Comment on Daily Mail article dated Sep 02 2009

Source: As the new semi-semi-skimmed flies off the shelves... one drink you should milk for all it's worth

The study referred to in this article was not a new study but a re-evaluation of published evidence on milk and dairy consumption and its relationship with cancer, heart disease and diabetes. I agree that milk is a good food and contains many important nutrients including calcium, phosphorus and protein. With regard to weight loss, milk is not hugely high in calories so drinking milk, especially one of the skimmed varieties, will certainly not add huge amounts of calories or saturated fat to the diet. However I do advise some caution against overindulging in dairy produce as there may be some health issues related to ingesting a large amount of dairy produce.

Some health issues that may occur with a high dairy intake:

·        Reduced absorption of some minerals (e.g. iron). High calcium levels in milk can stop the absorption of other minerals which in turn could affect nutrient status.

·        The balance of calcium:magnesium. The ideal ration is 2:1 calcium: magnesium. However in milk the ratio is 10:1. Magnesium is just as important for bone health as calcium. If the diet is balanced with magnesium containing foods this should not be a problem.

·        Some cancers have been linked to high milk intake - namely breast and prostate. Milk contains a hormone called Insulin Growth factor which has been linked to the growth of some cancers. Prostate cancer studies show a positive association with high consumption of milk, dairy products, and meats.

·        Some people have lactose intolerance or allergies associated with proteins found in milk. This can cause all the related uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, eczema and respiratory complaints.

·        Cheese is high in saturated fat so eat this in moderation as a diet high in saturated fat has been linked to heart disease.

In conclusion my advice is that milk and dairy produce should be included in a balanced diet but an excess may cause health problems in some people.

Expert: Cathy Castle (BSc, Dip ION, MBANT) www.nutritionimpact.co.uk