Do Humans REALLY Need Milk?

Question

Humans are the only animals on this planet that continue to consume milk even when our bodies mature and we no longer need it (your mother's milk). One question, why? Cow milk is not intended for humans. And don't give me that calcium BS, you can still get calcium else where.

And it turns out, your body does not even benefit from milk, look what I found from a nutrionist.

“Pasteurization is a destructive process that changes the physical structure of the fragile proteins in milk (especially casein) and converts them into proteins your body was never designed to handle – and that can actually harm you. Additionally, the pasteurization process virtually eliminates the good bacteria normally present in the milk and radically reduces the micronutrient and vitamin content of this healthy food.”

Answer 1

Hell no! I am a vegan and we do not need milk!
That is why it comes from cows ,it is for baby cows, if we really needed cow milk than why don't we just make cows drink human milk! I mean its pretty obvios when you think about it......
Plus Milk doen't really give us " strong bones" I saw a documentary on the Science channel that it really weakens our bones, it only makes cow cubs bones stronger!
Plus cows are harshly and I mean HARSHLY abused by milk industries , besides every thing soy taste better!

Answer 2

Oh for heavens sake, that source you quoted only refers to pasteurised milk. It is well known that semi-skimmed or whole milk is best. In fact, that argument even finished with the acknowledgement that it is a healthy food.

While cow's milk is obviously intended for cows, it still has many of the minerals and benefits of milk intended for humans. Cow's muscles aren't intended for humans, neither are cabbage leaves, and yet we still eat them and does that make them unhealthy?
Milk is a very nutritious and healthy food, no matter what people like PETA say. It has proteins, and other vitamins and minerals that our body needs and uses. It can be lived without, and everything there can be got in other places (but not necessarily as good quality), but that doesn't mean it isn't healthy.

If this topic is an allusion to veganism, milk contains many of the things vegans simply CANNOT get, like B12. I definitely don't think veganism is a good idea, considering around 60% have some level of deficiency of B12, a vital vitamin.

Answer 3

Why? Money. The dairy farmers, like other smart businesses, have banded together to protect their industry. Lobbyists protect their interests.

Got milk? Advertising has also been very important to the industry. Consider the success of this recent campaign.

With the availability of soy and rice drinks, there definitely are alternatives.* Calcium is available through other sources too.
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/calcium.htm

*I do think the cow milk industry has lost market share since the advent of soy and rice beverages--if that makes you feel any better.

Answer 4

You are correct. Humans do not need milk. It is completely unnatural for people to drink milk after infancy. Not to mention, cow's milk is intended for a calf not a human. Think of what the nutrient requirements for a calf must be. We don't need all of the fat and calories that a calf does in their diet. Not to mention the hormones and antibiotics that they feed the catlle to keep them healthy in conditions that would normally kill them are going into you. Many times, cows get sores from the milking machines and their pus and blood are also a part of what you are drinking. Cow's milk contains 5 times the pesticides of vegetation. Think about that.

Answer 5

NO. The dairy industry spends lots of money trying to convince you that its good for you in the "got milk" commercials. You are completely right. Humans do not need milk after they stop breast feeding. Milk is a cultural preference. We could very easily survive on other sources of protein and calcium.

Answer 6

NEED, no. theres not really one particular food item that anyone NEEDS cuz you can get vitamins and minerals from a variety of sources. caucasians generally are the only race that can digest lactose. as long as your body can handle the lactose with no side effects, milk and milk products are safe and a good source of protein. dont forget--animal sources of protein and calcium are much more absorbed by the body than are vegetable sources. however its important to get balance i wouldnt overdo it with milk. products like cheese, yogurt, ice cream etc. a little is fine tho. dont forget, a lot of what we eat we dont eat cuz we NEED to. we just do cuz we enjoy it food isnt just good for you--it tastes good

Answer 7

While cow's milk is really designed for baby cows rather than baby humans, it's a nutritional staple in the diet of many cultures. For children who are not lactose-intolerant or allergic to dairy products, milk is one-stop shopping for nutrition. It contains nearly all the basic nutrients that a growing child needs: fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals (except iron). While it is true that most of the nutrients in milk can be gotten easily from other sources, such as vegetables, legumes, and seafood, milk puts them all together in a convenient package. Realistically, children eat or drink dairy products in greater amounts and more consistently than other foods. While whole milk is not the only way to get calcium in a child's diet, it's the most practical way. Good luck serving your child a breakfast of calcium-rich broccoli, kale, and sardines. Specifically, these are the nutritional benefits of milk, per 8-ounce glass:

Protein: 8 grams.
Carbohydrates – lactose, 11 grams
Fat: Depending on what kind of milk you choose (nonfat to whole milk), milk contains anywhere from negligible amounts of fat in non-fat milk to eight grams of fat per 8-ounce glass in whole milk.
Calcium: 300 milligrams or 35 percent of the RDA for school children. Note that the percentage of calcium absorbed from dairy products is much higher than that absorbed from most vegetables. Milk is fortified with vitamin D, which boosts calcium absorption.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 8-ounces of milk supply half the RDA for children under three years, one-third of the vitamin B2 requirement for school-age children, and one-fourth the requirement for teens and adults.
Vitamin B-12: 30 percent RDA for children
Zinc: one eight-ounce glass, 10 percent RDA for children
Vitamin D: 25 percent RDA for children and adults
Vitamin A: 10 percent RDA for children and adults

While milk isn't the perfect food, it still delivers a lot of nutrition in all its various forms, such as cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt. Besides, milk and dairy products are foods that kids will eat and drink willingly. Despite the bad press about milk, it has a lot of good nutritional things going for it.

Answer 8

No..we don't need it at all. It's actually not all that good for you and I hate to see kids that drink several glasses a day! Milk is all sugar which does terible things to blood sugar and kids that drink it are more likely to be overweight and eventually diabetic.

Answer 9

I haven't drunk any milk for over 40 years. You're right--we don't need it. However, I eat 4 pounds of cheese a day.

Answer 10

We don't need milk but we vegetarians do need sources of protein.

Lentils, soybeans, chickpeas and other legumes are good sources of protein. If we don't eat animals or animal products then animals will not need to fear us. Good for them and also, according to experts, good for us.