Ten Common Milk Myths - Busted with the Facts!

Myth #1: Consuming dairy products can lead to weight gain.
Fact: Weight gain occurs when one consumes more calories than the body can burn as energy. Contrary to this common myth, research both in animals and humans suggest that including three servings of low fat dairy foods in a calorie controlled diet may help achieve greater weight loss (Zemel, 2005).

Clinical trials have also shown a strong correlation between increased calcium intake and reduced body weight, body fat percentage and waist size (Zemel, 2005).

Myth #2: Spinach is as good a source of calcium as milk.
Fact: There is more calcium in 1 cup of milk than there is in 16 cups of spinach. One will need to eat more than 48 cups of spinach to get the recommended daily intake of calcium (USDA, 2010). Furthermore, milk contains Vitamin D which enhances calcium absorption (Wasserman, 2004).

Myth #3: People with lactose intolerance should avoid dairy foods.
Fact: Lactose intolerance is often confused with milk allergies. Lactose intolerance is not an allergic reaction to dairy foods. Rather it is the inability to digest the milk sugar lactose. Lactose-free milk and yogurt are good alternatives to drinking milk for people that are lactose intolerant. Aged cheeses such as Cheddar and Swiss are also low in lactose. Many people with lactose intolerance can drink up to 1 cup of milk daily without problems (Miller et al., 2000).

Myth #4: Milk causes asthma.
Fact: While infants with milk allergies are more likely to develop
asthma later in life, there are no scientific data that support that consuming dairy foods makes a person asthmatic.

Myth #5: Consuming dairy foods can increase the risk of heart disease.
Fact: A diet high in saturated fat regardless of the source will likely cause heart disease and not dairy foods. Recently, it was reported that the evidence linking saturated fat intake to heart disease is lacking (Siri-Tarino et al., 2010).

Furthermore, today saturated fat from butter is believed to be not as bad as trans fat filled hydrogenated vegetable fats such as margarine and other so-called ‘healthy’ spreads. Those still wishing to reduce their fat intake can consume low fat dairy foods and receive the nutritional benefits of dairy foods without the high fat (Berner, 1992; Miller, 2000).

Myth #6: If you take calcium supplements you don’t need milk.
Fact: Milk isn’t only a good source of calcium but it also provides other high quality nutrients such as high quality protein, vitamins A, D, B12, riboflavin; zinc; potassium and magnesium.

Fermented dairy foods such as yogurt also serve as an excellent carrier of probiotic organisms and pediatrics, which are important for gastrointestinal health.

Taking supplements does not provide the enjoyment of drinking a cold glass of milk; pouring cold milk on a bowl of cereal for breakfast; eating a creamy delicious bowl of ice cream on a hot summer day; or enjoying the pleasure of a creamy cheese sauce on nachos, or melted cheese slices on a hamburger.

Myth #7: Milk causes mucus.
Fact: After drinking whole milk or eating ice cream some people mistake the thin coat or residue in their mouth and throat for mucus.

This is the normal creamy texture of milk fat which melts near body temperature and not excess mucus. A study conducted by Pinnock and co-workers (1990) reported that there is no association between milk and dairy products intake and mucus production in healthy as well as rhinovirus infected individuals.

Myth #8: Humans are not designed to drink cow’s milk.
Fact: Humans are designed to eat plant as well as animal products such as meat and dairy products. Domestication of cattle (and consumption of milk and dairy foods) date back to 6000 BC.

We are equipped with the lactose enzyme in our gut that aids in the digestion of cow’s milk. Consequently humans have enjoyed consuming dairy foods over many, many centuries.

If we were restricted to consuming milk only from our own species, we would not enjoy many of the dairy foods we enjoy today; such as blue cheese on our salads, ice cream on apple pie, sour cream on baked potatoes, Mozzarella cheese on pizza, shredded cheese on our tacos, and buttermilk in our pancakes.

Myth #9: Drinking milk can cause kidney stones.
Fact: Milk may actually protect against the formation of kidney stones (NHS, 1990). It was suggested that the calcium in milk may bind to oxalates in food so that they can no longer be absorbed by the body, reducing the risk of kidney stones.

Myth #10: Eating cheese and high fat dairy foods can cause acne.
Fact: Science does not support any link between acne and dairy foods. Importance of vitamins A and D in skin health is well established. Milk is a good source of vitamins A and D in the diet (Miller et al., 2000).

Source: Dairy Herd News - 10 Myths About Dairy Foods Dispelled 4/14/2010

“People are fascinated with milking a cow,” says John Harrison of Sweet Water Valley Dairy. It’s this fascination and curiosity that encouraged John’s dream to build a living milking exhibit for patrons to get a glimpse of the past, but most importantly to educate people of all ages about how cows provide milk to feed a hungry world today and into the future.

Sweet Water Valley Dairy located in Philadelphia, TN began on-farm cheese processing in 1998. John quickly realized the importance of local and agri-tourism to spread the word and support his desire to create a sustainable dairy operation that could provide a family connection for future generations. Each year more than 40,000 people visit the farm. The value of developing a whole agri-tourism program has grown into an additional family business that includes paid walking excursions available 9 months of the year. With the addition of the new dairy exhibit, Sweet Water Valley Dairy hopes to attract more than 100,000 visitors annually.

The newly completed barn which will house a little bit of the past, answer the question of what dairy faming is all about today as well as share information of new technology for the future of dairy farming is aptly named, The Udder Story. “We live in a very hungry world and we need to feed the world. We want to make sure visitors understand the challenges we face,” shared John. The new dairy exhibit offers the comfort of an enclosed touring facility that can accommodate year round touring at no charge. Visitors will get to see how chocolate milk is processed as well as gain a valuable understanding of what really happens at a dairy farm.

The new exhibit is scheduled to open June 1st which is the official World Milk Day celebration date! You can learn more at www.sweetwatervalleydairy.com.

John Weller and his family operate the Double Eagle Dairy located in Middleton, MI. The dairy has grown through three generations of dairy farmers and now milks 3,500 cows everyday. The Weller family believes in the dairy industry and understands the importance of dairies of all sizes. The decision to open the dairy to the public to view the daily operations on the farm came from the desire to help people understand what really happens on the dairy. “This is not a show, but rather what you see is what we do everyday” said John.

Upon entering the lobby visitors enjoy a beautifully created cow mosaic; large format graphics display the history of the farm as well as facts about cows. Groups are welcomed onto an observation deck to view the 72 stall DeLaval rotary that turns 24/7. John explained, “We have an open door policy that allows for anyone to stop by the farm and see how cows are milked while remaining behind a glass viewing window that does not disturb the cows”. This year, the Weller’s invited visitors to tour fields of alfalfa to explain the various insects and products used to enhance the quality of silage feed for cows.

The Weller family works with tour groups and schools as well the United Dairy Industry of Michigan to share their message of the importance to educate the community in an effort to help people of all ages see first hand how a family owned dairy operates as well as gain an appreciation for how animals are cared for on a daily basis. “We really want the general public to know that we produce a wholesome, nutritious product with high regards for our cows and our environment while remaining competitive to keep the farm going for generations to come” shared John. The Weller family welcomes you to visit the Double Eagle Dairy!