5 Ridiculous Myths About Cow’s Milk You Shouldn’t Believe

That there are many conflicting studies about dairy, and it can be hard to know what to believe. Don’t fall for these common myths about cow’s milk.

I wouldn’t be surprised to hear you’ve had a few heated arguments about cow’s milk. Many people have strong opinions about milk. However, most of those opinions are based on myths that have been debunked by actual science.

The dairy industry is partly to blame for the myths about cow’s milk out there. Some of the studies about milk are actually funded by dairy companies, so make sure the studies you quote are not biased. Here’s a helpful guide to spotting untrustworthy studies that might be helpful.

MYTHS ABOUT COW’S MILK

Below are some of the ridiculous myths about cow’s milk out there that you shouldn’t fall for.

Myth #1: Kids need cow’s milk to grow.

Many of us drank lots of milk during childhood, because our parents believed that milk was essential for our growth. However, research shows that kids who don’t drink cow’s milk are just as healthy as those who do. In fact, some studies show that kids who drink cow’s milk have a higher risk of asthma, colic, and ear infections.

Myth #2: Cow’s milk builds strong bones.

This myth is so common because of the calcium content in milk. However, there’s not a strong link between cow’s milk and bone health. In fact, calcium isn’t even the healthy bones holy grail we once believed it was.

In this two-decade Harvard study, involving 72,000 thousand women, researchers found that drinking milk didn’t help prevent osteoporosis or fractures.

Surprisingly, a study on adolescent girls found that those who got most of their calcium from dairy products had a higher risk of stress fractures compared to those with low dairy intake.

Myth #3: You need milk to avoid calcium deficiency.

Milk lovers will be surprised to find out that milk is not the best source of calcium. Plant-based foods such as seeds and nuts, leafy greens, and beans, can give you all the calcium you need in a day.

Myth #4: Low-fat milk prevents childhood obesity.

Even though the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consumption of low-fat milk as a way to fight obesity, one study found that low-fat milk doesn’t help prevent childhood obesity. In their conclusion, the researchers recommended that USDA reexamine its current recommendations for milk.

There’s good evidence that providing kids more fresh fruits and veggies is a better way to combat childhood obesity.

Myth #5: You can’t drink too much cow’s milk.

People who believe milk is essential for optimal health assume they can drink as much of it as they want. But the truth is, too much milk can have severe health effects.

One study involving 60,000 women between the age of 39 and 74 and 45,000 men between the age of 45 and 79 found that drinking three or more glasses of milk a day increased the risk of mortality and hip fractures. Other sources say that too much milk can increase the risk of kidney stones, cancer, and so on.