Is milk really essential in a healthy diet?

You can find much more on the subject at

Milk: The dangers to your health LEARN MORE

By Dr. Denise de Carvalho

MILK. Is it really essential in a healthy diet?

I'll give my opinion, My opinion as a gastroenterologist is obviously not absolute, and the subject is very controversial. Why don't I recommend drinking milk to my patients?

Milk is not essential for adults. It has even been removed from the food pyramid published by Harvard. Google it and you'll see. Let's look at some facts that need to be considered:

Substances injected into cows to increase milk production, known as RBGH (recombinant synthetic growth hormone), are also secreted into the milk and go straight into your stomach. They are associated with an increase in breast cancer, leukemia and early puberty in children.

RBGH reduces the cow's resistance to infections, requiring the use of antibiotics which, again, do not reduce milk production and end up in the gastrointestinal tract of those who consume them, altering the intestinal microbiota.

The cow's diet, also to increase milk production, is based on grains, mostly genetically modified (soy and corn), which also alters the intestinal microbiota.

Milk protein is highly allergenic and can cause a loss of intestinal barrier integrity, known as leaky gut, as well as dysbiosis.

The imbalance of metallionein, a zinc-dependent protein due to genetic susceptibility (more frequent than we thought), causes, among other things, poor digestion of milk casein and gluten, generating the so-called caseomorphin, a peptide that mimics the effects of opiate drugs such as morphine.

‼ In this way, milk can be addictive! The more you shouldn't consume it, the more you want it! ‼ It gives a feeling of well-being, but can affect learning, social interaction and motor and sensory functions. Have you ever tried to do without milk? It's hard! I used to be dependent myself, but I got rid of it.

So, do you want to drink milk? If so, look for milk from cows that graze and don't receive hormones and antibiotics. Be aware of your choices.

I suggest reading the book Food and Behavior Disorders, by Denise Carreiro.