Message #40958

[guest587]

Hey guys, I'm actually reading the chapter on dairy now. Dr. Mark Hyman exposes the propaganda of, "big milk" industry and says it's not at all healthy... He says humans are the only species to continue consumption of milk after weaning and it comes with an awful lot of negative side effects. But rather than debate with the two of you(because it is evident not everyone will agree with the information in this book, and that everybody is given freedom to learn their body and practice what best suits their individual needs), I'm going to try and find a more proactive segment in the chapter worth sharing- it's somewhat relevant to yours and Steve's conversation.

The Environmental and Ethical Impact of Dairy

     Dairy is terrible for the environment. Roughly 19 percent of the water used in animal agriculture is consumed by dairy farming. In the United States alone, there are about 9 million dairy cows. The cows need to stay hydrated; the farm floors and walls need to be washed; growing feed requires water. According to One Green Planet, "When you add up the water used for growing food, drinking water, and cleaning the facility, the average dairy cow uses 4,954 gallons of water per day." Additionally, when it comes to food production, cheese making generates the third-highest amount of greenhouse gas emissions, behind only meat and poultry. How can that be? Well it takes about 10 pounds of milk (1 gallon) to produce 1 pound of cheese. It takes 2 gallons of milk to make a pound of butter. Dairy-cow manure emits a lot of methane gas and nitric oxide, and with all the resources used to create feed for the cows, the footprint adds up. There are less dense cheeses that require less milk, like ricotta, cottage cheese, and mozzarella. So, if you're worried about the carbon footprint of your food but you still love cheese, these options might leave you feeling a bit better. As far as butter, stick to the grass-fed variety, which is healthier and helps cut down on emissions from feed production.

     The dairy industry wants us to believe that their cows are happily producing milk and grazing through green pastures, but for the most part, that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, dairy cows are often denied access to pastures, and they live in small, filthy quarters while they are pumped for more and more milk. Calves are quickly taken from their mothers and fed cheap powered milk filled with antibiotics so farmers can sell every drop their mothers produce. The only animals meant to drink cows' milk are the ones denied access to it.

     Unlike cows, goats and sheep are not typically found on mega-farms, so their milk is generally more ethically produced than cows'. Goats and sheep also produce less methane gas than cows, and since they are smaller, they require fewer resources.
     
     When buying a dairy product, you should look for one of the follow certifications on the label to ensure that it was produced in an ethical manner:

* Animal Welfare Approved
* Certified Humane
* American Humane Certified
* Food Alliance Certified
* Global Animal Partnership

     Smaller local farms that actually allow their cows to roam on the pasture are better for the environment and better for the animals. And although dairy products from such farms are better for you, most humans are prone to health troubles from eating dairy, so go easy. And if you have any chronic illness or symptoms, getting off dairy for two to three weeks can help you see if it is contributing.

* For a directory of local dairy farms and grass-fed products, visit: http://www.eatwild.com
* For pasture-fed, unprocessed, full-fat milk in your area, visit: http://www.realmilk.com/real-milk-finder/
* For information about whether your favorite milk is ethical and sustainable, look up its rating here: https://www.cornucopica.org/dairysurvey/index.html

Taken from, Food: What The Heck Should I Eat? by Mark Hyman, MD