We all grew up sporting a white milk mustache and thought we were all serving our bodies well. We even tell our children to drink their milk so that they will be big and strong when they grow up. And why would we think otherwise? Milk has always been marketed in a way that makes us all believe it is good for us. We believe it is the “best” source of calcium, right? Can you think of other sources of foods that are rich in calcium?
So, let’s get our facts straight and talk dairy truth. Dairy does contain calcium, but due to the way your body processes these foods, you may not actually be getting the benefits of calcium.
Here’s the truth.
1. Research done by a professor of nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health examined dairy consumption in 10 countries and showed “that the consumption of calcium from dairy was the lowest in Hong Kong and Singapore, where they also reported the lowest rate of hip fractures. Conversely, the United States consumed the most amount of calcium from dairy and ranked the highest incidence of hip fractures.”
2. Dairy can be inflammatory. A 2015 issue of The Journal of Nutrition concluded that “eating dairy foods increased low-grade inflammation in a small sample of German adults.”
So let’s try to skip the dairy. There are some wonderful substitutes for moo juice. Almond milk, cashew milk, hemp milk or rice milk are wonderful options that are nutritious and tasty too! And these wonderful, calcium-rich foods will boost your body’s health. Try kale, broccoli, bok choy, sardines, salmon, white beans, blackstrap molasses or turnip greens. You will see the difference in your body and in your health.
Here’s to your health!
