Is Dairy Bad For You?

I love to bust myths about nutrition. When it comes to REAL DAIRY, there tends to be a lot of misinformation out there, I hope you find this blog helpful so you can be armed with education supported by research next time you come across content that claims one of these myths to be true. Remember that your needs are specific to you, but unless you are allergic, dairy products can be used as a healthy part of your everyday diet! For more information on the incredible benefits of dairy check out realcaliforniamilk.com

Let’s myth bust some stuff about dairy!

I am sure by now you have heard how awful dairy is for you. A quick tiktok search for dairy can be terrifying honestly.

And because of that it can be really hard to tell what is real and what is fake these days so I am going to give you 3 FACTS supported by research to combat why the top 3 statements that I see about dairy are FALSE. LETS GO.

# 1: There are Antibiotics and Hormones in your Milk

Simply put, the testing milk undergoes at each stage of its processing, makes it one of the safest foods on the market. The only thing added to milk is vitamins - like vitamin D to improve calcium absorption, making it even better for you. 

Claims that antibiotics and hormones in milk lead to early onset of puberty are unfounded as you can see here and have zero evidence to support them.

#2: Dairy Causes Inflammation - this one is ALL OVER 

Newer research actually shows the OPPOSITE, unless you are confirmed allergic to milk the evidence supports consumption of dairy as having potentially BENEFICIAL impacts on inflammation. Now remember, anything you are allergic to that you consume will cause inflammation. But if you are not allergic, please enjoy dairy products knowing they are nutrient dense and beneficial for you.

#3: Plant Based is Superior

AGAIN, if you have a known allergy to dairy, then absolutely plant-based beverages are a good option for you, but let me remind you, these do not compare nutritionally to dairy. Dairy milk has the most balanced distribution of energy from carbs, protein and fats AND 13 essential nutrients, plus no added ingredients to it! 

Can your plant based drinks say the same? 

PLUS from a cost perspective, cow’s milk is close to half the price per glass. 

Check out this image!

The choice is yours, but give me all the dairy. See the original TikTok here.

*this post is sponsored by Real California Milk

Journal of the American College of Nutrition, funded by National Dairy Council, evaluated 27 randomized control trials and found that dairy foods (i.e., milk, cheese and yogurt) and dairy proteins (i.e., whey, casein) have neutral to beneficial effects on inflammation.

1. J Am Coll Nutr. 2020:1-12.

2. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;97(4):706–17.

3. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017;57(12):2497-2525.

4. Adv Nutr. 2019;10(suppl_2):S239-S250.

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Written by JENNA WERNER

Hey there, I’m Jenna! I'm a Registered Dietitian, online nutrition coach and serious food lover. I'm ready to help you quit dieting forever and fall in love with the way food makes you feel.

Learn more about me and the HSH offerings here.