormones that causes weight gain.

Keep well,
Russell Eaton
How to lose weight in a week

Best Way To Make Milk as Substitute for Dairy Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:27:00 +0000

Coconut Milk Powder can be purchased in supermarkets for making milk at home. However, this is not recommended because it usually contains whey or some other dairy milk product. Whey and cow milk products contain IGF-1 hormones which are known to bad for health and will not be suitable for anybody wanting to avoid dairy milk.

For general every day milk consumption Coconut Milk Powder is best avoided, except for very occasional use. It is manufactured through a spray drying process of raw unsweetened coconut cream. This is very different from the more widely available and coarser desiccated coconut which is made by machines that merely grate the white coconut meat.

The process of spray drying has the effect of mixing oxygen (from the air) into the powder, under very hot drying conditions. As a result, Coconut Milk Powder is “oxidized” and will go rancid quite quickly if not refrigerated and consumed within one or two days. This process also has the effect of increasing nitrate levels in powdered milk, whether dairy or coconut. High levels of nitrates can increase the risk of cancer.

Many people would like to have a good alternative to dairy milk. At the very least, most people would like to have more of a choice when it comes to milk. Dairy milk is known to be fattening and for some people lactose intolerance is a real issue. You can, of course, buy soy milk but this also has its drawbacks.

Soy milk is generally more expensive than dairy milk and may not be so widely available. Furthermore, soy milk can also be quite fattening if you opt for the sweetened variety. If you opt for the unsweetened variety, most people dislike the taste. The biggest problem with soy milk is that it contains genistein, a harmful hormone that is causing increasing concern among scientists.

Genistein can increase the risk of cancer in a person who regularly consumes soy milk. Genistein does this by making body cells divide and multiply. The U.S National Cancer Institute says that genistein “disrupts signal transduction between cells and induces cell differentiation (i.e. cell multiplication)”.

Unfortunately the National Cancer Institute makes no reference to soy milk in it’s fact sheets. But there are several studies showing that soy milk consumption is increasingly being linked with cancer. To see some of this research simply do an internet search for “soy milk cancer” (without the quotation marks).

So what kind of milk is good to consume? Simply switch to coconut milk. The latest scientific research shows that coconuts are in fact not fattening! The molecular structure of coconut fat is different – it gets stored as energy instead of as body fat. This gives you energy and helps you lose weight and stay slim.

Coconut milk is very nutritious and absolutely delicious. Do not confuse canned “coconut milk” as sold in supermarkets with “home-made coconut milk”. The former is a condiment, the latter is a genuine dairy milk substitute. You would use canned coconut milk as part of a recipe to make home-made coconut milk. It can be made quickly and easily in just a minute or so, and then be stored in the fridge just like regular milk.

Home-made coconut milk is non-fattening, nutritious, and absolutely delicious. Best of all it is far, far superior in quality compared to any kind of commercial milk, whether dairy or non-dairy. Up until now, making coconut milk at home has been a complicated and time-consuming affair. But now at last you can make coconut milk at home quickly and easily, saving time and money.

To find out how to make coconut milk quickly and easily, saving time and money, download the free ebook The Incredible Coconut Book. This book shows exactly how to make delicious and nutritious milk that is dairy-free and soy-free. Download it now – go to The Incredible Coconut Book.

Keep well,
Russell Eaton

Skim and Semi-Skim Milk is Worst For Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Health conscious people often opt for skim or semi-skim milk thinking it is better for health. Unfortunately, this is proving to be a bad choice when it comes to cancer. There is increasing evidence that dairy milk significantly increases the risk of various types of cancer, but this risk is greater with skim milk.

There are several studies showing that skim milk significantly increases the risk of cancer. Here are just a few of these studies:

• Skim milk, but not other dairy foods, was associated with increased risk of advanced prostate cancer (Yikyung Park, et al, American Journal of Epidemiology 2007 166(11):1270-1279).

• In particular, increasing consumption of skim milk was associated with a greater risk of ovarian cancer (Lawrence H. Kushi, et al, Prospective Study of Diet and Ovarian Cancer, American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 149, No. 1: 21-31).

• Drinking skim or low fat milk increases the overall risk of getting any type of ovarian cancer by 44%. It increases the risk for the most common type of ovarian cancer (called serous tumors) by 66%. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among American women. (Peggy Peck commenting on a Harvard Medical School study of 80,000 nurses showing that women who drink two or more glasses of milk a day have a 44% higher risk of getting ovarian cancer than women who rarely drink milk).

• Low-fat and skim milk were associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer (Larsson SC, et al, Milk and lactose intakes and ovarian cancer risk in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004; 30(5): 1353-7).

How does skim milk cause cancer? The answer is that skim milk provides a particular cocktail of ingredients that encourage body cells to mutate and grow. All kinds of dairy milk are high in IGF-1 hormones. When you consume milk, the excess IGF-1 increases the risk of cancer in humans.

But IGF-1 needs the presence of estrogen metabolites to cause cell mutation and growth. Skim milk provides these harmful estrogen metabolites to a greater extent than other types of milk. This was confirmed in a recent May 2009 study that assessed commercial milk (D. Farlow, et al, Quantitative measurement of endogenous estrogen metabolites, risk-factors for development of breast cancer, in commercial milk products, Chromatography B, Volume 877, Issue 13, Pages 1327-1334). The study concluded that:

“Overall, skim milk had the smallest quantity of free estrogens. However, the conjugated type that dominated skim milk’s profile, 2-hydroxyestrone, is known to be one of the most reactive and potentially risky of the metabolites. That metabolite’s concentration in fat-free milk was second only to buttermilk’s. Estrogen can amplify the cell-proliferating effects seen with IGF-1.”

There are many studies showing that IGF-1 in dairy milk increases the risk of cancer. Here are just a few of those studies:

• The tiny homogenized fat globules carry IGF-1 from milk through the stomach and gut into the bloodstream where they can circulate through the body to exert powerful growth effects. This IGF-1 allows cancers to grow. (Robert Cohen, Milk – The Deadly Poison, Argus Publishing, January 1, 1998, ISBN: 0965919609).

• IGF-1 produces a 10-fold increase in RNA levels of cancer cells. IGF-1 appears to be a critical component in cellular proliferation. (Experimental Cell Research, March, 1994, 211-1).

• IGF-1 accelerates the growth of breast cancer cells. (Science, Vol. 259, January 29, 1993).

• IGF-1 is widely involved in human carcinogenesis. A significant association between IGF-1 and an increased risk of lung, colon, prostate, and pre-menopausal breast cancer has recently been reported. (International Journal of Cancer, 2000 Aug. 87:4).

• Several studies have shown powerful associations between IGF-1 and the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer, and pre-menopausal breast cancer. (Smith, George Davey, et al. Cancer and insulin-like growth factor-I. British Medical Journal, Vol. 321, October 7, 2000, pp. 847-48).

• IGF-1 can completely take the place of growth hormone in breast tissue….and trigger cell growth without an outside cue. Estrogen can amplify the cell-proliferating effects seen with IGF-1, both in the breast and prostate. Excess of IGF-1 …. puts one at risk for breast cancer.’ (Kleinberg, David L., et al, Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in the Transition from Normal Mammary Development to Preneoplastic Mammary Lesions, Endocr. Rev., Feb 2009; 30: 51 – 74).

