From the point of view of Ayurveda – the ancient science of health – milk is one of the indispensable good products, products of love. Some followers of Ayurveda even recommend drinking warm milk with spices to everyone every evening, because. lunar energy allegedly contributes to its better assimilation. Naturally, we are not talking about liters of milk – each person has his own necessary portion. You can check whether the consumption of dairy products is excessive by using tongue diagnostics: if in the morning there is a white coating on the tongue, it means that mucus has formed in the body, and milk consumption should be reduced. Traditional Ayurvedic practitioners claim that milk in its various forms is beneficial in the treatment of many ailments and is suitable for all constitutions except Kapha. So, they recommend excluding milk for people with a predisposition to fullness and puffiness, as well as those who often suffer from colds. Thus, Ayurveda does not deny the fact that milk contributes to the formation of mucus and is not suitable for everyone. After all, there is a direct connection between mucus and a runny nose.
It is on this connection that many detox programs are based – programs for cleansing the body of toxins. For example, Alexander Junger, an American cardiologist, a specialist in the field of healthy nutrition in his cleansing program “CLEAN. The Revolutionary Rejuvenation Diet recommends completely eliminating dairy products during the detox. Interestingly, he even allows the use of meat products, but not dairy products – he considers them so harmful. He also states that milk forms mucus, and mucus is one of the opposing factors in ridding the body of toxins. Hence – a decrease in immunity, colds and seasonal allergies. People who went through his cleansing program for three weeks not only note an overall improvement in well-being, mood and an increase in the body’s defenses, but also get rid of skin problems, allergies, constipation and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
American scientist Colin Campbell went even further in his studies of the effect of animal protein on human health. His large-scale “China Study”, covering several areas of China and continuing for decades, confirms the claim about the dangers of milk. Exceeding the 5% threshold of milk content in the diet, namely milk protein – casein – significantly increases the likelihood of diseases of the so-called “diseases of the rich”: oncology, problems with the cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus and autoimmune diseases. These diseases do not occur in those who eat vegetables, fruits and beans, i.e. the most affordable products for poor people in warm Asian countries. Interestingly, during the study, scientists were able to slow down and stop the course of disease in the subjects only by reducing casein in the diet. It would seem that casein, a protein that athletes use to increase the effectiveness of training, turns out to do more harm than good. But smortsmen should not be afraid to be left without protein – Campbell recommends replacing it with legumes, green leafy salads, nuts and seeds.
Another well-known American certified detox specialist, the author of detox programs for women, Natalie Rose, still allows the use of dairy products during body cleansing, but only sheep and goat, because. they are supposedly easier to digest by the human body. Cow’s milk remains banned in her program, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve a complete cleansing of the body of toxins. In this, their opinions agree with Alexander Junger.
Let us turn to the opinion of representatives of classical medicine. Years of long-term practice lead to the conclusion that it is necessary to include dairy products in the daily diet. Only hypolactasia (milk intolerance) can be a contraindication for their use. Doctors’ arguments sound convincing: milk contains a complete protein, which is absorbed by the human body by 95-98%, which is why casein is so often included in sports nutrition. Also, milk contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K. With the help of milk, some problems with the gastrointestinal tract, cough and other diseases are treated. However, the beneficial properties of milk are noticeably reduced during its pasteurization, i.e. heating up to 60 degrees. Consequently, there is much less benefit in milk from a supermarket, therefore, if possible, it is better to buy farm milk, homemade.
Vegans of all countries would supplement this study with their postulates that “cow’s milk is for calves, not for humans”, slogans about the exploitation of animals and that drinking milk helps to support the meat and dairy industry. From an ethical standpoint, they are right. After all, the content of cows on farms leaves much to be desired, and the consumption of “store-bought” milk by the population only aggravates their situation, because. really sponsors the meat and dairy industry as a whole.
We looked at different points of view: scientifically proven and emotionally compelling, centuries-old and recent. But the final choice – to consume, exclude or leave a minimum of dairy products in the diet – of course, each reader will make for himself.