The Bovine or the Bean?

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The Bovine or the Bean?
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Soy milk, soy cheese, Rice Dream, Toffuti. You've seen some of these products in the grocery store, even more of them in the health food store; perhaps you've even bought some. They are substitutes for the dairy products that most of us have grown up on and their sales have skyrocketed in recent years. But why would anyone want to substitute anything for milk? Isn't milk just about the healthiest, most perfect food in the world? Well, that depends on who you're talking to. To drink milk or not to drink milk - That is one of the most controversial questions in the field of nutrition today.
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If the National Fluid Milk Processing Promotion Board has captured your attention through their great advertising campaigns, or if your mother's repeated directives to "drink your milk," are still playing in your head, then, "yes" milk is one of the healthiest things you can put into your body. But obviously the dairy farmers have a financial stake in convincing you of this and Mom has been known to be - well, not exactly wrong, but -slightly misguided before. So let's take a closer look at some of the information related to this controversy.
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It's kind of difficult to make a straight product to product comparison because there are so many brands of soy milk and each brand has different varieties. For example, Edensoy, one of the most popular brands comes in three different flavors (plain, vanilla, and carob) and has at least eleven different products. Also, the various brands of soy beverage are not standardized as is cow's milk with all brands of whole milk, 2%, 1% and skim being nutritionally the same. In other words, the calcium content in one cup of fortified plant milk (of which soy is the most common) can range from 150 mg. to 500 mg. Whole cow's milk has 300 mg of calcium. An 8 oz. serving of plant milk can have anywhere from 1 to 10 gm. of protein whereas whole cow's milk has a standard 8. Other nutrients in soy milk may have just as wide a differentiation as the above two.
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Both beverages have their advantages. Milk is generally higher in calcium and protein than soymilk, has more potassium and some vitamin C. Soymilk is generally lower in calories, lower in fat, has no cholesterol or saturated fat, is higher in complex carbohydrates, has some dietary fiber versus none in cow's milk and some iron. The higher protein and calcium contents in cow's milk may seem like a distinct advantage but recent studies are presenting some serious questions as to whether that is really so.
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The dairy farmers and their supporters attest that the calcium content in milk is your ticket to strong bones and the key to preventing osteoporosis in later years. It's a common misconception that a dietary deficiency of calcium is the cause of the this bone-depleting malady. But recent studies have indicated that it is not a deficiency of calcium in the diet but rather a depletion of the stored calcium in the body that causes this debilitating condition. One possible cause of calcium depletion is an excess of protein in the system. Protein is broken down into amino acids. An excess of protein, especially animal protein, causes the blood to become overly acidic. In order to balance the PH the body draws calcium, which is an alkaline substance, from the bones. So, although cow's milk is high in calcium, it is also high in the animal protein that pulls calcium from the body. In fact, studies have shown that the countries with the highest consumption of dairy products also have the highest incidence of osteoporosis-related afflictions such as fractured hips. Excess dietary protein has also been identified as a high risk factor in kidney disease.
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A significant percentage of the population has a condition known as lactose intolerance. This means that they are deficient in the enzyme lactase which breaks down lactose, the predominant sugar in dairy products. People of African, Native American and Asian heritage are especially prone to this condition. The symptoms of lactose intolerance are nausea, cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea after consuming dairy products. It is perfectly normal for the body to produce less lactase as people grow older. Decreased production begins at the age of two, when babies would normally begin to be weaned from breast milk. Raw (un-pasteurized) cow's milk apparently contains its own lactase which is destroyed in the pasteurization process. In addition, raw milk maintains all of the rich nutrient content which is somewhat compromised by the pasteurization process.