Clearly, to minimize the risks of cancer, the solution is to switch to a non-dairy milk. A free ebook is available showing how to make non-dairy coconut milk and yogurt quickly and easily. Coconut milk makes an ideal substitute for dairy milk because it is non-fattening, nutritious, and absolutely delicious. Claim you free copy now by downloading The Incredible Coconut Book.

Keep Well

Russell Eaton

http://www.the-coconut.com/

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:27:00 +0000

Hi Folks,
From time to time I get blog posts that extol the wonders of raw milk. Some people seem to believe that raw milk is actually good for you. That if the cow is fed on perfect green pastures, that if everything is clean and disease free, that if the cow is not given medication, etc., etc. Quite apart from the fact that raw milk can never be commercialized (because it cannot be scaled up), the key point to remember is this: raw milk, however perfectly produced, contains just as much IGF-1 as any other kind of milk.

As fully explained in The Foolproof Diet (www.the-foolproof-diet.com) IGF-1 is bad news. This growth hormone, when consumed in milk, provides the human body with excess IGF-1 that greatly increases the risk of cancer. Here are just some of the many studies on this subject:

IGF-1 is critically involved in the aberrant growth of human breast cancer cells. (Journal of the National Institute of Health, 1991-3).

We manufacture IGF-1 in our bodies. We also consume IGF-1 in pasteurized, homogenized dairy milk. The tiny homogenized fat globules carry IGF-1 from milk through the stomach and gut into the bloodstream where they can circulate through the body to exert powerful growth effects. This IGF-1 allows cancers to grow. (Robert Cohen, Milk – The Deadly Poison, Argus Publishing, January 1, 1998, ISBN: 0965919609).

Estrogen regulation of IGF-1 in breast cancer cells would support the hypothesis that IGF-1 has a regulatory function in breast cancer. (Molecular Cell Endocrinology, March, 99-2).

IGF-1 is a potent growth factor for cellular proliferation in the human breast carcinoma cell line. (Journal of Cellular Physiology, January, 1994, 158-1).

IGF-1 plays a major role in breast cancer cell growth. (European Journal of Cancer, 29A - 16, 1993).

IGF-1 produces a 10-fold increase in RNA levels of cancer cells. IGF-1 appears to be a critical component in cellular proliferation. (Experimental Cell Research, March, 1994, 211-1).

IGF-1 accelerates the growth of breast cancer cells. (Science, Vol. 259, January 29, 1993).

A strong positive association was observed between IGF-1 levels and prostate cancer risk. (Science, vol. 279, January 23, 1998).

IGF-1 can affect the proliferation of breast epithelial cells, and is thought to have a role in breast cancer. (The Lancet, vol. 351, May 9, 1998).

IGF-1 strongly stimulates the proliferation of a variety of cancer cells, including those from lung cancer. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 91, no. 2, January 20, 1999).

IGF-1 is widely involved in human carcinogenesis. A significant association between IGF-1 and an increased risk of lung, colon, prostate, and pre-menopausal breast cancer has recently been reported. (International Journal of Cancer, 2000 Aug. 87:4).

A raised level of IGF-1 has been associated with breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. (Rosemary Hoskins, Food Fact no. 2, A Safe Alliance Publication, 1998).

By continuing to drink [dairy] milk, one delivers the most powerful growth hormone in nature to his or her body (IGF-I). That hormone has been called the key factor in the growth of breast, prostate, and lung cancer. At the very best, or worst, this powerful growth hormone instructs all cells to grow. This might be the reason that Americans are so overweight. At the very worst, this hormone does not discriminate. When it finds an existing cancer, usually controlled by our immune systems, the message it delivers is: GROW! (Robert Cohen, Milk – The Deadly Poison, Argus Publishing, January 1, 1998, ISBN: 0965919609).

Several studies have shown powerful associations between IGF-1 and the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer, and pre-menopausal breast cancer. As a matter of fact, recent evidence indicates that high IGF-1 levels may be more important than other previously reported risk factors for cancer. The pharmaceutical industry is well aware of the increasingly clear association between IGF-1 and cancer. Chemotherapeutic drugs are being developed to block the activity of IGF-1 or enhance the activity of IGF binding protein-3. (Smith, George Davey, et al. Cancer and insulin-like growth factor-I. British Medical Journal, Vol. 321, October 7, 2000, pp. 847-48).

IGF-1 has been called ‘plug and play cancer fuel’ by many. Here is what Dr. Sarfaraz K. Niazi (PhD pharmaceutical sciences, University of Illinois, USA) has to say regarding hormones in milk:

‘Some dairy milk samples also show noticeable concentration of a growth hormone given to cows to promote their growth and increase milk production. Being fat-soluble, hormones are more concentrated in the cream. Hormones in milk are a serious threat to health because even at very low concentrations, they can cause severe imbalance of our physiologic system. They have also been implicated in many types of cancers and decreased resistance to infections and diseases. Though prohibited in some parts of the world, unscrupulous farmers continue to use hormones. Whatever a cow eats shows up in her udders. The grass, silage, straw, cereals, roots, tubers, legumes, oilseeds, oilcakes, and milk by-products, which contain a variety of chemical additives, make the diet of modern cow. The diet of cows is rife with pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and traces of heavy metals along with chemicals from spoilage. With each glass of milk shoved down little Jane's or Johnny's throat, comes the increased chance of their developing atherosclerosis, cancer, autoimmune diseases, infections and a host of other diseases still unidentified, when they reach adulthood.’

Levels of IGF-1 ….have been associated with prostate cancer risk in at least three prospective studies. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have provided abundant evidence that IGF-1 can promote prostate carcinogens, including the observations that IGF-1 administration induces prostate growth in the rat, and that prostate tumor development in transgenic mouse models is accompanied by elevations in IGF-1 expression. Sources: (i) Gann, Peter H., MD, ScD, Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer, Rev Urol. 2002; 4(Suppl 5): S3–S10. PMCID: PMC1476014. (ii) Pollak M. Insulin-like growth factors and prostate cancer. Epidemiol Rev. 2001;23:59–66.

‘We showed that IGF-1 can completely take the place of growth hormone” in breast tissue. In other words, IGF-1 can trigger cell growth without an outside cue. Estrogen can amplify the cell-proliferating effects seen with IGF-1, both in the breast and prostate. Excess of IGF-1 or estrogen occurs in the presence of the other which can cause breast hyperplasia (cell division on overdrive) putting one at risk for breast cancer.’ (Kleinberg, David L., et al, Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in the Transition from Normal Mammary Development to Preneoplastic Mammary Lesions, Endocr. Rev., Feb 2009; 30: 51 – 74).

Keep well,
Russell Eaton
www.the-foolproof-diet.com

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Many people have asked me for the perfect replacement for dairy milk. To suddenly give up dairy milk is a step too far for many people because it also means giving up the foods that you are used to eating with dairy milk. For example, without milk how can you enjoy breakfast cereals, coffee with milk, yogurt, and the many desserts (and savory dishes) that include milk?

