<p>There is a lot of flawed logic in his musings. He mentions the editorial by Ludwig et al to support his vilification of all dairy, and yet the editorial is titled “Three Daily Servings of Reduced-Fat Milk: An Evidence-Based Recommendation?” Note - it does not say “whole milk” or “dairy priducts”. I will download the original article later and see what the fuss is all about. This is how I see the issue: low fat milk is disgusting, but it is supposed to be good for ya, so the food industry will crawl out of its skin to make sure that kids love their milk… by adding sugar to it! 
</p>
<p>So the logic in the Huffpo post goes like this: low fat milk is recommended by the government, but low fat milk is disgusting, so to make it more drinkable the food industry will inevitably add sugar and sweeteners to it and, since we know that sugar and sweeteners are bad, ALL milk poducts are bad for you! And it is possible that one of those recommended glasses of milk will be poured into a bowl of honey nut Cheerios (that is 40% sygar by weight!) and consumed that way… </p>
<p>BB,
There were lots of studies linked in the Hyman article, not just that one. Included were studies linking milk and weight gain in children, milk and type -1diabetes, milk and fractures and acne and intestinal bleeding and allergies and dairy and cancer. </p>
<p>Re: <a href=“Lack of exercise, not diet, linked to rise in obesity, Stanford research shows - #112 by interesteddad - Parent Cafe - College Confidential Forums”>Lack of exercise, not diet, linked to rise in obesity, Stanford research shows - #112 by interesteddad - Parent Cafe - College Confidential Forums;
<p>But who drinks sweetened reduced-fat milk instead of whole milk? Do people actually add sugar to milk (whole or reduced-fat)?</p>
<p>Yes, there is sweetened chocolate syrup and such, but that can be added to any milk, regardless of fat content.</p>
<p>Leaving rBGH aside, the standard grocery store milk today is not what a cow produced on a small family run farm. Cosw are fed stuff they would not naturally eat. It’s not a huge leap to conclude that what these factory farm cows produce as milk isn’t the wholesome original product. The milk from a true grass fed cow smells completely different than the stuff on Safeway’s shelf.</p>
<p>This applies to the grass vs standard fed beef. The omega 3 to 6 ratios in grass fed beef do not lead to the same inflammatory response in humans as do the ratios in feedlot beef. </p>
<p>Coconut oil is another example. It has been demonized as an artery clogging, cholesterol inducing poison. Well, no kidding…if what we consider ‘coconut oil’ is the goop found in the popcorn dispenser of the mega/super 45 screen theater. And, we eat a 5 lb bag of the stuff. Pure, unrefined coconut oil has always had healing properties…</p>
<p>Guess food isn’t that different than computer code…GIGO.</p>
<p>What kind of unflavored milk has 30 grams of sugar?</p>
<p>I don’t like the taste of milk much but my kids do and they love the milk we buy from a “local” dairy (about 100 miles away). Grass fed cows and returnable glass bottles just like the old days. They also like the taste of low fat better although it’s fun to buy the whole milk and pull the cream off the top. </p>
<p>The studies are not only about sweetened low fat milk. Interesteddad just quoted one passage. They involve all types of milk. </p>
<p>Here is an example <a href=“Whole milk intake is associated with prostate cancer-specific mortality among U.S. male physicians - PubMed”>Whole milk intake is associated with prostate cancer-specific mortality among U.S. male physicians - PubMed; (All types of milk associated with prostate cancer) Read all of the links in the Huffpo article if you want more. I don’t have time to do it all here again.</p>
<p>greenwith: very cool!</p>
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<p>His comments are very general, what cancer causing hormones? Growth hormones? Estrogen because the cows are pregnant? From what I’ve read it increases risk of Type 2 diabetes more than Type 1 diabetes, because milk turns into sugar in your body. But I’m not a doctor. My husband and I drink almond milk. But my kid loves milk and so she must watch out.</p>
<p><a href=“Can Milk Raise Glucose Levels? | livestrong”>http://www.livestrong.com/article/232080-can-milk-raise-glucose-levels/</a></p>
