By Camila Gonzalez
Consuming dairy beyond infancy is illogical and unreasonable. From an anthropological perspective, humans are the only mammals that consume milk beyond maternal lactation and from another animal, which is puzzling.
Cow’s milk is intended for the calf and not for humans. Humans only require their mother’s milk during infancy, just as calves require cow’s milk. However, we should avoid consuming milk or dairy products from any other animal after maternal lactation. But beyond the anthropological point, what happens when humans develop their first teeth?
At that point, we have a protein in our intestines that helps us digest milk sugar, known as lactose. Lactose is a sugar composed of two molecules, a disaccharide composed of galactose and glucose, whose union requires a protein called lactase to be broken down, as the body cannot absorb it in its original form. Therefore, there are people who are lactose intolerant because they do not produce enough lactase to break it down.
When humans develop teeth, they can start including other foods in their diet and tearing food apart, which causes the gene that produces the lactase protein to evolve into silence. This is what happens to other animals like dogs, cats, and horses. At the moment these animals return to their mothers, they can no longer break down milk sugar, and they immediately become lactose intolerant. As they cannot digest it, it causes inflammation, gas, and other symptoms that instinctively make them reject milk and start consuming other foods.
This should happen to all humans and mammals. We should all be lactose intolerant after weaning. However, due to evolution, about 70% of the population is still lactose intolerant, and the remaining 30% have no problem consuming it, meaning they continue to produce this protein even in adulthood when they shouldn’t.
It is not logical to consume milk from another animal from an anthropological perspective. If I told you I had a delicious coffee made with pig’s milk or that I was drinking breast milk coffee because I support a company that produces yogurt and mozzarella with breast milk, you would probably think that I was crazy and that it is disgusting. However, why does it seem disgusting to us? If breast milk is our natural source, why does it not seem grotesque to consume cow’s milk? The reason is that it is a learned behavior. We do not consume milk from dogs, cats, horses, rats, etc., because it is not customary. Our customs are buffalo, goat, and sheep cheese, which are different from cow’s cheese, but that’s where it ends. But beyond that, it is important to understand that dairy products are not good or necessary for our diet.
The problem with dairy products is not simply lactose, which only affects those who are intolerant to it and can cause abdominal distension or other problems. The real problem with dairy products is that because all the body’s mucous membranes are interconnected, they can trigger various conditions, such as acne, polycystic ovaries, weight gain, metabolic problems, allergies such as rhinitis, asthma, gastrointestinal problems, and vaginal problems in women. Dairy products contain a protein called casein, which adheres to the junctions of the small intestine where nutrients are assimilated, breaking them down and creating permeability in the intestine. This permeability allows substances such as plastic waste, large particles, bacteria, fungi, and parasites to enter the body and generate an inflammatory response, which can end up anywhere in the body and cause health problems.
In addition, dairy products are not necessary, and clearly do not benefit us at all, despite the lies that have been told, such as that children need them to grow, which is false, or that dairy products are rich in calcium, which is true, but the calcium-phosphorus relationship in cow’s milk is not assimilated by humans, so dairy products are enriched with calcium so that we can assimilate it. In addition, dairy products can weaken the body’s defenses by damaging the intestine, which is the body’s largest lymphoid organ and houses much of the immune system.
Although it is necessary for an infant to consume dairy products from their mother, beyond that stage of life, it is unnecessary to consume them and can be harmful to health. For example, a handful of almonds or a tablespoon of sesame seeds both have 10 times more calcium than a glass of milk, and a piece of broccoli can have up to 30 times more calcium than a glass of milk. Lactose-free milk is not a healthy alternative, as it contains its two sugars in their simple form, which raises the insulin level in the body and can be harmful.
It is important to note that casein can damage the intestine, and it is not true that dairy products are necessary at all stages of life. Although it is not necessary to eliminate them completely, you should opt for healthier alternatives whenever possible or consume them occasionally if you cannot get rid of them. However, if you can get rid of dairy products, that would be the smartest option, and your body will thank you for it. In addition, dairy products can contain harmful bacteria, especially if it is milk from cows that have had mastitis or infections, which can put our health at risk.
In conclusion, dairy products can be harmful to our health and are not necessary in our daily diet. The decision to change your eating habits is in your hands, and it is important to consider the long-term health benefits.