Well now you can give up dairy milk and still enjoy everything that you are used to eating with milk. Simply switch to coconut milk. The latest scientific research shows that coconuts are in fact not fattening! The molecular structure of coconut fat is different – it gets stored as energy instead of as body fat. This gives you energy and helps you lose weight and stay slim. For the evidence see www.the-coconut.com.

Coconut milk is very nutritious and absolutely delicious. Do not confuse canned coconut milk with home-made coconut milk. The former is a condiment, the latter is a genuine dairy milk substitute. For the first time ever, The Incredible Coconut Milk Book (www.the-coconut.com) shows how to make wonderful coconut milk that makes a perfect substitute for dairy milk.

Home-made coconut milk is non-fattening, nutritious, and absolutely delicious. Best of all it is far, far superior in quality compared to any kind of commercial milk, whether dairy or non-dairy. Up until now, making coconut milk at home has been a complicated and time-consuming affair. But now at last you can make coconut milk at home quickly and easily, saving time and money.

As a visitor to this blog I am pleased to offer you a free copy of The Incredible Coconut Book which you can download right now. Just go to www.the-coconut.com and download the book straight away. This book shows how to make irresistible coconut milk, coconut yogurt, coconut ice-cream, and coconut chocolate mousse – all non-fattening, all super nutritious, and all truly delicious. You won’t have to break open a coconut to make these recipes! The recipe ingredients are easily purchased from supermarkets just about anywhere in the world, so don’t wait, go now to www.the-coconut.com.

Russell Eaton
www.the-coconut.com

New research shows milk is poor source of calcium

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:54:00 +0000

The Milk Myth: What Your Body Really Needs
(This article taken from Mercola.com)
A recent study claims that young adults are not drinking enough milk -- at least according to press reports on the matter. But according to the study’s lead author Nicole Larson, the focus on the study was on calcium.
The words "milk" and "calcium" are often used interchangeably in the popular press. But while milk is a calcium source, no standard other than that of the National Dairy Council considers it the best calcium source.
The suggestion that you need to drink three glasses of the secretion of a cow's mammary glands in order to be healthy is a bit outrageous and doesn't fit the human evolutionary profile. In fact, most humans around the world cannot easily digest cow milk.
Yogurt has more calcium than milk and is easier to digest. Collards and other greens also have about as much or more calcium than milk by the cup. Greens, unlike milk, have the added benefit of vitamin K, also necessary for strong bones. Sesame is also very high in calcium.
When you measure calcium by cup of food product, milk is high on the list. When you view it by calorie, though, milk is at the bottom. A hundred calories of turnip greens have over three times as much calcium as 100 calories of whole milk.

For more information about milk go to http://www.about-milk.info/

Got Milk PMS commercials – the murky truth

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:22:00 +0000

"Got Milk" is the name of an advertising campaign referred to as a 'milk consumption campaign'. It is sponsored by the milk industry. Got Milk came out of the Californian Milk Process Board in 1993. It was created to increase milk consumption in the region and has now grown into an international programme.

In March 2004 the Got Milk campaign was launched in the United Kingdom. In the UK like the US, milk consumption has suffered at the hands of the increase in soda drinks. The move into the UK and other countries is an attempt to reverse the process.

Typically, the ‘got milk’ ads show celebrities with a "milk moustache" and exhort you to drink milk to ensure good health. With promises of strong bones, lower blood pressure, and better sports performance, these milk moustache ads are everywhere, providing millions of people with what unfortunately has become a primary source of nutrition information.

But instead of helping, these ads are confusing and miss-educating consumers according to the PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, USA).

Some Got Milk commercials make reference to PMS in women, implying that the consumption of dairy milk is somehow helpful in alleviating Pre-Menstrual Symptoms. This is, of course, complete nonsense. If anything, dairy milk makes you feel bloated and less healthy and can therefore aggravate PMS.

The Got Milk PMS commercials were prompted by a study carried out by Dr. Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson of the University of Massachusetts and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. This study showed a "significantly lower risk of developing PMS in women with intakes of vitamin D and calcium from food sources.”

But it does not follow that dairy milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium. On the contrary, milk is a bad source of these nutrients, and there is no research showing that milk alleviates PMS.

Most of the milk moustache ads that make health claims are false and misleading, and in violation of federal advertising guidelines, according to a PCRM petition filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in July 2000.

In its petition, PCRM requested an investigation of milk moustache ads, holding them to be scientifically unsubstantiated, purposefully deceptive, and harmful advertising. PCRM's petition has been referred by the FTC to the USDA for investigation because—believe it or not—it is actually the USDA that is promulgating these ads on behalf of the private dairy industry.

To find out more about this subject please go to Got Milk PMS Commercials. Here you will also discover a sensational report showing that organic dairy milk is much worse for health compared to regular pasteurized milk. Also check out http://www.about-milk.info/ for other fascinating facts.

Organic milk less healthy than regular milk

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:22:00 +0000

It is generally accepted that organic food is, at the very least, not worse than nonorganic food. But when it comes to dairy milk it’s another matter. A new book reveals dramatic evidence showing that organic milk is significantly unhealthier than regular pasteurized milk.

This may come as a shock to many people and families who pay extra money for organic milk in the belief that it is better than regular milk. Sometimes the extra cost of organic milk can be nearly double the price of regular milk.

But how is it possible that organic pasteurized milk sold in supermarkets is actually worse for health than the equivalent nonorganic variety? One may argue that organic milk may not be much better than regular milk. But it’s quite another matter to say that organic milk is actually much worse for you than regular milk.

Yet all the latest evidence is showing precisely this. Furthermore, UHT milk (Long Life milk) is shown to be even worse for health than organic milk. Astoundingly, about 80% of organic milk sold in the world today is UHT milk.

In some countries, such as Spain, Belgium, and France over 95% of all milk sales are UHT. In other countries, sales of UHT are growing fast, ranging from 15% to 95%. The milk industry likes this because the longer shelf life of UHT makes the supply chain from cow to consumer more economical. This also has government support – there is a worldwide trend to switch up to 90% of all milk over to UHT by 2020 in the belief that this is better for the environment (less refrigeration means lower global warming emissions).

According to a study by Prof. Rusty Bishop, University of Wisconsin, even in countries such as the USA and Canada, where UHT sales are less than half of all milk sales, “over 80% of organic milk is sold as organic UHT milk.”

UHT milk (both organic and nonorganic) is significantly worse for health for a variety of reasons. It is known, for example, that UHT is much higher in damaged whey proteins compared to regular milk – this in turn is a major cause of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. There is no shortage of evidence to support this.

In a study published in January 2007 in the American Journal of Epidemiology a clear link was found between Parkinson’s Disease and milk. The diets of over 130,000 people were analysed and it was found that those who consumed the most cow’s milk had a massive 70 percent higher risk of getting the disease.

But why is organic milk worse than regular milk? Isn’t organic milk meant to have less pesticide residues and no antibiotics? Isn’t organic milk meant to be better for the environment and kinder to cows? When the evidence is examined, an astonishing picture emerges. Organic milk has no less pesticides and antibiotics than regular milk. Furthermore, the vast majority of organic cows (in the world generally) are treated no better than nonorganic cows. They are kept in confined spaces in cow sheds most of their lives, and the belief that organic cows are allowed out to pasture most of the time is very much a myth.

