Transcript
A (0:05)
Hey there, and welcome to Paging Dr. Gupta. Thank you so much for joining us today. This is the place where I get to take a deep dive into some of your health questions, address some of your concerns, and hopefully get you some answers that are backed by the best available evidence. Kira is with us. Who do we have first?
B (0:26)
So today's first question is actually coming from one of our younger listeners. His name is David, and he wants to know about a very popular childhood drink and whether you should still be having it as you age.
C (0:41)
Hello, this is David, age 14, calling from Florida. And my question is, is milk from cows good to drink? Because my dad, I remember, he told me that drinking milk from cows is basically like drinking baby milk. Not really good for teenagers or adults. And I was wondering, like, we don't drink milk from other animals, so why do we drink from a cow? Thank you so much, and I'm thankful for having you on the show.
A (1:12)
Okay, David, age 14. Thank you for calling in. You know what? We're gonna milk this question for all it's worth. Hopefully give you a lot of useful information. We'll do it right after this short break.
B (1:35)
Kids, they grow up so fast. One day they're taking their first steps, and the next they don't fit into the tiny sneakers they took them in. You blink your eyes and their princess dress is two sizes too small. And their dinosaur backpack isn't cool anymore. But don't cry because they're growing up. Smile because you can profit off of it for real. There are a bunch of parents on depop looking for the stuff your kid just grew out of. Download depop to start selling.
D (2:05)
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast. Smart move. Being financially savvy. Smart move. Another smart move. Having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and aut bundling. Just another way to save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state.
A (2:37)
Welcome back to paging Dr. Gupta. We are talking about cow's milk. Why? Because David wants to know whether people should be drinking something that is specifically meant to nourish a calf. It's true that we are probably one of the only species that drinks the milk of other species and that does so beyond infancy. And to learn why that's the case, let's go back in time. Research has shown that humans have been drinking milk or Eating some sort of dairy product like cheese or yogurt for guess how long? At least 6,000 years. These early milk adapters were likely farmers who lived alongside their livestock. And the advantages of drinking milk back then was that, look, milk was a good source of calories and nutrients when you obviously couldn't go to a grocery store. Milk may have also been providing antibodies against certain infections like anthrax. Milk may have also been a source of clean hydration. Keep in mind that milk is about 87 to 90% water, clean water, depending on fat content. And if you fast forward to today, milk is still a good source of certain nutrients. Calcium, of course, you know that one. What about protein, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, phosphorus, potassium. And if you're buying milk from the store, it's often fortified with vitamins A and D. Now, as far as the health benefits of drinking milk, a lot of the study findings and the data are confusing and sometimes contradictory. So for example, milk contains nutrients like calcium. I just mentioned that that's important for bone health. And this may protect against bone loss and fractures later in life. But research hasn't definitively shown that to be the case. Okay, so conceptually it makes sense, but the research hasn't definitively shown this. Also, research is mixed when it comes to the impact of milk on heart disease. The biggest headline in those studies seems to be that it depends on the type of milk used in the study, low fat or whole, and what other food milk is being compared to or has been swapped out with. Now, when it comes to lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, consuming dairy does appear to help. But it looks like the primary benefit probably comes from consuming fermented dairy products like yogurt rather than drinking milk. Now, there are some reasons why you might not want to drink milk. Some are health related, others may be more philosophical. Milk, especially whole milk, is relatively high in saturated fat. We need some saturated fat in our diet. But if you're drinking a lot of whole milk, you may be getting more than you need. Some people have true allergies to milk. Some people become lactose intolerant, meaning they stop making an enzyme called lactase, which helps our bodies digest milk. That happens to many people as they get older. Other people may be vegan, so they don't consume any animal product at all, either for health reasons or because they think it is cruel to animals, or because of the environmental impact of raising dairy producing animals. And on top of all of that, nowadays there are plenty of plant based alternatives to cow's milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, oat milk, coconut milk. And for those people who are lactose intolerant, who want cow's milk, there is lactose free cow milk. Now, many of those alternatives are fortified to add in the nutrients that are not going to be naturally occurring in those products, such as vitamin A and D and vitamin B12 and calcium and protein. So that's a lot of preamble. David, what it comes down to for you is personal preference and what you and your parents feel is best for your health. I will tell you. The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends individuals consume 2 to 3 cups of dairy products or its equivalent per day to depending on age, gender and level of physical activity. One cup of dairy products could be one cup of cow's milk. Yes. Also one cup of yogurt, one and a half ounces of natural cheese, two ounces of processed cheese, or one cup of fortified soy milk. And finally, David, you might be surprised to learn that cow's milk isn't the only animal milk that humans consume. Some people consume milk from, from buffaloes and goats and sheep and even yaks and camels, especially in other parts of the world. So, David, thank you so much for calling in. Just 14 years old, I love it. Coming up after the break, how can people who do shift work stay healthy despite keeping hours that are not conducive to getting the best sleep?