Is Milk Nutritional?

By consuming a small amount of low fat or skim milk daily, a level of protection is launched against a host of health problems, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers break ground by reporting that adults who had at minimum one serving of low fat or other milk products daily had a thirty-seven percent smaller chance of insufficient kidney function linked to heart disease in comparison to individuals who drank none.

Soy Instead of Cow's Milk?

Cow's milk is often used as the benchmark for most existing nutritional recommendations. Conversely, non-dairy milk emerged later and, on many occasions, is fortified with additional nutritional vitamins and minerals that were produced later in an effort to escalate their nutritional value so that they are similar to the nutritional value of cow's milk. And without fortified vitamin and mineral add-ons, soy is below the nourishment that cow's milk delivers. Although lacking the default nutrients cow's milk provides in nature, soy milk does contain almost identical group of nutrients. Vegans, which is a dietary practice in which an individual omits animal products from their diet, need to be sure that they include a source of vitamin B12 in their menu or as a supplement because otherwise without cow's milk, a vegan could have difficulty getting a sufficient level of vitamin B12 in their diet, which can be harmful.

Nutritional Benefits of Soy Milk

There are great nutritional and health benefits of soy milk. Soy provides a well-balanced nutritional equilibrium. Soy delivers balanced nutrition through high-quality protein and carbohydrates and is also low in fat with no cholesterol with the added benefit of being low in saturated fat. With soy milk and many other soy foods packing so many health benefits, researchers say that cultivating soybeans could well be an increasingly popular use of land to combat food shortages.

Cow's Milk May Reduce Chances of Heart Disease

Single-handedly, cow's milk is a rich, health-giving food. Skim and low fat do not consist of high fat content and is believed to be extremely nutritious. A recent international study indicated that by drinking low fat or skim everyday, people may lower their chance of developing heart disease.

To determine the chance of developing heart disease, researchers from multiple universities in the United States and Norway calculated the kidney function of more than five thousand individuals who are within the age range of forty-five to eighty-four years old. They tracked consumption habits and tested albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) ? a grade that when extra low, according to the American Heart Association, can determine poor kidney function and an exceedingly high chance for cardiovascular disease. The researchers discovered that the people who regularly consumed this low-fat drink had improved kidney function as suggested by their low ACR rate. Study members who regularly drank at the minimum one glass of low fat daily had a shockingly high rate of thirty-seven percent fewer kidney function disorders.

A Link with Ovarian Cancer?

A recent conglomerate study of twenty-one individual analyses explored the possible connection between ovarian cancer and the ingestion of these products and discovered some support for the theory that high consumption of cow's milk is associated with a higher cancer risk. The results of this conglomerate, which were released in the August 2005 entry for the International Journal of Cancer, suggested that support was stronger in studies involving large groups of people.

By studying a group of patients who had ovarian cancer and comparing them with a group of patients who did not have the cancer, it was theorized that whole milk in one's diet was associated with a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. The study, however, did not offer any support for the possibility of lactose in the initial advancement of ovarian cancer.

The study also found a thirteen percent higher chance of cancer risk with a daily intake of ten grams of lactose, which is approximately one glass. Moreover, it was found that yogurt consumption was associated with a non-significant chance of increased cancer risk, while cheese was not found to increase the risk of this type of cancer.

Soy More Healthy than Cow's?

Soy was recommended by health care advocates as a natural alternative to drinking cow's milk. Unfortunately, however, advancements have developed which show the negative environmental impact of soybean farming as well as the alarming recognition that many soybeans that are grown today are more often than not from varieties that are genetically modified. And many soy products that are on the market today have been sweetened so as to improve taste, which means that they are no longer nutritionally better than cow's milk.

A leading medical researcher, Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, did extensive research on digestive associated issues. Dr. Dean stated that soy has a high level of phytic acid, which has the likelihood of blocking the digestion of grains, which are a necessary originator of minerals. Furthermore, soy has trypsin inhibitors which interfere with the digestion of protein. Toss in the fact that the body does not absorb vitamin B12 in soy, which could result in a dangerous condition for vegans who use soy as a means of obtaining their vitamin B12. The one exception to this is soy products which were fermented.

What Alternatives are There?

There are many good sources for these nutrients, such as rice or almond milk which do not involve the serious health issues that may be possibly associated with cow's milk or soy milk.

Get a Professional Opinion

If you are concerned about the nutritional elements within your diet, it is highly recommended that you consult with a licensed dietician or professional health care provider.

For further reading:

• http://www.newslocale.org/health/hnews/drinking_toned_milk_may_reduce_risk_of_heart_disease_200806292454.html
• http://www.milksucks.com/index2.asp