I was looking for info on breastmilk, and I found - this article on cow milk....interesting.

Hillbilly Housewife wrote: ***PS - I remember reading ages ago that BGH is also an underlying cause for young girls to get their menstruations earlier and earlier....

Anyways here is the article... ,kinda long, sorry!

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Don't Drink Your Milk!
by Dr. Mercola

Processing Is the Problem
The path that transforms healthy milk products into allergens and carcinogens begins with modern feeding methods that substitute high-protein, soy-based feeds for fresh green grass and breeding methods to produce cows with abnormally large pituitary glands so that they produce three times more milk than the old fashioned scrub cow. These cows need antibiotics to keep them well.

Their milk is then pasteurized so that all valuable enzymes are destroyed (lactase for the assimilation of lactose; galactase for the assimilation of galactose; phosphatase for the assimilation of calcium).

Literally dozens of other precious enzymes are destroyed in the pasteurization process. Without them, milk is very difficult to digest. The human pancreas is not always able to produce these enzymes; over-stress of the pancreas can lead to diabetes and other diseases.

The butterfat of commercial milk is homogenized, subjecting it to rancidity. Even worse, butterfat may be removed altogether. Skim milk is sold as a health food, but the truth is that butter-fat is in milk for a reason.

Without it the body cannot absorb and utilize the vitamins and minerals in the water fraction of the milk. Along with valuable trace minerals and short chain fatty acids, butterfat is America's best source of preformed vitamin A.

Synthetic vitamin D, known to be toxic to the liver, is added to replace the natural vitamin D complex in butterfat. Butterfat also contains re-arranged acids which have strong anti-carcinogenic properties.

Non-fat dried milk is added to 1% and 2% milk. Unlike the cholesterol in fresh milk, which plays a variety of health promoting roles, the cholesterol in non-fat dried milk is oxidized and it is this rancid cholesterol that promotes heart disease.

Like all spray dried products, non-fat dried milk has a high nitrite content. Non-fat dried milk and sweetened condensed milk are the principle dairy products in third world countries; use of ultra high temperature pasteurized milk is widespread in Europe.

Other Factors Regarding Milk

Milk and refined sugar make two of the largest contributions to food induced ill health in our country. That may seem like an overly harsh statement, but when one examines the evidence, this is a reasonable conclusion.

The recent approval by the FDA of the use of BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone) by dairy farmers to increase their milk production only worsens the already sad picture.

BGH causes an increase in an insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in the milk of treated cows. IGF-1 survives milk pasteurization and human intestinal digestion. It can be directly absorbed into the human bloodstream, particularly in infants.

It is highly likely that IGF-1 promotes the transformation of human breast cells to cancerous forms. IGF-1 is also a growth factor for already cancerous breast and colon cancer cells, promoting their progression and invasiveness.

It is also possible for us to absorb the BGH directly from the milk. This will cause further IGF-1 production by our own cells.

BGH will also decrease the body fat of cows. Unfortunately, the body fat of cows is already contaminated with a wide range of carcinogens, pesticides, dioxin, and antibiotic residues. When the cows have less body fat, these toxic substances are then transported into the cows' milk.

BGH also causes the cows to have an increase in breast infections for which they must receive additional antibiotics.

Prior to BGH, 38%of milk sampled nationally was already contaminated by illegal residues of antibiotics and animal drugs. This will only increase with the use of BGH. One can only wonder what the long term complications will be for drinking milk that has a 50% chance it is contaminated with antibiotics.

There is also a problem with a protein enzyme called xanthine oxidase which is in cow's milk. Normally, proteins are broken down once you digest them.

However, when milk is homogenized, small fat globules surround the xanthine oxidase and it is absorbed intact into your blood stream. There is some very compelling research demonstrating clear associations with this absorbed enzyme and increased risks of heart disease.

Ear specialists frequently insert tubes into the ear drums of infants to treat recurrent ear infections. It has replaced the previously popular tonsillectomy to become the number one surgery in the country.

