Family Homeopathy in Wimbledon

Dairy products and Calcium

Dairy products are part of the standard Western diet. We enjoy eating cheese and we believe that our children need milk in order to meet their calcium requirements for building strong bones and teeth.

But here is a part of the story that you may not have heard...

Calcium – what for?

Calcium is one of the macro minerals essential in our diet. Apart from bones and teeth it is also needed by our nervous system and muscles.

Children need a lot of calcium because they need to build new bone mass whereas adults just need to maintain it.

We do not need dairy as a source of protein, fat or vitamins/minerals. These nutrients can all be delivered easily by foods which do not have the negative aspects associated with dairy.

Therefore I recommend minimising the intake of dairy or to exclude dairy completely and use alternative sources of calcium (see below)

Milk and yoghurt are the only dairy products I would tolerate as calcium sources but cheese, cream and all other dairy products are best taken as occasional treats only.

The problems caused by too much dairy

Dairy contains a lot of saturated fat. This contributes to heart disease, cancer and weight gain.

Dairy allergy is one of the most common forms of food allergies. 70% of the world’s adult population cannot digest lactase (milk sugar). An intolerance of lactase and/or casein (milk protein) may cause conditions ranging from bloating and nasal congestion, through eczema and asthma to serious illnesses such as diabetes type I. The reason for this is not clear but may well be explained by our evolutionary development. The human species evolved on a diet of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit. Infants were fed breast milk. Our digestive system and metabolism did not develop to digest milk from other mammals (or our own after the age of 4), and whilst dairy is similar enough to our own milk not to kill us instantly, it may induce long-term problems such as quoted above. Partly these problems are caused by overindulgence in dairy foods, whereas small amounts may be tolerated. Partly they may be due to other substances reaching us through cow’s milk such as hormones, antibiotics and toxic chemicals such as DDT.

Dairy contributes to osteoporosis instead of preventing it. Dairy products contain too much calcium compared to other minerals needed for healthy bone maintenance. In order for the calcium in dairy to reach our bones and stay there, the body needs magnesium and other trace minerals such as zinc and manganese as well as vitamin B and other nutrients. Dairy is a poor source of these. Consuming too much dairy will not leave enough room in the average stomach/appetite for mineral rich foods that will help to deliver the calcium intake from dairy to the bones.

Furthermore, cheese in particular leaves an acidic residue in our blood that needs to be buffered instantly by alkaline minerals such as calcium and magnesium taken from our bones for this purpose. Most people consume far more acid producing foods than our blood can handle and so our alkaline mineral stores (calcium and magnesium) in our bones are being continually eroded to buffer this acidity.

Dairy contains Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which is not destroyed by pasteurisation. Even organic milk from cows not treated with lactation-enhancing hormones contains this substance. IGF-1 is a normal part of all mammal milk and its role is to stimulate cell division in mammal young. In adults it is now strongly suspected to be carcinogenic, meaning cancer causing. It has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. It also has been shown to prevent normal cell death of a malfunctioning cell in humans, thereby paving the way for a cancer cell to multiply out of control.

Contributing factors

The normal acidity of our skin surfaces – inside and outside – is maintained by friendly bacterial organisms such as Lactobacilli which release acid substances. This acidity is essential to keep unfriendly organisms included fungal invaders in check.

Acid-producing-bacteria are encouraged and maintained by several factors such as a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, sunlight, and ph-compatible cosmetics and soaps.

Factors which encourage fungal overgrowth include antibiotics, oral and topical steroid medication, hormonal contraceptives, stress, and a diet rich in sugar and grains.

Symptoms related to an excess of dairy in our diet

recurrent infections of ear, nose and throat.
poor immunity in general
chest infections
sinusitis
urinary tract infections
fungal infections
autoimmune disorders
asthma
eczema
hay fever
headaches and migraines
female cycle problems
bloating, gas and belching
stomach ulcers
IBS
Crohn’s
Colitis
poor energy, lethargy, fatigue
depression

Calcium and dairy – how much is enough?

Please read the following carefully to see how little milk is needed to get enough calcium. And of course we get at least an additional 100mg calcium/day from the rest of our daily diet!

According to official government figures published by the Department of Health as the Dietary Reference Values (1991) the estimated average requirement of calcium for

age 1-3 is 275mg/day = 1 Ľ glass (200ml) of semi-skimmed milk,

age 4-6 is 350 mg/day = 1 ˝ glasses (300ml) of semi-skimmed milk,

age 7-10 is 425mg/day = 1 glass of semi-skimmed milk + 1 yoghurt,

age 11-18 is 750mg/day = 3 glasses of semi-skimmed milk,

age 19+ is 525mg/day = 2 glasses of semi-skimmed milk + half a yoghurt.

Many children drink 3 – 4 glasses of milk per day as well as having additional cheese and yoghurt at every meal! This is completely unnecessary and indeed problematic as you have learnt above.

Alternative, healthy sources of calcium

Fortified rice milk; recommended brand: Provamel Rice Dream + Calcium: Contains brown rice, sunflower seed oil (minimal), calcium, Vit D, Vit A, sodium (0.03g /100ml) and water. Provides 200mg Calcium per 200ml glass of rice milk.

Calcium supplements; recommended brand: Nature’s Plus Children’s Chewable Calcium. 2 chewable tablets will supply 250mg calcium and 50mg magnesium , (contains trace amounts of milk casein).

2 servings of root vegetables approx.150mg

2 servings of leaf vegetables approx 200mg

50g almonds approx 100mg

2 glasses of fortified Rice Dream and 2 servings of fresh vegetables will provide about 600mg of calcium. This covers the daily need of the average adult.

Teenagers can cover their needs by drinking 3 glasses of fortified rice dream per day plus eating 2 servings of vegetables. (1 serving is the size of the person’s fist.) This will provide about 800mg of calcium

No need for dairy!

Summary

Dairy as a staple food is problematic. Most people take in far too much thinking they need to cover their calcium needs when in fact a surprisingly small amount of dairy provides enough calcium. Overconsumption of dairy contributes to chronic disease. Alternative calcium sources are a safe and sound way to cover calcium needs of children and adults alike.

Family Homeopathy