<p>DrG,
Here is the HuffPo article again: <a href=“http://huff.to/1dmkpmC”>http://huff.to/1dmkpmC</a></p>
<p>The text contains links to the studies that support the claims in the passage you quoted. The links do not show up in the version you used.</p>
<p>OK, here is the “study” bay refers to, which is apparently not a study, but an editorial (requires subscription to see the entire 2 pages):</p>
<p>Well written and very balanced, as expected from Dr Ludwig. He is not saying “milk is evil”, his major beef is with the recommendation of that kids should drink 3 (!) cups of milk per day. The authors blast the concept because in their view (and I totally agree with it!), such requirement will inevitably lead to higher caloric intake and SUGAR consumption in kids.</p>
<p>Can’t post the entire editorial, but here is the main part:</p>
<p>“CONCLUSION The recommendation to replace whole milk with reduced-fat milk lacks an evidence basis for weight management or cardiovascular disease prevention and may cause harm if sugar or other high glycemic index carbohydrates are substituted for fat. The optimal level of milk consumption will likely vary among individuals, depending on overall diet quality. For those with low diet quality, calories removed by reducing the fat content of milk will likely be replaced by foods that increase the risk for obesity, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease; whereas for those with high diet quality, milk consumption may not improve health. Pending further randomized clinical trials and prospective observational studies, guidelines for milk or equivalent dairy products should (1) designate a broader acceptable range of intake, such as 0 to 2 or 3 cups per day, instead of a universal minimum requirement; (2) avoid recommending reduced-fat over whole milk; and (3) focus on limiting consumption of sugar-sweetened milk.”</p>
<p>BOOM. NOT “all dairy and milk should be abolished”. It is amazing how specialagendavegansavethecowstaxmethane groups can put a totally different spin on something like this editorial. ;)</p>
<p>I get enough calcium from eating almond, my nails are just growing too fast. I drink almond milk occasionally but my husband puts milk in his tea or coffee.</p>
<p>“What kind of unflavored milk has 30 grams of sugar?”</p>
<p>The one with added sugar ;)</p>
<p>All non-sugared milk (whole to skim) has about 12 g of sugar per cup. Chocolate milk has about 25 g! (these numbers are from the Ludwig’s editorial).</p>
<p>Whole milk: 149 calories, 4.6 g saturated fat, 12.3 g sugar.</p>
<p>1% Chocolate milk: 178 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat, 24.9 g sugar.</p>
<p>BB,</p>
<p>The Ludwig/Willet article also “reconsiders the role of cow’s milk in human nutrition.” And basically says (I can’t quote it) humans have no nutritional requirement for milk, it does not prevent fractures, and calcium can be had from other sources. </p>
<p>There are also other studies that I pointed out several times (above) evidencing unhealthy (even deadly) conditions associated with milk.</p>
<p>I don’t see a “different spin” being made by Hyman. I see only your resistance to the idea that milk might be bad for humans.</p>
<p>Adding: Note that the Ludwig/WIllet recommendation is 0 to 2 or 3 cups a day.</p>
<p>My emphasis would be on the zero.</p>
<p>Calcium has very little value without vitamin D. A large percentage of Americans are vitamin D deficient. Is there another food item other than milk we can demonize now? I am enjoying this thread.</p>
<p>
Thank you, Bunsen! </p>
<p>This is sort of fun, frugaldoctor. Let’s see…Milk was demonized. Green juice was thrown out a while back…and wine and alcohol - those are just terrible… :)</p>
<p>Hey, the CDC says my weekend glass of wine is OK… ;)</p>
<p>Almost everything could be OK in moderation (there are some exceptions). Even Ludwig says: depending on the rest of the diet, for some, 0 cups of milk is fine, for someone else 2 could be the optimal number, just do not measure everyone with the same yardstick! I’m not a fan of the nutritional plates and pyramids, but if the nutrition recommendations were left to the food industry to set, that would be even worse than the fox guarding the henhouse… </p>