Should i avoid dairy products

One cup of fortified whole milk contains:. Most milk manufacturers fortify their products with vitamins A and D. A person can see whether milk is fortified by reading the ingredients label. The label will list the added vitamins, such as vitamin A palmitate and vitamin D-3, as ingredients.

Milk is a nutrient-rich drink, offering many nutrients that other beverages such as sports drinks, sodas, and other nondairy milk substitutes are lacking. Dairy products contain a sugar called lactose. Without enough lactase, a person will not be able to digest dairy products that contain lactose. This leads to symptoms of lactose intolerance , which may include:. Lactose is also present in human breast milk.

Most babies are able to digest it without issues. In fact, lactose intolerance in infancy is a rare disorder. However, many people become lactose intolerant as their body slows down its production of lactase. Some dairy products that are fermented, such as yogurt and certain hard cheeses, contain lower amounts of lactose than a glass of milk. These types of fermented products may be suitable choices for some people who are sensitive to lactose. Other people find that almost any amount of dairy causes symptoms.

People who cannot digest dairy may wish to consume lactose reduced dairy milk or fortified soy milk alternatives. Other nondairy milk alternatives do not provide similar nutrition. Learn more about lactose intolerance here. The majority of reliable evidence suggests that dairy can be an important nutrient-rich choice for a healthful diet.

However, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not to consume it. People who do not or cannot consume dairy should obtain calcium from other sources, such as fortified nondairy soy milk, leafy green vegetables, and other calcium-rich foods.

People may wish to speak with a health professional about their dietary needs based on their health history and lifestyle. Yogurt is packed with nutrients that can include calcium and magnesium, good bacteria, and protein. But not all yogurts are as healthy as each other…. The nutrients in milk can help maintain bone, brain, and heart health, but some people either choose not to drink it or cannot tolerate it.

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So many conflicting studies on foods! Cancer risk is another top reason to avoid dairy. Start with prostate cancer. Crosby points to a study from Cancer Research which found that men who drank two or more glasses of milk a day — 83 percent was skim or low-fat -- had a 60 percent increased risk of advanced prostate cancer. Yet another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed a 32 percent increased risk for prostate cancer among men who had 2.

What about breast cancer? That link is growing stronger, as more studies reveal a link between drinking full-fat dairy and increased risk of breast cancer. Among breast cancer survivors, dairy can raise the risk of recurrence, Crosby says.

In a study of women who had already had breast cancer, researchers found that consuming one or more servings of high-fat dairy raised the mortality risk by 49 percent compared with those women who ate less than half a serving a day, according to a study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

And several studies show that dairy products may increase your risk of ovarian cancer, as well. One culprit driving these cancers is the estrogen in dairy. Some important things to consider include potential health problems like heart disease, certain cancers, digestive problems, and type 1 diabetes. Do you want to lose unwanted weight? Improve or even reverse diabetes? Join renowned doctors and nutrition experts for a free eight-week class series.

Learn More. Saturated Fat and Heart Disease Milk and other dairy products are the top sources of artery-clogging saturated fat in the American diet. Bone Health Research shows that dairy products have little or no benefit for bone health. Cancer Research has linked the high fat content and hormones in milk, cheese, and other dairy products to breast cancer.

Health Concerns About Dairy Fact Sheet Many Americans, including some vegetarians, still consume substantial amounts of dairy products.