11 Reasons to Stop Eating Dairy

Milk and dairy products are not the health foods we’ve been told they are. Here are 11 reasons to stop consuming them:

1. Cow’s milk is intended for baby cows. We’re the only species (other than those we are domesticating) that drinks milk after infancy. And, we’re definitely the only ones drinking the milk of a different species.

2. Hormones. Not only are the naturally-present hormones in cow’s milk stronger than human hormones, the animals are routinely given steroids and other hormones to plump them up and increase milk production. These hormones can negatively impact humans’ delicate hormonal balance.

3. Most cows are fed inappropriate food. Commercial feed for cows contains all sorts of ingredients that include: genetically-modified (GM) corn, GM soy, animal products, chicken manure, cottonseed, pesticides, and antibiotics.

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Michelle Schoffro Cook

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Fi T.

6:22AM PDT on Apr 30, 2013

Be careful with what we eat

April 30
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Diane R.

8:50AM PDT on Apr 15, 2013

I quit all dairy about a year ago. What happened? No acid reflux. Lost weight fast. No arthritis. Will I go back to eating cheese, yogurt etc? NO way. I love the way I look and feel.

April 15
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Belinda E.

2:45AM PST on Mar 1, 2013

Christine J, you are right in your description of factory farming. And yes, most people don't have access to family-farm milk. But as Donna says, you're not going to eliminate the consumption of milk products, so how about campaigning for more humane farms instead?

March 1
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Christine J.

5:41AM PST on Feb 28, 2013

Let's get some facts into this thread. It is a fact that to produce milk, cows have to give birth, just the same as us and all the other mammals. The male calves (bobby calves) are slaughtered. Fact. Where do you think veal comes from? If you don't want to think about it because it makes you feel guilty, then don't, but don't accuse the Vegans of lying. If you don't want to believe them, go and ask a farmer. Better yet, go and see a farm for yourself. The bobby calves and the cows become very distressed at being separated, and the calves, which normally drink from their mothers up to 5 times a day, are deprived of food and drink for many hours while on a long and stressful journey to the slaughterhouse. How would you like that to be done to you? I know I wouldn't. If you want to eat dairy, knock yourself out. But don't falsely accuse Vegans of spreading propaganda or worse, outright lying.

February 28
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Donna B.

4:05AM PST on Jan 21, 2013

Cows milk is for baby cows=Myth.

January 21
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3:52AM PST on Jan 21, 2013

Oh Stop!! Some people are ALWAYS going to eat/drink dairy. NOT everyone wants to be a Vegan. Peace AND Love.

Diane L.

3:39AM PST on Jan 21, 2013

Jude,please don't feel guilty! A diet is a misnomer by definition. Diet means eating style/habits. It doesn't necessarily mean to eat with the goal to just lose weight. Dairy does not have to contain excess calories or fat, and don't succumb to the propaganda that vegans put out that ALL dairy is bad for you or that anmals used to obtain dairy products are all abused or tortured. That is what they want you to believe. You can make your own ice cream at home and in fact, not even use dairy products. Greek yogurt is exremely healthy and almost no fat.

Jude H.

10:24AM PST on Jan 20, 2013

I've been delighted to enjoy Chobani Greek Yogurt, Danactive immune system helpers, etc. as part of my successful weight loss stretch. On care2. I often come across the anti-dairy point of view and chose to search it; this was my first result. I've always loved dairy and my favourite diet vacation is good ice cream...yeah, I know, organic, hormone issues, improper treatment of cows. Oy...more reading to do.

January 20
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Melania P.

9:30AM PST on Dec 7, 2012

Thanks for posting, I shared this on Facebook and G+

December 7
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Dale O.

8:23AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

Intriguing how some are convinced with cult like vehemence/frenzy of the correctness of their ways and that all who do not follow them are dead wrong, lost sheep or just plain fools.

In this debate, hurling insults and citing websites/studies is not going to convince the person on the other side of the fence to Viola! Become "enlightened", see the "error" of their ways and rush to a new found belief in what the other side offers.

One is convinced that if we only ate the foods "designed" for the human species no one would get sick. That does not wash. What is right food for one person can be a food of illness for another...especially if the "right" food creates an allergy.

No one is going to convince another with these debates...I have vegetarian friends and one gets so sick on her "appropriate" diet that she is constantly having colds, flu/everything under the sun while other vegetarians are having a great healthy time. I eat both meat and dairy and never get sick as a dog like her.

Humans have gotten along on a meat, veggie/alternatives diet for eons. One can opt out of dairy/meat if one chooses but don't presume only one is a "natural" diet.

The main goal is to avoid toxins, opt for organic if this is available to you, enjoy your own journey/path in life without insulting anyone who is not on the same page. I never tell a vegan or a vegetarian to eat meat so kindly stop telling me to stop eating dairy/meat.

Organically yours (but you eat what you wan