Dairy & Dairy Alternatives
There are chemicals in my milk?
Not only are there pesticides in the feed, hormones, and antibiotics given to cattle, but dairy products also come from animals that actively interact with their environment and have a high-fat content.
Fat retains many more chemicals than plants, and those chemicals get passed on to you when you drink milk, as well as the environment. For example, fertilizer made from cow dung can indirectly expose the food you eat to antibiotics and hormones.
The United States Department of Agriculture tests crops and farm animals regularly. While the US has banned the pesticide known as DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) for years, researchers still find low traces of the chemical in croplands, animals, and even humans.
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The levels of DDT will decline gradually, but for now, there is little that conventional and even organic farmers can do to avoid all contact with this pesticide from our past.
What about GMOs?
The use of GMOs in our food is a hotly debated issue, with research supporting the harmlessness of GMOs and still other research suggesting that there are some health concerns for GMOs.
While researchers continue to compile studies on GMOs, one thing is clear: If you want to avoid foods with GMOs, then you must buy Certified Organic foods.
Don't forget about allergies!
Thirty-two million Americans have food allergies and the occurrence of food allergies in children increased by 50% from 1997 to 2011.
The “Big 8” are the foods responsible for the majority of severe allergic reactions: Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. It’s no surprise to learn that milk and milk alternatives should be consumed carefully.
If you are consuming one of these kinds of milk and experience these symptoms, you should consult your doctor:
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Itching
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Wheezing
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Difficulty breathing
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Nausea
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Abdominal pain
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Hives
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Runny nose