Unfortunately, most of these specialists don't realize that over 50% of these children will improve and have no further ear infections if they just stop drinking their milk.

This is a real tragedy. Not only is the $3,000 spent on the surgery wasted, but there are some recent articles supporting the likelihood that most children who have this procedure will have long term hearing losses.

It is my strong recommendation that you discontinue your milk products. If you find this difficult, I would start for several weeks only, and reevaluate how you feel at that time.

This would include ALL dairy, including skim milk and Lact-Aid milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. If you feel better after several weeks you can attempt to rotate small amounts of one form of milk every four days.

You probably are wondering what will happen to your bones and teeth if you stop milk. The majority of the world's population takes in less than half the calcium we are told we need and yet they have strong bones and healthy teeth.

Cows' milk is rich in phosphorous which can combine with calcium -- and can prevent you from absorbing the calcium in milk. The milk protein also accelerates calcium excretion from the blood through the kidneys.

This is also true when you eat large amount of meat and poultry products. Vegetarians will need about 50% less calcium than meat eaters because they lose much less calcium in their urine.

It is possible to obtain all your calcium from dark green vegetables (where do you think the cow gets their's from?). The darker the better. Cooked collard greens and kale are especially good. If you or your child is unable to take in large amounts of green vegetables, you might want to supplement with calcium.

If you can swallow pills, we have an excellent, inexpensive source called Calcium Citrate, which has a number of other minerals which your body requires to build up maximally healthy bone.

It is much better than a simple calcium tablet. You can take about 1,000 mg a day. For those who already suffer from osteoporosis, the best calcium supplement is microcrystalline hydroxyapatite.

It is also important that you take vitamin D in the winter months from November to March. Normally your skin converts sunshine to vitamin D, but the sunshine levels in the winter are very low unless you visit Florida or Mexico type areas.

Most people obtain their vitamin D from milk in the winter; so if you stop it, please make sure you are taking calcium with vitamin D or a multi vitamin with vitamin D to prevent bone thinning.

Most people are not aware that the milk of most mammals varies considerably in its composition. For example, the milk of goats, elephants, cows, camels, wolves, and walruses show marked differences, in their content of fats, protein, sugar, and minerals. Each was designed to provide optimum nutrition to the young of the respective species. Each is different from human milk.

In general, most animals are exclusively breast-fed until they have tripled their birth weight, which in human infants occurs around the age of one year. In no mammalian species, except for the human (and domestic cat) is milk consumption continued after the weaning period. Calves thrive on cow milk. Cow's milk is designed for calves.

Cow's milk is the number one allergic food in this country. It has been well documented as a cause in diarrhea, cramps, bloating, gas, gastrointestinal bleeding, iron-deficiency anemia, skin rashes, atherosclerosis, and acne.

It is the primary cause of recurrent ear infections in children. It has also been linked to insulin dependent diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, infertility, and leukemia.

Hopefully, you will reconsider your position on using milk as a form of nourishment. Small amounts of milk or milk products taken infrequently, will likely cause little or no problems for most people.

However, the American Dairy Board has done a very effective job of marketing this product. Most people believe they need to consume large, daily quantities of milk to achieve good health. NOTHING could be further from the truth.

Public health officials and the National Dairy Council have worked together in this country to make it very difficult to obtain wholesome, fresh, raw dairy products. Nevertheless, they can be found with a little effort. In some states, you can buy raw milk directly from farmers.

Whole, pasteurized, non-homogenized milk from cows raised on organic feed is now available in many gourmet shops and health food stores. It can be cultured to restore enzyme content, at least partially. Cultured buttermilk is often more easily digested than regular milk; it is an excellent product to use in baking.

Many shops now carry whole cream that is merely pasteurized (not ultra pasteurized like most commercial cream); diluted with water, it is delicious on cereal and a good substitute for those allergic to milk.

