Milk. 7000 years ago human beings resorted to drinking animal milk as a means of survival in areas of poor human digestable vegetation aka Grassland.

Why, well as a sustainable food source. The Human found that by Milking and Breeding the animal rather than just killing it they had a good sustainable source of food and unknown to them "calcium".

Secondly, humans should, if one takes into consideration the age we live to be, feeding our young breast milk untill the age of 5-7 yrs.

Not all cultures moved in this direction only the one's that needed too for survival , so humans developed the tollerance and ability to drink milk, but with exceptions. Those same exceptions can be seen in the form of nut allergies, wheat allergies,soya allergies and so on in people who's genetic tollerances were built up according to the culture one came from.

I personally cannot tollerate nuts, not allergic to them. but my genetic make up is such that I come from a long ancestry that never had nuts in the diet, so eating nuts upsets my digestive balance. My children have a high risk of developing a nut allergy, yet their great grand children don't, why because the gentic memory by that time will have built up a tollerance, but only if we all continue to eat nuts or in this instance Milk.

We as humans have spread far and wide in an excedingly short time, we are all quickly becoming genetically and culturally mixed and the gene memory tollerances are being altered accordingly. This can be seen in the rise of allergies within our western culture due to the rapid change in our culturally mixed diets.

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Is what I just wrote true ! I have'nt the foggiest clue. But it sounds good, it makes logical sense and there is actually a bit of fact in there, but can you find it ? I quote no real scientific souces, but if I packaged it right, grab a few real reasearches cherry pick the data to suit, I am sure I could work a best seller out of it and set myself up for a comfortable retirement and a bit of attention to boost the ego and like Gillian McKieth, send of for a Phd and call myself a scientist !

It does not take a scientist to work out that putting hormones in Milk is a tad iffy and one should not drink it but resort to organic if you like milk.

Yet if you read the peer reviewed controlled group research on milk you will find that the outcome of all the data combined shows a rise in prostate cancer from "Calcium" not the Milk. Funny that the data for eating calcium high veg was the same, the media don't tell you that because it does not sell media inches.

The same outrage is being perpetrated with Antioxidents. The media say they are good for you and can reduce the effects of cancer and perhaps reduce the risk of developing such. Not if you are a smoker they wont. The Truth is that both studies of antioxidents ( B- carotene + retenol) research that were done with a controlled group of smokers found that the patients taking the antioxidents were actually developing cancer, rapidly !!!!!!!!!!!! They had to cancel both trials on ethical grounds.

If one is going to debunk something or defend, the best and most truthful way to do it is through resorting to the facts via proper controlled scientific research, but this "Advice" does not do that sadly.

I am niether for or against Milk, it is up to each individual to do the research and make an informed choice, which is sadly ls not what the media or the so called Pop Science experts are doing,nor this article, they are relying on others to do the research for them and then jump in, cherry pick bits that suit their quest, not the final stats,hence they rarely quote the full sources, study or outcome.

I took bits of fact in here taken, from Wikipedia, Terrance Goldacre's Bad Science  and I dipped into The Cochrane Review archives if anyone wishes to check, which is alway's a good thing to do.

Luv Winnie.

Its definitely something to look at.

I prefer raw milk though we don't consume much milk. I am a firm believer in breastfeeding for young ones and that its much superior to cows milk.

For calcium there is more value in sesame seeds than in milk.

Rhadika you are right on the money...

When placing advice, the advice should be factual not fanatical...I apologise if my desire to present the other side of the story was taking it too far..

I personally don't appreciate people making claims that are not backed by serious, proven facts. If the facts come from reputable sources, not tabloid rubbish I will not argue the point.

I'll sign off leaving this last statement.....

Moderation is the key to healthy living. Taking something to an extreme is certainly doing the wrong thing. If we balance diets correctly, incorporating all the bits that are good, and a few little bits that simply taste soooo good, the health of ourselves and our kids will be great...

Everything in Moderation!

Ok, I gotta say something Greenmints,

Are you really that naive???

Do you realize that the show that article came from an American show called Hard Copy? Hard Copy was an American Tabloid News TV show show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. Hard Copy was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence. Hard copy often stretched the truth just to attract viewers. A large portion of what they produced was nothing more than little tiny snippets of the truth, stretched thinly over a body of bull excrement.

Sorry to say this but if you place  your defense in a video clip from that show, you are being very foolish. The content of that clip is more sensationalism than statements of fact.

