Do We Need Dairy? (The Milk Industrial Complex)

So, we grow up hearing we needs three servings of dairy per day for good strong healthy bones. That’s the official US Government guidelines - 3 serves of dairy every day and you’ll get all the calcium your body needs.

But where does that number really come from? And is it possible that the U.S. Government’s dietary guidelines are… corrupt?

[sciq swoosh]

As it turns out, milk is one of the last things we need. This really frustrates me because coming from the world of marketing and advertising. I used to work for the milk industry and i know how much money they pay to lobby the government. So ,if you ever suspected the government is corrupt i can verify that.

Here’s something to remember for any food you eat for their vitamins and minerals: eating a food rich in a nutrient doesn’t matter unless that nutrient is actually absorbed by your body . I could drink liquid iron all day long: if it doesn’t get absorbed into by body it won’t do a thing for my health, except cause a lot of permanent damage to my mouth or, more likely, kill me very quickly - Viserys Targaryen style.

Point is, milk is very rich in calcium but that doesn’t mean it helps strengthen our bones. In fact, milk may actually lower our “bone mineral density” which may explain why there’s more hip fractures in the elderly living in the western world where milk consumption is high, compared to Eastern asian cultures that don’t drink much milk. So much for milk helping bones get strong!

Now, there is even an hypothesis that milk draws calcium out of the bones. What the hell, milk? I trusted you with my calcium! Here’s what they think is going on: milk is acidic, it is about 6.5 on the ph scale. Acid freaks the body out and it scrambles to neutralize the acidic so it doesn’t get all the way to the kidneys, and to do that it ends up sacrificing calcium from bones.

Now, your body does need calcium. BUT we don’t have to get our calcium from dairy. We can get our calcium needs from:leafy greens, tofu, broccoli, snap peas, almonds, canned fish with bones, leeks, green onions, endive, fennel, cabbage, butternut squash, artichokes, brussel sprouts, sweet potato, parsnips, lima beans, carrots, and turnips). So why do the U.S. guidelines emphasize dairy?

Well, the answer is - money. The US govt is heavily influenced by the dairy industry. And as i said I used to work for the dairy industry at my previous PR agency back in 2014. Remember the “Got Milk?” campaign - yeah I helped promote that. That was back before I started ScIQ, and I'm doing ScIQ as kind of a penance for all the bad things Ive done as a PR agent. Anyway, the dairy industry know damn well you don’t *need* all that milk, but all that lobbying got the US Government to endorse milk in their official guidelines. Years later, we all kind of accept that milk is essential, even though it’s not!

So let’s be clear here – the U.S. dietary guidelines, which gives meat and dairy a big chunk of the food plate – are NOT the unbiased recommendation of scientists. That is literally a pyramid scheme where get you to buy more eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt. If you want find out more about Big Dairy and the effects they have on the government, check out the links in the description.

What do you guys think I know the dairy Industry is just one of the many sources of government lobbying. Is there a particular industry sector or group that you think is lobbying the government you would like us to explore. Let us know in the comments below.

HI everyone! I'm Jayde Lovell, resident science nerd at the Young Turks Network. You're watching SciQ, and we know you don't want to miss an episode, so click the subscribe button down below.

SOURCES

This video is presented by Jayde Lovell, Directed by Mizanur Rahman, Edited by Kevin Cunningham at YouTube Space NY. Script by Stephanie Slepian.

SCIQ ON THE YOUNG TURKS
Produced by Jayde Lovell and Bec Susan Gill. ScIQ is a partner of the The Young Turks Network.

CONTACT

[eugenegrewing]

The Zinc lobby. It's why we can't get rid of pennies like Australia has done.

[repairdrive]

the volume on this video was really low.

[thisaccountisdead]

I just did a very quick google - milk is Ph 6.5 to 6.7... making them slightly acidic. Semi-skinned UHT milk is apparently Ph neutral. But most breakfast cereals are Alkaline - so I don't know whether in digestion, the breakfast mixture ends up being beneficial? Also, from under-going physical training, I eat a lot of greens but I also have dairy - I feel like shit otherwise and even have to wake up (with nightmares) to get the proper nutrients. But, no, there are more sources of calcium than just milk. Thanks for saying how acidic foods leech calcium from the body.... most drinks (including tea and coffee) are acidic. Battery acid is the most acidic.... so don't drink that unless you are really having a rough day.