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So, if drinking raw milk has these advantages, why doesn't everybody just drink raw milk? Pasteurization (the heating of milk to destroy bacteria) was originally ordered by the government as one measure in the attempt to eradicate tuberculosis. As it turned out, this particular bacteria was not borne in dairy products. However, milk and other dairy products can be a vehicle for contamination from a variety of disease-causing germs, including salmonella. Obviously, dairy products are not the only potential carriers of salmonella and other disease-causing bacteria but the potentiality from this particular source is greatly reduced by the pasteurization process. So anyone who drinks raw milk (the sale of which is outlawed in most states) is, at least theoretically, taking a greater risk of contacting some form of food poisoning..
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Even if one is not lactose intolerant, there are other reasons to avoid excessive use of processed dairy products in our diets. A large percentage of the dairy cows in this country are given BGH (bovine growth hormone) to increase their milk production. These hormones are transferred to the milk, so whenever you drink a glass of cow's milk you are getting a dose of hormones as well. The amount in each glass of milk may not be significant but when you consider all the milk, cheese, ice cream and other dairy products consumed by the average American, it adds up. Although the US government regulates the use of BGH, hormones are powerful chemicals, even in miniscule amounts, and can cause the unnatural proliferation of certain types of cells. There is concern in the scientific community that BGH milk may increase the risk of contacting certain types of breast and prostate cancer. There is also evidence that the hormones in milk (and meat) are responsible for the tendency for young girls in this and other western countries to enter into puberty at an increasingly earlier age.
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In addition to growth hormone, dairy cows are treated with antibiotics to prevent any kind of infectious disease from hampering their milk production. Antibiotics are also transferred to the milk. So, even if your doctor is conservative in his use of antibiotics you are still getting a daily dose in your dairy products. And there is a disturbing body of evidence indicating that the overuse of antibiotics is causing many disease-causing bacteria to develop resistance to these life-saving drugs.
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The consumption of soy products is not without its risks and concerns either. For one thing, soy contains a substance called phytoestrogens (as do a number of other plant foods). Phytoestrogens have been touted as a great natural remedy for the discomforts associated with menopause. They have also been shown in some research projects to help prevent certain types of cancer, including cervical and prostate cancers and reduce the risks of heart disease and osteoporosis. Yet some experts are concerned that the phytoestrogens will act like the female estrogen hormone causing the development of female characteristics in males and the proliferation of certain types of breast cancer in women. Further, there is concern that the sexual development of infants who are fed soy-based formula will be adversely affected. Some writers have even drawn a connection between the use of soy infant formula and the problem of early onset of puberty. However, such a connection is difficult to fathom when only about 1% of the infant population is being fed soy formula. It seems much more likely that the estrogen hormones being consumed by the much larger percentage of the population who drink cow's milk and eat meat is responsible for this phenomena.
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A 1996 study by the United Kingdom Department of Health concluded that "Phytoestrogens can, in certain situations, behave like a very weak form of the female hormone estrogen… But there is no evidence of adverse effects in populations which eat large quantities of soya such as the Japanese and Chinese. The Committee has recommended that further research is needed to give a better understanding of the actions of phytoestrogens in the human body." The report suggested that parents who are feeding children soy-based formula should continue to do so.
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There is also concern among the organic food community over the fact that much of the soy crop in this country is now grown from genetically engineered seed. The effect on humanity of consuming these bio-engineered foods is unknown and some early studies on animals have been extremely disturbing. However, this particular concern can be alleviated by choosing from the abundance of organically grown soy products on the market.
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In addition to their nutrient content, soy products are abundant in the health-promoting antioxidants. Antioxidants help to prevent cell destruction by neutralizing free radicals and have been identified as reducing the risk of arthritis, cancer and heart disease. The occurrence of these diseases is dramatically lower in countries where the soy bean is an important dietary component.
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Yet, ancient and primitive diets that have proven over the ages to provide excellent health and longevity have almost invariably included some dairy. So, per-haps it's not a question of whether to use dairy products or soy products but rather what is the healthiest and most humane way to incorporate both into our diets. We will continue to examine this important topic in future issues.
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This article is intended for informational purposes only. Nothing in this publication is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or health-care provider before starting any new diet or procedure involving your health. Prompt professional medical guidance is recommended for any health problem.