When it comes to the environment, the latest research is clearly showing that organic milk is significantly worse for the environment in terms of energy consumption and global warming emissions. This is so because the supply chain for organic milk requires greater energy expenditure (pint for pint) in terms of transportation, warehousing and distribution. Organic milk, which is mostly produced by smaller farms, simply cannot match the economies of scale that apply to regular pasteurized milk.

To find out why organic milk and UHT milk are so much worse for health (compared to regular milk) see Organic Milk Myth. Other resources can be found at http://www.about-milk.info/.

How to maximize your health and lifespan

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:49:00 +0000

Science is advancing at such a pace that centenarians are becoming common place. Living to 120 or even 140 years is now very feasible for people who are today under 70. You want to be healthy to enjoy life right now, and you want to remain healthy for as long as you live. What follows is the very latest advice from longevity experts. Probably the most important advice is normalizing your insulin and level. There is no way you will age slowly or be healthy with an elevated insulin level.

Keep your insulin levels low. Elevated insulin levels are one of your key physical influences that contribute to rapid aging, and there is no question that optimizing your insulin levels is an absolute necessity if you want to slow down your aging process. Consuming sugar and grains will increase your insulin level, which is the equivalent of slamming your foot on your aging accelerator. There’s simply no more potent way to accelerate aging than eating sugar and grains.

Minimize your stress. Understand what factors in your life are causing harmful stress and deal with them. Stress causes the body to produce cortisol; this in turn harms your body and your health in many different ways. Stress reduction is one of the biggest factors in healthy longetivity. Avoiding stress includes getting enough sleep.

Eat a healthy diet based on natural whole foods: salads, vegetables, fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and pulses of all types. Avoid or minimize the consumption of animal products (meat, fish, dairy). Avoid dairy milk, refined grain foods, sugar, saturated fat, and salt. Become familiar with the Glycemic Index chart of foods and use this as your guide to all future eating. For Glycemic Index information go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_index. Enter Glycemic Index chart in Google and you will find plenty of free charts.

Get enough daily omega-3 oil. This is absolutely vital for both physical and mental well-being. Most people consume omega-3 and omega-6 oils in a ratio of 1:15 (typical junk food diet). This is terrible for health. Ideally you want to consume omega-3 and omega-6 in equal amounts, in a ratio of 1:1 (certainly not more than a ratio of 1:4). Don’t worry about getting the ratio exactly right, just focus on eating omega-3 rich foods and the right ratio will just fall into place. Omega-3 rich foods include the following:
- Flax seed oil — contains four times more omega-3 than omega-6.
- Perilla seed oil — contains three-four more omega-3 than omega-6.
- Hemp oil — contains four times more omega-6 to omega-3.
- Pumpkin oil — contains 3 times more omega-6 than omega-3.
- Walnut oil – contains ten times more omega-6 than omega-3.
- Safflower — has no omega-3 and 75% of its oil is omega-6, so best avoided..
- Sunflower — has no omega-3 and 65% of its oil is omega-6, so best avoided.
- Wheat germ oil — slight amount of omega-3 but mostly omega-6, so best avoided.
- Olive oil — no omega-3 and 8% of its oil is omega-6. But olive oil contains other valuable monounsaturated oils and should therefore be part of your diet..
- Corn oil — contains mostly omega-6, so best avoided.
- Flax seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and most other edible seeds are all high in omega-3.
- Walnuts are high in omega-3 but and many other nuts also contain omega-3.
- All kinds of dark green vegetables have omega-3 in varying degrees.
- Soy products, and some other kinds of beans and pulses have omega-3.
- Omega-3 oil supplements are widely available from health food stores. I take a full tablespoon of omega-3 oil every morning before breakfast.

Note: This will be controversial, but it is best to avoid eating sea-food as a source of omega-3 oil. This is because sea-food just about everywhere is heavily polluted. The body of a fish acts as a filter – the flesh accumulates pollutants (including heavy metals) from the high volumes of sea water that filter through the fish each day. Furthermore, seafood is rich in a kind of protein that is not easily digested by humans, and the undigested protein is harmful to good health. It is a myth that fish in the middle of the ocean are unpolluted – sea currents pollute sea water everywhere.

Get your antioxidants from foods. Antioxidants have been shown to have anti-aging effects. Good sources include blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, beans, and artichokes.

Switch to coconut oil. Another excellent anti-aging food is coconut oil. In fact, it’s doubly beneficial because it can be both eaten and applied directly to your skin. Coconut oil can be used in place of other oils, margarine, butter, or shortening, and can be used for all your cooking needs. It can help you lose weight, or maintain your already good weight, reduce your risk of heart disease, and lower your cholesterol, among other things. YOu can also make coconut milk as an excellent alternative to milk. For a recipe on how to make coconut milk see The Milk Imperative.

Get your resveratrol naturally. Resveratrol is one of the forerunners in the anti-aging pill race, but more than likely, by the time they’ve manipulated it into a synthetic pill, it won’t be healthy for you. Although resveratrol is the antioxidant found in red wine, I can’t recommend drinking wine in the hopes of extending your life because alcohol in excess is a neurotoxin that can poison your brain and harm your body’s delicate hormonal balance. Instead, get your resveratrol from natural sources, such as whole grape skins and seeds, raspberries, mulberries, and peanuts. Check ‘resveratrol’ in google.

Get plenty of exercise. Studies repeatedly show that regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise can help prevent or delay your onset of hypertension, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, and the falls that lead to hip fracture. Although a lifetime of regular exercise is ideal, it’s never too late to start. It’s been shown that even individuals in their 70’s can substantially increase both strength and endurance with exercise.

Avoid as many chemicals, toxins, and pollutants as possible. This includes tossing out your toxic household cleaners, soaps, personal hygiene products, air fresheners, bug sprays, lawn pesticides, and insecticides, just to name a few, and replacing them with non-toxic alternatives.

Avoid pharmaceutical drugs (unless adamantly prescribed). Pharmaceutical drugs kill thousands of people prematurely every year – as an expected side effect of the action of the drug. And, if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, you most likely will never need any of them in the first place.

There is no quick fix when it comes to life extension – no pill and no magic fountain. While there are certainly some exceptions – some centenarians do little in the way of healthy eating or exercise -- for most of us, living a healthy life well into our 100’s will take some dedication to making healthy lifestyle changes, and it's up to you to decide if it’s worth it.

All the best for 2008,

http://www.milkimperative.com/

Got Osteoporosis? The Conspiracy behind milk

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:25:00 +0000

The following is an extract form an article published by Courtney Kaminski at www.brockpress.com.
Issue date: 10/10/07

"The recommendation to drink three glasses of low-fat milk or eat three servings of other dairy products per day to prevent osteoporosis is another step in the wrong direction," said the Harvard School of Public Health, in a 2005 study on the consumption of dairy products.
Most current university students grew up in the heyday of the "Got Milk?" campaign that had countless celebrities, professional athletes and even cartoon characters sporting milk mustaches in support of drinking milk for strong bones.

Yet, amid this push to get everyone drinking three glasses of milk` a day, some evidence has come forward that suggests that milk may not in fact be the surefire way to stave off osteoporosis, and instead, may in fact be part of the cause.

