Milk Isn't Good For Everyone

A Feb. 9 editorial supporting Donna Shalala's advertising of milk was based, unfortunately, on misinformation.

The editorial states that "milk is good for you." In fact, however, as much as 15% of Caucasians and at least 70% of non-Caucasians are lactose-intolerant after early childhood: Milk not only is not good for them, but it makes them sick.

Also, milk has been associated in studies with juvenile-onset diabetes, and it's been noted that cataracts, infertility and ovarian cancer are more common among milk-drinkers than milk-avoiders, not to mention cholesterol-laden milk's contribution to obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Further, it is such an oversimplification as to be an error to state, as the editorial did, that milk "helps prevent osteoporosis, which is caused by a calcium deficiency.

Actually, the absorption, metabolism and retention of calcium is a very complex phenomenon whose factors include: the amount of calcium in the diet, the presence of other nutrients, smoking and caffeine, gender, hormonal status, race, build and sedentary lifestyle vs. regular weight-bearing activity.

Eating meat is a definite minus as regards calcium retention, and lacto-vegetarians have better bone density than meat-eaters but no edge over vegans even though vegans eat no dairy products.

Given all these factors, just adding calcium to the diet through milk-drinking is hardly the easy answer. The truth is that humans have zero need for dairy products, since every valuable nutrient in them is available from other sources. After all, the cow got nutrients from grains and greens, an so can people.

Louise Quigley
Shorewood, Wisconsin