Old wives tales and urban legends abound when it comes to inaccuracies about drinking milk and eating dairy products. Lacking scientific support, most myths about dairy products turn sour when uncovered by research.
So, pour yourself a cold glass of milk, scoop up a bowl of ice cream and slice your favorite cheese to help celebrate National Dairy Month. Then read on to dispel 10 common misconceptions about one of the world’s most delicious and nutritious foods.
MYTH: Dairy foods are more fattening than other foods.
FACT: Weight gain occurs when too many calories are consumed. According to research in both humans and animals, including 3 servings of low fat dairy foods in a calorie-controlled diet may actually help achieve weight loss.
MYTH: Organic milk is healthier than regular milk.
FACT: Both organic and regular milk contain the same 9 essential nutrients that make dairy foods essential. Considering the use of antibiotics, all milk is tested to ensure it meets our government’s stringent quality and safety standards
MYTH: People who are lactose intolerant should avoid all dairy foods.
FACT: Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest milk sugars, which is not the same as being allergic to dairy. Certain cheeses, such as cheddar and Swiss are low in lactose, as well as yogurt. Lactose-free milk is also available for those who are particularly sensitive to lactose.
MYTH: Drinking milk causes asthma to develop.
FACT: While there is some evidence that those with milk allergies more often develop asthma later on in life, there is no evidence that milk or dairy products are the actual cause of asthma.
MYTH: Consuming dairy products leads to heart disease and stroke.
FACT: There is no scientific evidence that demonstrates that dairy foods or milk lead to heart disease or stroke. According to the American Dietetic Association and The National Dairy Council, drinking milk and eating dairy products may actually help reduce the risk of these conditions.
MYTH: Dairy products increase mucus.
FACT: While there is a thin film that develops in the mouth and throat after eating ice cream, cheese or other dairy, it’s due to the fat in the dairy melting at body temperature, which is often confused with being mucus.
MYTH: Humans weren’t designed to eat dairy products.
FACT: For more than 8,000 years of recorded history, people around the globe have been drinking milk and eating dairy products. Because our bodies are equipped with a lactose enzyme, we’re able to consume a variety of animal products, including all types of dairy.
MYTH: Eating dairy foods causes kidney stones to form.
FACT: Actually, according to a study, the calcium in dairy products binds to oxalates – what kidney stones are composed of – in food so that they can no longer be absorbed by the body, reducing the risk of developing kidney stones.
MYTH: Eating dairy products causes acne.
FACT: There is no scientific evidence that there is a link between dairy foods and acne. In contrast, dairy products are good sources of Vitamins A and D, which are well supported as being beneficial for healthy skin.
MYTH: Consuming dairy products causes cancer.
FACT: According to the American Dietetic Association and The National Dairy Council, there is no scientific evidence that drinking milk or eating dairy products increases the chances of developing cancer. In fact, some studies indicate that dairy products may reduce the risk of developing cancer.
If you feel that this information about dairy myths could benefit a family member or friend, consider sharing it with them.
Sources
https://www.msu.edu/~mdr/vol15no2/myths.html
http://www.nhdairypromo.org/dairy-facts-myths/
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