Unlike the West, most of the globe does not consume cow's milk, and still most of these countries have much lower rates of osteoporosis, than what is experienced in the USA.
Milksucks.com, a Web site dedicated to exposing the alleged myths that have been perpetuated about the health benefits of milk, cites one study that points to milk as a potential cause of osteoporosis.

"In one study, funded by the National Dairy Council, a group of postmenopausal women were given three eight-ounce glasses of skim milk every day for two years, and their bones were compared to those of a control group of women not given the milk. The dairy group consumed 1,400 mg of calcium per day and lost bone at twice the rate of the control group. According to the researchers, 'this may have been due to the average 30 per cent increase in protein intake during milk supplementation ... The adverse effect of increases in protein intake on calcium balance has been reported from several laboratories, including our own'; they then cite 10 other studies."

Milksucks.com also indicates that dairy products contain both saturated fats and cholesterol, which have been linked to causing heart disease, cancer, Crohn's disease, and "a host of childhood illnesses from asthma to diabetes".

There was also a study by Yale University researchers, looking at 34 studies in 16 countries, which demonstrated the highest rates of Osteoporosis were found in countries where people had the highest meat, milk, and animal product intake.

More conclusively, in 2000, a review of all the related research collected since 1985 about the relationship between dairy products and bone health, published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, stated: "If dairy food intakes confer bone health, one might expect this to have been apparent from the 57 outcomes, which included randomized, controlled trials and longitudinal cohort studies involving 645,000 person-years … There have been few carefully designed studies of the effects of dairy foods on bone health; the body of scientific evidence appears inadequate to support a recommendation for daily intake of dairy foods to promote bone health in the general U.S. population."

Still not convinced that that glass of ice cold refreshing milk is bad for you? Consider that unlike the multi-billion dollar dairy industry, science does not have $300 million annually to debunk the wonders of milk that have been ingrained in Western society.

According to Milksucks.com, "Dr. Walter Willett, veteran nutrition researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, said that calcium consumption via dairy-product intake 'has become like a religious crusade,' overshadowing true preventive measures such as physical exercise."
While it may be tempting to disregard this and similar Web sites as mere propaganda, it's hard to see a real difference between it and the famous "Got Milk?" advertising campaign. It is reminiscent of the tobacco industry claiming that there was no relation between smoking and cancer. It begs the question: How do you know milk is good for you?

If it is simply because the dairy industry (the same people that will lose the most financially if you stop consuming dairy) told you, then you may want to re-evaluate what you know to be true.
***********
For a more detailed study of the scientific evidence showing how milk actually increases the risk of osteoporosis, go to www.milkimkperative.com.

Link between iron deficiency, obesity and milk

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:02:00 +0000

Scientists Establish Link Between Iron Deficiency And Childhood Obesity
September 5, 2007 7:27 a.m. EST
Nidhi Sharma - AHN News Writer

Washington D.C. (AHN) - Obese American kids run an alarmingly high risk of iron deficiency, a study by UT South western Medical Center researchers has found. The study, appearing in the September issue of the journal Pediatrics, is the first to report an link between iron deficiency and childhood obesity among children as young as 1 to 3 years old.

A national survey of 1,641 toddlers has found that 20 percent of overweight toddlers to be iron-deficient compared to 8 percent of those at risk for being overweight, and 7 percent of normal-weight toddlers.

Iron-deficiency anemia in infancy and early childhood can also lead to delay in behavioral and cognitive development, including impaired learning, decreased school achievement, and lower scores on tests of mental and motor development.

Scientists also added that iron deficiency in kids can be attributed to parents who let their children drink cow's milk and juice from a bottle, instead of weaning them and introducing iron-rich foods.

Bottle-fed children tend to drink too much milk and juice, which are low in iron, and don't get enough solid food.

*********************************
Comment by Russell Eaton: as explained in The Milk Imperative, many studies show that milk causes anemia in infants:

1. Dairy milk contains virtually no iron and therefore contributes nothing towards the prevention of anemia. The trace amount of iron that dairy milk contains (less than one milligram per quart) gets poorly absorbed: the indigestible protein in milk binds with the iron and leaves the body without being absorbed into the bloodstream.

2. Dairy milk makes an infant less interested in eating other foods that are good for body growth and that provide better sources of iron. This is so because dairy milk is filling, thus satiating feelings of hunger for more nutritious food.

3. Dairy milk causes some infants to lose iron from their intestines through intestinal bleeding (the harsh casein in milk irritates the delicate lining of the baby’s intestines). This bleeding is pervasive and usually not sufficiently severe to be noticed in stools, but enough to cause anemia. It is estimated that half the iron-deficiency in infants in the USA is from cow-milk induced intestinal bleeding! Many studies have been carried out that show how dairy milk causes intestinal bleeding. Here are extracts from some of these studies:

Milk consumption has been shown to cause intestinal bleeding, resulting in low hemoglobin count. The result: weakness, depression, irritability. (Robert Cohen, Milk A-Z, 2001, Argus Publishing, ISBN 0965919684).

Babies who are fed whole cow’s milk during the second six months of life may experience a 30% increase in intestinal blood loss and a significant loss of iron in their stools. (Journal of Pediatrics, 1990, 116).

Children with iron deficiency had a higher intake of cow’s milk compared to those with sufficient iron. Intake of cow’s milk is significantly higher in children with iron deficiency. (Acta Paediatrica, 1999 Dec, 88:12).

Cow’s milk-induced intestinal bleeding is a well-recognized cause of rectal bleeding in infancy. In all cases, bleeding resolved completely after instituting a cow’s milk-free diet. (Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 1999 Oct, 34:10).

Significant rectal bleeding is the most common symptom in cow’s milk allergy. (West Virginia Medical Journal, 1999 Sep-Oct; 95,5).

Cow’s milk has been linked to a variety of health problems, including hemoglobin loss, mood swings, depression, and irritability. (Townsend Medical Letter, May, 1995).

The association with anemia and acute intestinal bleeding in infants is known to all physicians. (Robert Cohen, Milk – The Deadly Poison, Argus Publishing, January 1, 1998, ISBN: 0965919609).

Milk causes diabetes and heart cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:18:00 +0000

Milk causes diabetes and heart disease

According to the results of the study conducted out of the University of Cardiff in the UK and as promoted in media throughout the world during July 2007, drinking a pint of milk a day may protect men against diabetes and heart disease. But upon closer examination of the research, Jon Barron concludes that the study is decidedly flawed and without merit.

Jon Barron of The Baseline of Health Foundation (http://www.jonbarron.org/newsletters/07/7-30-2007.php) makes the following comments in his latest newsletter:

The Study

The 20-year study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, analyzed how the rates of metabolic syndrome were affected by dairy consumption.

Metabolic syndrome (also known as syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome) is a cluster of conditions including obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides that increase the risk of heart disease. Metabolic syndrome is said to be the fastest growing disease entity in the world. On the other hand, although it does predict vascular disease and diabetes quite powerfully, it is probably not a true syndrome and should be thought of more as an elaborate risk formula -- increasing the risk of death by some 50%.