While you are bagging the hell out of milk, you may as well be targeting the rest of the food we eat. In your seemingly infinite wisdom, do you realize that the human body is not designed to eat most of the stuff we eat. In fact our bodies are designed to consume fresh vegetables and raw foods and grains? Most of the foods we eat are so highly modified from their original components that our bodies can't handle what we eat.

Lots of the sickness we get internally are directly attributed to the way our bodies (most importantly our liver) process what we eat. Since the foods we eat are highly refined, our liver and digestive system hardly recognize what it is trying to process and passes most out without digesting it properly. Therefore we get a build up of plaque and fatty substances in our digestive tract and we end up with health problems...

You may as well base your complaint on "All foods we eat are bad for Us, not just children!"

Still like milk? Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT1rodfjrnk

Yeah yeah, the guy is just trying to sell his book right? Come on, give someone a chance.. No point in debating this. Try finding out the facts for yourself. What do you think causes cancer? Do you have the answer for that?  

This world is full of things that are bad for us, especially if we consume these things in large amounts.

But, if we all regulate the quantity of these things carefully, we will not only enjoy what we eat and drink, but we can live quite a long and healthy life. Sheltering our kids from everything that "might" cause harm.....what is the point in living.

Milk is a great source of essential nutrients, nutrients that our kids sometimes won't get anywhere else in sufficient quantities. Most people here in this world grew up drinking milk. Cows milk, Goats, sheep, camels and even cats in some places.

Spreading messages of hate towards a dairy product that is life sustaining and nutritionally valid in today's society.....you better be prepared for a lot of disagreements along the way.

Sorry to say, but I gotta turn my back and walk away from this one in disgust...

The only time our children don't have milk is when they have the flu and asthma as this slows the healing process down because of phelm. Some people are alergic to milk but sometimes soy milk is an option. Milk is in so many packaged products that most of time people wouldn't be aware so it is a bit hard to avoid it altogether if you are trying to eliminate it from your childens diet altoghether. My son's wife is japanese and it is not really in their diet alot along with flour. When she moved over here she actually put on a lot of weight eating all our goodies but has since lost the weight an sticks to her traditional food as much as possible.

I also just want to say, you said this "but why take a risk with something that has been associated with so many dangers?", do you drive a car, do you vaccinate your children, have you ever drunk alcohol, do you go to the supermarket! cross roads, use electricity? So many questions I don't expect you toanswer but everything we do in our day to day lives that we don't even think about and all have associated risks, we need to make an informed decision as to weather the risks outweigh the benefits, it the case you have bought up, I don't find the risks are outwieghing the benefits, I suggest you further educate yourself in nutritional requirements by reading some of the good quality links that llmunchkin has provided, or seeking advice from a nutritionist or doctor!  

Anyone can post sources to support just about any argument but the key here is to critically analyse all information for and against to reach a sound conclusion.

I had written a somewhat rather longwinded response but it my window had been closed before I clicked submit! Anyway I will cut it short by stating I am so strogly against what you have written here and yes I did not approve of your other article either and find them both to be irresponsible, neglegent and completely unsolicited. I believe they both need removing but will not report them myself as I am interested to see the opinions of others and to date have found the vast majority of us will disagree with you. Milk provides many things including calcium - for bone strength and rigidity and it also aids in muscle contraction (allowing for mobility), riboflavin (b2)  + thiamine (b1) both of which unlock the energy in foods and aids in the metobolism of those energies, potassium, sodium and b12. Like everything else in life milk should be drunk in moderation and for harmful benefits are unlikely to be seen unless you are drinking an excessive amount (or are lactose intolerant). I strongly reccommend that you fully research these subjects and come up with recent factual information prior to posting these somewhat pathetic and unadvisable articles.

I'm Sorry Greenmints, I have to disagree with your quite well written objections to milk.

While it is not recommended to feed your kids only milk from new born to 18 months, because it "causes problems" with kids.. The main reason is that milk is way too high in lactose, which causes congestion of the lungs and airways, because it makes the body produce way too much phlegm. Iron deficiencies are also reported, amongst an array of allergic reactions.

Milk however, in moderation is good to consume. Yes if the only diet your newborn is on (which is usually the case because of no teeth...and basic nutritional needs) is milk, there will be problems. If milk is used in conjunction to a suitable formula replacement, no problems will arise....that is unless your baby is lactose intolerant.

