Dairy products are surrounded by debate. Some people don’t think we are genetically meant to consume it at all. Some say we should only consume it in small amounts or in certain situations. Fitness and health is surrounded with enough confusion as is. Let’s not make milk and dairy a huge deal. Hopefully I can ease your mind with these 6 busted myths about dairy products.
1 – Dairy Makes You Gain Weight
Weight gain comes one way. That’s when you eat more calories than you burn…….PERIOD! It doesn’t matter if what your consuming is dairy, doggy treats, or tree bark.
Studies actually show that 3 servings of dairy foods in a daily diet correlates strongly with increased calcium, lower body weight, decreased body fat percentage, and a slimmer waist size.
2 – Humans Are Not Genetically Designed To Consume Cow’s Milk
My question is….since when? Cows have been domesticated since before 6000 BC and everything that they offer has aided our survival (including milk).
Most humans have an enzyme in their gut called lactase that gives us the capability to breakdown and digest the lactose in milk.
If we were only capable of drinking milk from our own species we would not be able to enjoy hundreds of foods, for example, blue cheese on a salad, ice cream, mozzarella cheese on a pizza.
3 – Consuming Dairy Foods Increases Risk Of Heart Disease
It’s not necessarily the dairy that may increase the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat is the problem, and it can come from any source, not just milk.
Recent studies actually suggest that evidence correlating saturated fat and heart disease is lacking.
Trans fats in stuff like margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oils are way more devastating when it comes to the health of your cardiovascular system.
If you’re concerned with saturated fat intake, there’s no need to completely shun dairy from your diet. Simply select a low fat option. But be careful, because manufacturers sometimes make up for the lost fat by adding more sugar.
4 – Spinach Provides Just As Much Calcium As Milk
Ummmmm…..I don’t know who told you this, but you’ll have to eat a LOT of spinach to make up for a glass of milk. There’s more calcium in 1 cup of milk than in 16 cups of spinach.
You would have to eat more than 48 cups of spinach just to get the recommended daily intake of calcium. I doubt there’s anyone on the planet that likes spinach that much.
Plus, milk contains the vitamin D, which you need in order to absorb calcium efficiently. Don’t get me wrong. Spinach is extremely healthy. But it won’t cover all your bases.
5 – Dairy Can Cause Asthma
It’s true that infants with milk allergies are more likely to end up with asthma later on in life. But there is no scientific evidence suggesting that milk or other dairy products are directly involved with making people asthmatic.
If you’re feeling short of breath after eating a cup of yogurt, it’s probably all in your head.
6 – Dairy Consumption Can Cause Acne
I don’t know who started this rumor, but there is literally no scientific evidence supporting this claim.
Vitamins A and D are important components of a diet supporting healthy skin. Guess what?…milk has both of those.
I hope this article cleared up some of the fog around milk and other dairy foods. If you have any questions about the subject that I didn’t cover, please leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to answer back quickly. If you liked the article, please share it on facebook. You’ll probably also like to know if you can be overweight and malnourished?
About Adam Pegg