The background

According to the study, which tracked 2,375 men between the ages of 45 and 59 over a 20 year period, eating dairy products reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome. The more they consumed, the lower the risk. At the start of the study, 15% had metabolic syndrome and had almost double the risk of coronary artery heart disease and four times the risk of diabetes of those without the syndrome. But the researchers found that men were 62% less likely to have the syndrome if they drank a pint or more of milk every day and 56% less likely to have it if they regularly ate other dairy products.

The more dairy products the men consumed, the less likely they were to have the syndrome.

The reality

In fact, although the study tracked a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome with increased dairy consumption, it found little actual correlation between dairy consumption and the incidence of diabetes itself. There were only 7 more cases of diabetes among the lowest consumers of dairy versus the highest. The incidence of heart disease was not tracked.

Also, people who had diabetes at the start of the study were excluded from the results so that we don't know if their condition improved or deteriorated while drinking milk. That would be significant information in determining the overall health value of dairy when it comes to metabolic syndrome.

Why it means nothing

There are a number of problems with the study, but let's start with the two most obvious.

What were the non milk drinkers drinking?

What does drinking milk say about the overall diet of the participants?

If not milk, what?

The study only references the amount of milk and dairy products people were consuming -- nothing else -- not, for example, what else they were drinking or eating. The simple fact is that people only drink so much liquid in a day. If they're drinking more milk, they're drinking less of something else. Conversely, if they're drinking less milk, they're drinking more of something else. If that something else is soda pop or sugared energy drinks, that's a problem. Each ounce of soda contains almost a teaspoon of sugar, usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup. That's a major factor in the onset of metabolic syndrome. Tea and coffee drinkers don't necessarily escape scot-free either. Six cups of coffee a day with 2 teaspoons of sugar in each cup still works out to 40 lbs (18.4 K) of sugar a year.

In other words, the so called health benefits attributed to milk in the study may have nothing to do with milk at all. They may instead be a reflection of lowered consumption of more harmful highly-sugared beverages.

Overall diet

A question that occurs to me is: why are men in their forties and fifties drinking milk every day? Is it because they want something to drink with their cookies and cake at lunch like children (probably not), or is it because they are making what they consider to be a conscious health choice (even if misguided)? If so, what does that say about the rest of their diet? We know that people who drink lots of soda pop also tend to be high consumers of fast foods and snack foods. In fact, they're usually sold in tandem, not only in fast food restaurants (KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, for example, are owned by Yum! Brands, a spin-off of PepsiCo) but also in grocery store power aisles. So if the drinking of milk was the result of an attempt by some of the participants to avoid fast foods and sodas, were those men also more likely to have eaten whole grain foods and fresh produce as opposed to fast foods and sugared snacks? We know that fast food diets are more likely to contribute to the onset of metabolic syndrome, and that whole foods are more likely to keep it at bay? It sounds likely that the men drinking milk were eating an overall better diet, but the study doesn't tell us either way. In any case, without that information, the study is meaningless. You could probably come up with the same results (maybe even better) by doing a survey on how much water the men drank -- the more water, the lower the incidence of metabolic syndrome.

Heck, why didn't the researchers just cut to the chase and ask about the participant's sugar intake in foods and beverages?

What do we actually know?

When it comes to dairy, we actually know quite a lot. For example:

Consumption of cow's milk in children has been linked to a threefold increase in Type 1 diabetes.

Consumption of milk has been associated with insulin-dependent diabetes in numerous studies.

Milk consumption is repeatedly promoted as lowering the incidence of obesity, and yet numerous studies indicate that it does just the opposite.

Then, of course, all the Cardiff study looked at were the triggers for Metabolic Syndrome. Perhaps milk is implicated in other problems such as cancer, allergies, arthritis, infection, and toxicity. And it is!

In Lessons from the Miracle Doctors, I talk about a number of the health problems associated with dairy consumption. Those are actually only highlights; there's much more. First of all, the following two sites might be of interest.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. www.pcrm.org

The NotMilk homepage www.notmilk.com

To summarize some of the things that you will find there, there are many, many problems associated with consuming dairy. Many of these are probably conditions you are already noticing in your own body -- particularly those that relate to allergies, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. For example:

Galactose - Ovarian cancer rates parallel dairy-eating patterns around the world. The culprit seems to be galactose, the simple sugar broken down from the milk sugar lactose.

Pesticides - concentrate in the milk of both farm animals and humans. A study by the Environmental Defense Fund found widespread pesticide contamination of human breast milk among 1,400 women in forty-six states. The levels of contamination were twice as high among the meat-and-dairy-eating women as among vegetarians.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria - Joseph Beasley, M.D., and Jerry Swift wrote in The Kellogg Report (The Institute of Health Policy and Practice, 1989) that even "moderate use of antibiotics in animal feed can result in the development of antibiotic resistance in animal bacteria - and the subsequent transfer of that resistance to human bacteria."

Vitamin D Toxicity - Heavy consumption of milk, especially by small children, may result in vitamin D toxicity. Records show that dairies do not carefully regulate how much vitamin D is added to milk. (Milk has been "fortified" with vitamin D ever since deficiencies were found to cause rickets.) A study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine (April 30, 1992) showed that of forty-two milk samples, only 12 percent were within the expected range of vitamin D content. Testing of ten infant formula samples revealed seven with more than twice the vitamin D content reported on the label; one sample had more than four times the label amount.

Growth Hormones - Recently, cows have started to receive growth hormones to increase their milk production, although the long-term effects on humans are unknown.

Casein - Perhaps the biggest health problem with cow's milk arises from the proteins in it: Cow's milk proteins damage the human immune system. Repeated exposure to these proteins disrupts normal immune function and may eventually lead to disease. Cow's milk contains many proteins that are poorly digested and harmful to the immune system. Fish and meat proteins are much less damaging, while plant proteins pose the least hazard.

Removing dairy from the diet has been shown to shrink enlarged tonsils and adenoids, indicating relief for the immune system -- even more so if you are lactose intolerant.

Similarly, doctors experimenting with dairy-free diets often report a marked reduction in colds, flu's, sinusitis and ear infections. In addition, dairy is a tremendous mucus producer and a burden on the respiratory, digestive and immune systems.

Colic and Ear Infections - One out of every five infants in the United States suffers bouts of colic. Another common problem among infants receiving dairy, either directly or indirectly, is chronic ear infections. You just don't see this painful condition among infants and children who aren't getting cow's milk into their systems.

Allergies, Asthma and Sinus Problems - Poorly digested bovine antigens (substances that provoke an immune reaction) like casein become "allergens" in allergic individuals. Dairy products are the leading cause of food allergy, often revealed by diarrhea, constipation and fatigue. Many cases of asthma and sinus infections are reported to be relieved and even eliminated by cutting out dairy. The exclusion of dairy, however, must be complete to see any benefit.

Arthritis - Antigens in cow's milk may also contribute to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. When antibody-antigen complexes (resulting from an immune response) are deposited in the joints, pain, swelling, redness and stiffness result; these complexes increase in arthritic people who eat dairy products, and the pain fades rapidly after patients eliminate dairy products from their diets.