Traditionally made creme fraiche (European style sour cream), it also has a high enzyme content.

coasterqueen replied: Very interesting article. What is the date on it?

I've been saying for years that cow's milk was designed for cow's, human breastmilk was designed for human's, etc.

I don't drink a lot of milk but it's inevitably in almost every food we eat so just stop drinking cow's milk is not going to make a difference. I think this is where this article lacks sufficient information.

This is very interesting as I stated above:

"Most people are not aware that the milk of most mammals varies considerably in its composition. For example, the milk of goats, elephants, cows, camels, wolves, and walruses show marked differences, in their content of fats, protein, sugar, and minerals. Each was designed to provide optimum nutrition to the young of the respective species. Each is different from human milk.

In general, most animals are exclusively breast-fed until they have tripled their birth weight, which in human infants occurs around the age of one year. In no mammalian species, except for the human (and domestic cat) is milk consumption continued after the weaning period. Calves thrive on cow milk. Cow's milk is designed for calves.

Cow's milk is the number one allergic food in this country. It has been well documented as a cause in diarrhea, cramps, bloating, gas, gastrointestinal bleeding, iron-deficiency anemia, skin rashes, atherosclerosis, and acne.

It is the primary cause of recurrent ear infections in children. It has also been linked to insulin dependent diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, infertility, and leukemia."

Especially the part linked to rheumatoid arthritis, since my doc just gave me that as a preliminary diagnosis for me.

coasterqueen replied: ALSO, note that formula is made with cow's milk unless you get soy formula.

BUT all my research tells me that soy milk is not good in large quantities for humans as well, especially for females. Some of the research I've found proves that soy milk henders the reproductive organ growth in males and females, but especially males.

jcc64 replied: I have known this for a long time. We are not milk drinkers in this house, and I only buy organic milk for cooking, cereal, etc. It makes me sick that milk is marketed so aggressively towards children, and yet the priorities of the dairy industry supercede the safety and sanctity of the food supply. I've never understood why we needed to ramp up milk production with BGH- has there ever been a shortage of milk???? Bgh is awful stuff, and yet when public interest groups tried to mandate labelling of milk produced from BGH cows, the dairy industry succesfully lobbied against it. Who drinks milk more than anyone- kids!
It's nice to know our legislators care so much about our kids.

coasterqueen replied: Hey Jeanne, when you say organic milk are you talking about unpasteurized milk? I'm just wondering. My MIL is very earthy (as I like to call her, lol) and her and her DH will only drink milk fresh from the cow. (YUCK!, although I've not tried it, lol).

jcc64 replied: No, it's ultra pasteurized. Organic simply refers to the fact that it was produced by cows free of antiobiotcs and BGH, and fed a natural diet free of pesticides.
It bums me out that dairy is so unhealthy, because it just tastes so good. Who doesn't like cheese, for god's sake???

MissyKay2005 replied: I have heard about this through other sources as well and is rather disturbing to me that the FDA is soposed to protect us and is actully doing to opiste by letting us be poisoned. Why Money! Everything is about money! Think about it if they found a cure for canncer do you really think they would let any one know? All the money that the pharmicitcal companies and health care system makes off our sickness is rediculess! If we are sick they make money! Sad isn't it!

coasterqueen replied:
OMG! Where is my brain. DUH! I know what you mean now. Like Oberweiss? We used to order that every month, it came to our home and it was antibiotic/hormone free. But when Kylie went on lactose-free milk we stopped doing it.

DansMom replied: I gave up dairy because of Daniel's allergies, and my health has been a lot better. Really, I rarely have bouts of irritable bowel syndrome now, and this problem plagued me through my late twenties and thirties. Daniel has been fine without cows milk OR soy milk---when I cut out soymilk his chronic digestive problems improved dramatically, and now things seem relatively normal in that department. Anyway, like that article says I think with the fortified juice and the broccoli, he's getting enough calcium. He's got the skinniness and smaller size of a kid that gets no dairy, but his brain and teeth and such are all healthy. He gets loads of protein in the form of organic meats.

