According to statistics, Americans consume 630 pounds of dairy on a yearly basis, whether in the form of yogurt, milk, ice cream or cheese.
All types of milk, whether from humans, goats or cows has a natural amount of different hormones, including progesterone and estrogen. As hormones such as estrogen are fat-soluble, the amount of hormones is higher in whole than in skim milk.
Organic milk also has the approximate level of hormones as conventional milk. According to experts, drinking too much dairy can have a negative impact on the hormonal health, especially milk.
Why We Need to Stop Eating Dairy?
Milk is a substance which is produced in the body of female mammals whose only purpose is to help small mammals grow. Once they do, there is no more milk being secreted and they stop with the consumption. And, humans are the only species that drink milk from other species throughout the whole life.
Today, in the dairy industry, cows are artificially impregnated in order to produce milk. Because of the high demand for dairy, some cows are pregnant almost 300 days in the year and as a result, they develop all kinds of infections and are more prone to illnesses and bacteria.
Moreover, dairy can have a negative effect on our hormonal health. Check out the list below to learn the negative impact it has on the hormones:
- Elevates the insulin levels
Dairy can cause acne because it increases the insulin levels in the body, resulting in blood sugar swings. Even though milk is often presented by the dairy industry as healthy food which we need for healthy bones and teeth, it can do more harm than good.
- Causes mood swings
Estrogen and testosterone are the sex hormones and when they are not balanced, we become more prone to mood swings. Milk is known to elevate the estrogen levels in the body because of the estrogen from cows. Moreover, due to its androgenic characteristics, it increases the testosterone and causes bulking.
Did you know that the milk we drink (from pregnant cows) contains around 33 times higher levels of estrogen as that from non-pregnant cows? And, women are not the only ones who can experience mood swings due to the fluctuations in the hormones, but men too.
- Linked with cancer
Organic or not, milk can cause cancer. According to a study by Harvard Health, milk and cheese products caused testicular cancer in men between the ages of 20 to 39.
Milk consumption was also linked to breast, prostate, and colon cancer. Unfortunately, milk contains a protein known as casein which has been found to have carcinogenic properties.
Opt for Healthy Dairy Alternatives
If you still want to continue consuming milk but you are worried about its negative effects on your health, do not worry. There are non-animal and plant-based milk alternatives including coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, flaxseed milk, and numerous other healthy options.