MILK

Milk is one of the most common dietary constituents in the western diet. We have milk or dairy products in our coffee, cereal, sauces, chocolate, desserts and drinks. But is it really any good for us?

 FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 Milk contains the following:
Animal proteins (Mainly Casein)
Animal fats
Hormones (Including IGF-1)
Water
 And depending on what and where you read:
Herbicides
Pesticides
Dioxins
Antibiotics
Excrement
Bacteria
Viruses

So the main possible side effects:
High Cholesterol
Calcium Deficiency - milk supposedly has a negative effect on bone calcium deposition.
Increased allergies - including sinus troubles (Casein is a histamine which can increase mucus production)
Diabetes - The protein Lactalbumin found in milk has been noted as a key factor in diabetes.
Lactose Intolerance - bloating, gas, cramping and diarrhoea

Whats wrong with homogenised milk?
The process involves forcing milk through a sieve at high speed, breaking up the fat molecules so they cannot float on the surface. Xanthine oxidase is a molecule attached to milk fat which allows the fat to be filtered out by the liver. Homogenised milk however refines the fat molecule and allows it to cross the blood barrier into the bloodstream.

A while back doctors and scientists believed that calcium deficiency was caused purely by lack of milk and dairy product intake. Meanwhile, milk contains less calcium than most of your green leafy vegetables and seeds.The body also needs magnesium to help absorb calcium, cows milk with a ratio of 1:8 is far below the recommended 1:1 or 1:2 for humans.

Depending on the milk farm, some cows are treated with recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). These cows have higher IGF-1 hormone floating around. IGF-1 is a growth hormone that activates cell growth and proliferation, and has been linked with proliferation of cancer cells.

Cheese is approximately 10x the concentration of milk... 10x the hormones and 10x the fat.

In terms of actual clinical research, there isn't much available to support or negate these supposed 'facts'...One would have to argue however, would the USA milk and dairy industry, consisting of approximately 9,2 million cows supplying various other industries in the food and catering sector, allow such information to be freely available?

Reading the above, is it worth it?

http://www.jyi.org/volumes/volume6/issue3/features/lee_and_wei.html
http://www.rense.com/general26/milk.htm
http://www.patientsville.com/medication/milk_side_effects.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin-like_growth_factor_1
http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm

Whey Protein

Whey Protein is said to be a high quality protein that everyone can benefit from, but what is it? and how do we benefit?

Whey protein is a collective term for a group of globular proteins that are a by-product of the manufacturing of cheese. So essentially a dairy product.

 Paul Martin Eldridge / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What are globular proteins and what effect do the proteins in Whey have on our bodies?

A globular protein is a spherical protein that is more or less soluble in water.

PROTEINS FOUND IN WHEY:
Betalactoglobulin - makes up 50-55% of whey protein and is rich in BCAA (Branched chain amino acids - building block of muscle and tissue).

Alphalactalbumin - An essential amino acid which aids in the production of serotonin and regulates sleep cycle, amongst other things.

Glycomacropeptide - Helps control and prevent dental plaque.

Immunoglobulins - Help fight infection and antigens in the body.

Bovine Serum Albumin - Used to stabilise certain enzymes in the blood.

Lactoferrin - Inhibits growth of bacteria and fungi due to its interaction with iron.

Lactoperoxidase - Natural antibacterial agent.

Lysozyme - Immunity enhancing properties.

As whey protein is a dairy by-product it contains approximately 6% lactose. So for people that are sensitive to lactose, Whey protein isolate is recommended, which is achieved through a different filtering process. Whey protein isolate can be so refined that it can be virtually lactose free, carbohydrate free, fat free and cholesterol free.

EFFECTS:
- Increased lean muscle
- Increased strength
- Improved immunological responses
- Supposed prevention of cancer
- Improves speed of recovery following illness
- Prevent weight loss and promote immune function in patients with HIV

POSSIBLE SIDE-EFFECTS:
- Bowel and digestive irritation (These symptoms may however be a result of the artificial sweetener that is used to flavor the protein and switching to an unsweetened whey may alleviate these symptoms).
- Suggested liver and kidney problems when taken in high doses, but this has not been adequately researched.


HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?
The recommended maximum intake of protein for adults is 0,9grams per 1pound of body weight (Roughly 2grams per kilogram body weight). This amount however needs to be spread across the entire diet and not just taken from whey protein. Dosage and concentration of whey protein is specific to each brand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whey_protein_isolate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whey_protein
http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/EDUCATIONMATERIALS/HEALTHPROFESSIONALSEDUCATIONKITS/Pages/WheyProtein.aspx
http://wheyoflife.org/home/health-nutrition/protein-requirements/protein-calculator/
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-833-WHEY%20PROTEIN.aspx?activeIngredientId=833&activeIngredientName=WHEY%20PROTEIN
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/protein/whey-protein-sideeffects-information.htm