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well this is not something that really pertains to me..

But what do you feed your babies..if some reason Breast milk isn't an option.

What are the option for formula that isnt milk or soy based.

My babies where on a hypo allergic Neutromgen formula..but what it was based on I have no idea,.... but it wasn't soy or milk b/c they had an intolerance to that.

But it was soo expensive!! and cost effective has to be an issue too!

coasterqueen replied:
That really is a good question Mel. I wonder what formulas are out there that are not soy or milk based. I believe Nutremogen (sp?) is one of them. Maybe Neocate? But they are expensive! I'm hearing that a lot of insurance companies cover the expensive if they are necessary though.

But that rips me because they won't cover breastfeeding expenses (pumps, etc). That's a whole nother topic though.

gr33n3y3z replied: The antiobiotcs and BGH is stored in the milk fat

TANNER'S MOM replied:
My friend had a child on medicaid..and she had to use the Neutromgen and it was an expense that was covered by the state....


When Brittany was first on it ..it was in ready to feed only...3 bottles for almost 5 dollars. I am sure the powder has reduced the prices...but..

A&A'smommy replied: I saw this on the news when I was pregnant with Alyssa and it SICKENS me!! Jeanne where do you buy your organic milk I have been wanting to switch forever to all organice foods but we don't have that option in this town so anyway can you get it at a regular grocery store? And does it taste as good/better?

coasterqueen replied:
I'm not Jeanne, but I think organic milk tastes 10x better! Or maybe it's because the kind we used to get comes in glass bottles. I really want to start doing this again but it's SOOO expensive.

We ordered ours through Oberweiss.com. They ship it right to your house. We can get it at one of the grocery stores here in town but ends up being same price after all.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied:
Logan was on Nutramigen (by enfamil) for 5 months because of colic. It is recommended for kids with colic due to cow's milk sensitivity, but it is still made from cow's milk. they just process it differently. And it cost a ton, $22 for a 15 ounce can of powder. Sheesh. I am glad he is on regular formula now. I wanted to BF, but with the heart thing, he spent so much time in the hospital after birth that I just couldn't. And the stress I think made my milk not come in too well.

My2Beauties replied: OMg this is so scary, I knew of the added hormones and stuff in the milk and dairy but this BGH or whatever is awful - can I buy organic milk at the health food store? Did they already start producing milk with BGH in it? Or is this down the road? This is so scary! You know it seems like everything you eat nowadays causes cancer, liver problems, diabetes, uh I'm going to die when I'm like 40!

DansMom replied: LeeAnn, don't say that around someone who's about to turn 41!

jcc64 replied: Ditto- Tracy!
Organic milk is widely available around here- both at any health food store and in every major supermarket. We use a brand called "The Organic Cow", and I have seen it in many other parts of the country that I have been to- most recently in Florida. It costs about $1 more per half gallon than regular milk, but it's a small price to pay, imo. You can also get organic butter, sour cream, yogurt- anything, right in your regular old supermarket. Stonyfield Farms markets organic yogurt products for kids- they're very good.
Vote with your pocketbooks, ladies. The more people that buy organic, the more readily available it will become, and the prices will come down.
I am obsessed with the fact that everyone around me seems to be getting cancer. When I was a child, I knew exactly 1 person that died of cancer. Now, everytime I turn around, another contemporary of mine is sick, really sick. There are 3 (!) moms on my sons' baseball team with breast cancer. 2 moms (under the age of 30) died in one week last semester of different cancers. My dad died in the fall (with no prior family history). Something is amiss in our environment. And we can't look to anyone but ourselves to protect our families, because god knows the FDA isn't going to. Despite our political differences, we can at least all agree that the gov't is clearly attending to the needs of the deep pocketed lobbyists, but isn't overly concerned with our kids.
So it's up to us as moms.