The Scary New Science That Shows Milk Is Bad For You
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 12:36 pm
[quote=http://www.motherjones.com/environment/ ... guidelines]While many Americans—perhaps most—don't pay them any heed, the dietary guidelines are profoundly influential. They determine which agricultural sectors benefit from taxpayer-funded nutrition campaigns and how the billions of dollars in federal food aid flow each year to needy Americans through programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Schools that don't follow the guidelines can lose out on federal lunch reimbursements. The guidelines are also the basis for advertisements pushed by government-affiliated groups, including the "Got Milk?" campaign, which preaches that milk contains essential nutrients and "helps bones grow strong."
Since 2005, the dietary guidelines have advised adults to consume the dairy equivalent of three cups of milk per day—a full cup more than was previously recommended. This winter, the USDA is set to publish new guidelines based on advice from a panel of scientists who have reviewed the latest research—but most experts expect no change in the dairy recommendations.
And that's a problem, because many current studies suggest Hegsted was right when he claimed adults need very little calcium. What's more, a growing body of research has found that for grown-ups, consuming too much dairy can actually be harmful. Considering taxpayers spend an estimated $4.5 billion a year to subsidize dairy, many experts believe this new science deserves more attention. "We need to realize the economic and health effects of drinking that much milk," says David Levitsky, a professor in Cornell University's Division of Nutritional Sciences, "and the role that the dairy industry plays in setting the agenda."[/quote]
Since 2005, the dietary guidelines have advised adults to consume the dairy equivalent of three cups of milk per day—a full cup more than was previously recommended. This winter, the USDA is set to publish new guidelines based on advice from a panel of scientists who have reviewed the latest research—but most experts expect no change in the dairy recommendations.
And that's a problem, because many current studies suggest Hegsted was right when he claimed adults need very little calcium. What's more, a growing body of research has found that for grown-ups, consuming too much dairy can actually be harmful. Considering taxpayers spend an estimated $4.5 billion a year to subsidize dairy, many experts believe this new science deserves more attention. "We need to realize the economic and health effects of drinking that much milk," says David Levitsky, a professor in Cornell University's Division of Nutritional Sciences, "and the role that the dairy industry plays in setting the agenda."[/quote]