Childhood Anemia - Cow's milk causes loss of iron and hemoglobin in infants (one reason the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants not drink cow's milk) by triggering blood loss from the intestinal tract. Some research also shows that iron absorption is blocked by as much as 60 percent when dairy products are consumed in the same meal.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Lung Cancer - A 1989 study in Nutrition and Cancer linked the risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with the consumption of cow's milk and butter. High levels of the cow's milk protein beta-lactoglobulin have also been found in the blood of lung cancer patients, suggesting a link with this cancer as well.

Concluding that dairy is good for you while ignoring these issues hardly makes sense.

Incompletely digested large dairy proteins, such as casein, become antigens (substances that provoke immune reactions) once they enter the bloodstream in individuals who are sensitive to them. Plus, the milk you buy in the store is not raw milk. If you must drink milk, be smart about your choices:

Raw organic, if you can find it, avoids many of the problems -- but presents health issues of its own unless you can be sure of the source.

Organic pasteurized is better than non-organic, but because of the heat used in pasteurization, it presents significantly higher allergy problems than raw.

I do not recommend non-organic, pasteurized, homogenized dairy products under any circumstances.

And while whey eliminates the casein problem, it still contains the two main allergenic proteins, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactaglobulin -- the two most heat sensitive proteins.

Soy milk, of course, is not an effective alternative, since it is high in allergens itself, blocks the absorption of important minerals such as calcium, and contains high levels of phytoestrogens, which although beneficial in moderate amounts, can be counter-productive in large amounts -- particularly for children.

Raw Milk

Are there any health benefits to drinking raw milk? According to the FDA, no. And if all you measure are protein and fat content and added vitamin D, they are correct. But if you consider that pasteurization involves heating milk to approximately 1450 Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or longer and therefore kills all enzymes and beneficial bacteria in the process, then the answer is not so obvious. Heating the milk to pasteurize it "denatures" dairy proteins making some of them much more allergenic than they are in their natural state. Consider that many cases of asthma and sinus infections are reported to be relieved, and even eliminated, by simply cutting out dairy. And if you toss in the fact that pasteurization makes calcium insoluble and unavailable to the body (a key reason countries with the highest pasteurized dairy consumption have the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world), the health benefits swing decidedly in favor of raw milk.

Can raw milk become contaminated? Yes, absolutely -- but not often. Most raw milk dairies tend to run extremely clean operations because of the liability issues. And keep in mind that in this recent outbreak only 8 illnesses were reported. We see far more E. coli contamination in meat each year than in raw dairy -- even as a percentage of users. And in fact, we regularly see contamination of pasteurized dairy too, but the FDA never seems to propose that people stop eating meat and pasteurized dairy. It seems raw milk just doesn't have a big enough lobby supporting it.

So am I ( Jon Barron) advocating drinking raw milk?

Not necessarily. I still have issues with some of the proteins in dairy that tend to trigger allergic reactions, whether that dairy is raw or pasteurized. But if you are going to drink milk, raw organic milk is a healthier option than the pasteurized, homogenized moo-cow juice you find in the supermarkets.

Conclusion

I know that peer reviewed studies are the sine qua non of the medical world, but in reality many of them are so much less than they appear. As I have repeatedly pointed out in the past, you can get a study to prove any point you want -- even contradictory points. And once a flawed study is published, it's then cited by other studies over and over again, until utter nonsense becomes incontrovertible "fact." Here are some examples.

Echinacea

Antioxidants

Dairy and Weight Loss

Echinacea again

Bottom line, when it comes to the current dairy study, pay no attention; it's decidedly flawed.

Note from Russell Eaton, author of The Milk Imperative: clearly, milk does nothing to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. As explained in The Milk Imperative, all the evidence and peer-reviewed research is showing the opposite: milk actually increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The misleading publicity given to the University of Cardiff study (no doubt encouraged by the milk industry) is a travesty and does a grave disservice to human health. For more information go to www.milkimperative.com.

The horror of homogenized milk

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:40:00 +0000

Virtually all pasteurized milk is also homogenized. Homogenization is a mechanical process that forces the milk through thin nozzles to break down and disperse the fat globules into very small particles. This stops cream rising to the top.

Technically, this is what happens: when milk is passed through a fine filter at pressures equal to 4,000 pounds per square inch, the fat globules (liposomes) are made smaller (micronized) by a factor of 10 times or more. These fat molecules become evenly dispersed within the liquid milk, so that just one pint of milk can contain over one-trillion tiny protective fat "vehicles."

Homogenization can cause serious health problems for three reasons:

1. Increase in toxins. The tiny homogenized fat globules that get through to the bloodstream act as ?vehicles? for harmful toxins, hormones, and proteins (lead, mercury, dioxins, IGF-1, etc) that may be present in the milk and food we consume.

Normally, our body gets protected from the harmful elements of consumption: our digestive system and liver act to filter out harmful things in the food we eat. But when dairy milk is consumed, the tiny homogenized fat globules ?absorb' these harmful elements and carry them into the body, bypassing the liver.Once there, the toxins get carried to vital organs and other parts of the body where they get 'offloaded' when the micronized fat eventually dissolves, causing disease and illness. This is how harmful bovine growth hormones (IGF-1) survive digestion and gets into all parts of the body.

This homogenization process, referred to as micronization of fat, is so effective that some medications are encapsulated into micronized fat as a way of delivering them into the body orally instead of using injections. Although the amount of toxins and heavy metals we consume may be very small, they accumulate in the body over a period of time. As heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead are highly toxic, only small amounts are needed for serious illness to develop. Dairy milk provides more heavy metals than just about any other kind of food because of their presence in the milk, combined with a highly effective delivery system.

2. Increase in harmful body fat. Most of the homogenized fat globules that get through to the bloodstream do not get used as energy or as useful nutrition. Instead, they cause illness or get stored as surplus body fat. This occurs for four reasons:

2.1 The homogenized fat globules are made of long chain saturated fatty acids (14, 16 and 18 chain carbon atoms). The 14 and 16 long chain fatty acids are known to increase the level of harmful (oxidized) cholesterol in the bloodstream, leading to arterial disease.

2.2 Saturated animal fat consumed in the diet cannot be used by the body unless it is first converted into non-saturated fat. Since the body cannot easily convert 14 and 16 chain fatty acids into non-saturated fat, they get dumped by the bloodstream, i.e. stored as surplus body fat.

2.3 The 14 and 16 chain homogenized fatty acids are more harmful than saturated fats (virtually on a par with trans-fatty acids). This is so because, like trans-fatty acids, they enter the body and become lodged within the cell membranes of various organs where they cause harm. They can do this because of their small size and because their molecular composition prevents them from being broken down and used by the body.

2.4 Although the 14 and 16 chain homogenized fatty acids are technically classified as saturated fat they behave more like trans-fatty acids inside the body. In pasteurized whole milk, most of the saturated fat is made up of 14 and 16 chain fatty acids (about 67%). This means that about two thirds of the saturated fat from dairy milk is not only fattening, but harmful on a par with trans-fatty acids.

3. Increase in allergy. During homogenization there is a tremendous increase in the surface area of the fat globules (lots of small fat globules have a bigger total surface area than fewer bigger fat globules). This greater surface area makes the fat globules incorporate a much greater portion of casein and whey proteins. It is thought that this accounts for the increased allergenicity of homogenized pasteurized milk.