Moderation is the key, and incorporating other fluid intakes such as fresh juice, vegetable water and even rice water (water drawn off rice while rinsing off the starch), you should not have trouble.

Many people go out on a limb and say "this is bad" or "don't give your kids....", and it is these people that really have to look at the big picture, not just focus on one point. Kids need a variety of food sources, and not giving milk to a child while not detrimental to its health, can make things interesting when in later life they consume milk or milk products and have adverse reactions.

Allowing your kids to drink milk and eat dirt, pick their nose and eat it now and then goes a long way to building up the childs immune system. Most kids these days are getting sick eating foods that are common in the western world, simply because they have been denied exposure to these foods and have not got a natural tolerance to the foods.

Remember, If we consume these foods in moderation and not focus totally on one food source....all is good!

Give ya kiddies milk, it tastes good, provides the body with some vitamins and minerals and you just have to love the milk "stash" on their upper lips after a good glassful!

While I agree that there is over commercialization of cow's milk - as in baby formula, I think it's a gross overgeneralization to say that cow's milk is extremely bad.  If one is comparing baby formula (milk derived from cow's milk) to breastmilk in terms of it's health risks, nutrient, etc.. then yes one can make a bold claim in this context - that cow's milk is bad - as in, not as good as breastmilk.

I think in any claim that there is a problem - that cow's milk is extremely bad for kids - there should be a call for solution. What is the solution if cow's milk is extremely bad for children? If women has no choice (for example, health problems) and can't breastfeed, what are they to give their babies if we make a claim that 'cow's milk is extremely bad'? 

Children Youth and Women's Health Service (Australia) tend to disagree with this and state: 'Milk is a child's most important food in the first year of life and is still very important in the next few years. Children under 12 months of age should have breast milk or formula for their main drinks.'

Better Health Channel (Health and medical information for consumers, quality assured by the Victorian government (Australia).  'Milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium. It has long been recognised for its important role in bone health. Nutritionists recommend that milk and other dairy products should be consumed daily as part of a balanced diet.'

Food Standards Agency UK (Eat well be well, helping you make healthier choices).  Milk and dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are great sources of protein and vitamins A and B12. They're also an important source of calcium, which helps to keep our bones strong. The calcium in dairy foods are easy for the body to absorb.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development USA 'Tweens* and Teens need calcium now more than ever!  All they need is 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk every day, plus other calcium-rich foods.

I am more inclined to take these health organisations seriously than those that you provide in your links at this stage... Health 101?  Like who are they anyway, there is a picture of some guy that looks like it came from the 70's... There are no dates on this article, however the dates within are from decades ago. 

There is a Havard Gazette article (I found elsewhere, as this link provided doesn't go directly to anything particular), about milk and calcium... It states that there are other sources of calcium, but it doesn't say that milk is bad for you. 

Dr Linda Palmer (well, at least she is a doctor) doesn't actually state what is so bad about dairy milk either, except to say that some children may have allergies and other animals don't drink milk into adulthood, (other animals don't build space shuttles either... Wow bold statement). 

As for the notmilk link... Are you kidding, there is a lot of reading to do with all those links, however it looks more like cheap propoganda and very unprofessional; I find it hard to take it seriously.

As for milk sucks... This is more about cows and how they are housed and the environment they live in etc... I don't know about the country you are from, but where I come from they roam about in paddocks eating grass.

I do thank you for bringing the topic forth and I will be taking time to ascertain where the milk I buy is sourced from; what the living conditions are like for the cows involved; what diet they eat; whether or not they may have hormones in their diet; or whether there are hormones added to their milk when being processed/pastuerised.  I do monitor my child for any allergies to food and drink and will continue to the same, (as does any responsible parent).

You say that you have done research, yet you haven't written any conclusions of your own from that research, merely made a blanket statement and provided links to some rather dodgy looking sites.

Just thought I would share this with you, the website Milksucks, is supported by an organisation called Peta so the information they will provide you with will be bias. Before you site resouses to give evidence to your claims its always a good idea to confirm that your resourses can be trusted and are not bias to the facts.

Its always important to read website disclaimers to find out who supports the website. Just like you said milk companys can fake research, so can organisations like Peta. Sometimes authors have hidden motives like promoting animal welfare and only by reading disclaimers or by researching the author can we know their true motives.

Dont believe everything you read online.