Cow Milk: Udder-ly Good Or Bad?

Thanks to our parents ranting about this day and night, telling us hundreds of times about how good milk is, we have begun to think that cow milk is beneficial. But what about the disadvantages? In this article, we will be going over the good and bad health effects of cow milk. And in the end, deciding if it’s really worth it.

Positive Health Effects

Cow milk is a nutrient-dense drink, meaning it is full of vitamins your body needs to thrive and grow. Some of the benefits those nutrients provide are strong bones, good heart health, and somewhat of immunity against depression. Milk helps create strong bones as it is filled with calcium, which is necessary for bone growth and health, as we all know. Milk also has an abundance of potassium which means that it helps the body break down high blood pressure. This is a lesser-known fact, but I found an interesting article that stated milk helps to cope with depression. While this does sound impossible, if you look at the facts, you realize it’s not as unlikely as you might think. Milk is high in vitamin D, which dictates your mood and appetite. A study recently done in 2020 shows that a lack of vitamin D is common among people with clinical depression. So if you put two and two together, because milk has a lot of vitamin D, it can be believed that milk will help out depressed people.

Negative Health Effects

Though the positives seem extensive, there are still many negatives to milk. These include high cholesterol, acne, type 1 diabetes, and even cancer. Studies have shown that if cow milk is consumed in its whole fat state, it can build up cholesterol at unhealthy levels, which eventually might even lead to heart disease. It is also shown that people who drink milk have a 24% increase in acne. Milk actually triggers a hormone that is known to cause breakouts. A clean white glass of milk might not always bring you clean skin! Drinking cow milk can also result in a higher risk of type 1 diabetes. Evidence shows that the antibodies of milk, which are produced when you drink the milk, can make you develop diabetes. A more dangerous side effect of milk is its ability to give you cancer—prostate cancer to be more specific. Evidence from Cancer Canada states that “There is some evidence that diets high in dairy products and calcium may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are examples of dairy products and are also foods high in calcium.” The National Library of Medicine additionally found that high intakes of dairy products influence cancer growth.

Until next time!

- Anish

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