Milk is a natural hormonal delivery system designed for growing calves. When homogenization is added to the equation, you get a super-powerful delivery system into all parts of the body, bypassing normal digestive processes. As a consequence, harmful steroids and hormones (not to mention toxins) are delivered to delicate organs, the brain, and virtually all other parts of the body.

As mentioned, almost all pasteurized milk also undergoes homogenization. This includes the various skim, low-fat, non-fat, and long-life varieties (including organic dairy milk). As a result, millions of people all over the world are causing specific and life-long harm to their bodies as a result of consuming dairy milk. This subject, and the supporting evidence, is fully explored in the book 'The Milk Imperative'.

To get more information please go to http://www.milkimperative.com/.

How milk causes acne

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:41:00 +0000

For decades scientists have searched for the causes of acne. Now a study has identified one of the key triggers: milk. Sanjida O'Connell finds out how a pinta causes pimples.

(Published: 08 May 2007, in The Independent newspaper, USA. )
Julianne never suffered from spots as a teenager, but by the time she was 28 she had terrible cystic acne along her jawline and across her neck. An American, she had travelled to Europe to learn to become a cook and a sommelier.

She decided to open a deli as well as a restaurant back in the States, so before she returned home she toured Europe, sampling every cheese she could find. As she recounted her story to the dermatologist Bill Danby, something clicked: "Oh my God, it's the cheese," she said. For six months, she cut out all dairy products. During that time she became 85 per cent free of acne, and her skin has continued to improve.

Milk has been anecdotally linked to acne for almost a century but, so far, few scientists have agreed on the real cause of acne and even fewer believe that diet plays a major role. Danby, who runs a private practice in Manchester, New Hampshire, and also works at Dartmouth Medical School, believes that milk does indeed cause acne - and that he knows what the mechanism could be.

Acne can affect anyone at any age, but it usually peaks at between 16 and 18, when up to 98 per cent of the population of Western countries is affected. A link between diet and acne has been suggested because acne is less common in other countries but increases when a Western diet is adopted. As well as being socially excruciating, acne is costly - £2bn is spent each year treating it.

Danby, who has long held that there is a link between diet and acne, persuaded Dr Walter Willett and his colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston to look into the matter. The team studied more than 47,000 women who are part of a research project called the Nurses Health Study II.

The women were asked to complete questionnaires relating to their diet as teenagers and to say whether they had ever been diagnosed with severe acne. The study found no link between food such as chocolate and chips and acne, but found one between women who had acne and those who had drunk a lot of milk.

But why should milk, such an essential bone-building nutrient, be bad for our skin? Willett believes it's because of the hormones in the milk, and Danby has taken this argument a step further. What most dermatologists usually agree on is that the male hormone testosterone (also found in women), changes to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the sebaceous glands, the oil-producing glands in the skin. Acne is produced when the hormone causes too many of the cells that line the duct of the gland to be produced too quickly. Unable to separate from each other, they stick together and form a plug in the pore - the first visible sign of acne.

Of course, everyone will respond differently to hormones. As Danby says: "The ability to develop acne is partly genetic and partly the result of hormone exposure. I tell my female patients that genetics are the key to the fact that Paris Hilton has lots of money and no zits and my patients have lots of zits and no money. It is all genetics."

The milk most of us drink is produced by cows for their calves. To ensure maximum milk yields cows are inseminated days after giving birth to their calves, which are taken away. A dairy cow will spend most of its life being milked and being pregnant at the same time.

So milk is full of hormones: not only ones intended to help the calf grow, but also those produced by the placenta to aid the cow's pregnancy. They include DHT, and other hormones that are the pre-cursors to DHT. In other words, the hormones teenagers naturally produce are plentiful in milk. It of course contains other growth-enhancing hormones too - as Danby says: "Milk is, after all, specifically designed to make things grow."

Another worrying hormone, as far as acne is concerned, is IGF-1. This "growth factor" peaks at age 15 in girls and 18 in boys, coinciding with peak acne levels. IGF-1 is thought to works with testosterone and DHT to cause acne. IGF-1 is present in cows' milk anyway, but levels rise by 10 per cent when cows are given injections of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to increase milk yield. Drinking organic milk is not a solution because the cows are still pregnant while lactating, so they have the same hormones in their milk as non-organic cows.

Danby's solution is to eliminate dairy from the diet - after all, he says, the Perricone diet is practically dairy-free. Nicholas Perricone, an American dermatologist who has launched a range of skin products, has also developed a skin-food diet based on eating large amounts of wild salmon.

For more information about how dairy milk causes acne go to: www.acnemilk.com.

The problem with protein

noreply@blogger.com (Russell Eaton) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:49:00 +0000

The following article is by the author Robert Cohen (http://www.notmilk.com).

Many people refer to milk as liquid meat, for good reason. Our children are taught in kindergarten that animal protein consumption is essential for their good health. Year after year that lie is reinforced with only one side of the scientific story, and that is criminal.
Why do nations with the highest rates of bone disease also have the highest milk consumption rates? The highest rates of osteoporosis are to be found in Denmark, Holland, Norway, and Sweden.

The key to bone disease is not how much calcium you eat. It's how much calcium you prevent from leaving your bones. Real science has taught that dietary calcium plays little or no role in preventing bone loss. (Note by Russell Eaton: this is true, and in fact dietary calcium can actually increase the risk of osteoporosis – for more information go to www.milkimperative.com).

Why Does Calcium Leave Bones? There are 28 amino acids in nature. The human body can manufacture 19 of them. The other nine are called "essential." We must get them from the foods we eat. One of those "essential" aminos is methionine. One needs methionine for many human metabolic functions including digestion, detoxification of heavy metals, and muscle metabolism. However, an excess of methionine can be toxic, making the blood too acidic. This in turn leaches calcium from the bones.

"Dietary protein increases production of acid in the blood which can be neutralized by calcium mobilized from the skeleton." (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1995; 61,4).
Animal proteins (milk, meat) contain much more methionine than plant proteins. Dairy milk products are particularly acidic, and for this reason alone should be avoided.

In 1988, N.A. Breslau and colleagues identified the relationship between protein-rich diets and calcium metabolism, noting that protein caused calcium loss. His work was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology (1988;66:140-6).

A 1994 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Remer T, Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59:1356-61) found that animal proteins cause calcium to be leached from the bones and excreted in the urine.

"Osteoporosis is caused by a number of things, one of the most important being too much dietary protein." (Science 1986;233, 4763). (Note from Russell Eaton: excess protein acidifies the blood. This in turn pulls calcium from the bones, setting up a chain of events that erodes valuable bone-making cells. This in turn leads to osteoporosis).

"Even when eating 1,400 mg of calcium daily, one can lose up to 4% of his or her bone mass each year while consuming a high-protein diet." (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1979;32,4).
"Increasing one's protein intake by 100% may cause calcium loss to double." (Journal of Nutrition, 1981; 111, 3).

"Consumption of dairy products, particularly at age 20 years, was associated with an increased risk of hip fractures...metabolism of dietary protein causes increased urinary excretion of calcium." (American Journal of Epidemiology 1994;139).

For more supporting evidence, go to www.milkimperative.com.