[jundead]

I think the U.S. could use another video explaining lobbying from the Defense and Agriculture industries, if not an entire series discussing SIGs, lobbying, and government corruption (Ag Gag bills, USDA nutrition guidelines, weapons contracts, etc.).

[theartificialsociety]

There is also excess nutrients. These days there are more people affected by the diseases of excess than the diseases of insufficiency. When you eat a diet based on whole plant foods you get the right amounts because that is what we are adapted to. So whole unprocessed starchy staples, vegetables, some fruit. We can survive on a wide range of foods but not all of them make us the healthiest.

[gordontang]

loss of calcium can also be due to too much soda, caffeine, salt, smoking.

Also more consumed in the western world... ( i think )

[MattCommins]

Great video. I totally agree. The biggest reason why I became vegan five years ago was because the science says animal products are extremely bad for your health.

[davidwarrilow]

Lately my head has been whirling as a result of everyones perception of what we need and don't need as far as dietary requirements. There are very few things that we actually need because generally we can eat something else instead.
I think you might be a little mistaken in some of opinions. I apologise if I am mistaken in my knowledge or if this offends you.
To start with I don't think the acidity of milk is a problem. Stomach acid is far more acidic than milk. Acidity at that stage is important to break nutrients and minerals out of the food so they can be absorbed. The problem with seniors are there stomachs are not acid enough ... so they cannot extract the nutrients properly.
Calcium is not the only mineral needed for the body. You need to have magnesium as well. It is also necessary to have various vitamins (K2) which aids in the transport of calcium from the soft tissues to the bones. Cataracts, stiff joints etc are indicators of too much calcium in the soft tissues.

[thehaikulibrarian]

So, Pete Evans was right about something? Really?

either way, it bothered me that the AMA's response to Evan's Sunday Night interview appeared moralistic and authority-based (trust us, we're doctors) and avoided any attempt to point to evidence that contradicted his specific claims.

And before anyone thinks I'm a Paleo nut, I'm not: I'm a (lactose intolerant) vegan nut.

[damianalejandro]

." These results suggest that greater intakes of milk and milk + yogurt may lower risk for hip fracture in older adults through mechanisms that are partially, but not entirely, attributable to effects on bone mineral density. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research". thats what the second source listed says about milk...

[sgrundi]

Fish, especially canned fish is at least as bad as milk, dear

[BernicePanders]

I dont know about what the govt or scientists think is healthy, but I have several chronic & terminal illnesses, and my digestive tract is shot from 26 yrs of heavy Rx meds, and my diet consists of 75% dairy, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that my bones & joints were fine until I switched from pill to a Depo shot (for periods) and for a few yrs now my joints randomly dislocate & get sharp stabbing pains, and DEPO also has a side effect of leeching calcium.

[Gemmmmmmmmma]

The constant shot/ camera angle changes are too fast = seasick.

[blindcameraman]

I believe milk consumption is very important for children under 16 after that probably not so much

[DavidHelloWorld]

What are your thoughts on yogurt? I've included yogurt in my daily diet and I've wondered if, despite the benefits of those probiotics, I might be doing some damage with the yogurts dairy origins...

[ChirathAkon]

How about AIPAC ? Are you ready to talk about it ? I dont think its related to science though

[elkay]

I'm allergic to dairy anyways








Yah

[marj]

I though you include garbage in the list, but it's cabbage.

[commanderrussels]

You're much better when not whining about Trump. I stay ultra-lean doing LC/HF diet combined with intermittent fasting, and cheese is one of my favorite high fat foods. I eat eggs too (with yoke). I've heard conflicting answers on how soon I'll be dead because of my diet, but it seems to work for me thus far. So how fucked am I eating a bunch of cheese and eggs (3-4oz cheese per day, about 6 eggs per week)?