A recent research study indicates that consuming cow’s milk may pose significant health risks, though the concern is not universal.
Determining which foods and beverages are beneficial or harmful can often be challenging.
Worldwide, scientists and nutritionists continually assess the short-term and long-term effects of consuming various foods.
A new study by researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden has revealed a potential health risk associated with cow’s milk consumption, but it doesn’t affect everyone equally.
As reported by the Mirror, cow’s milk, including skimmed variants, may be harmful because its sugar content, lactose, can cause inflammation and cell damage, leading to increased stress on the heart.
Coronary heart disease, often called the ‘silent killer,’ is a prevalent cause of mortality in some regions.
Interestingly, the risk appears to predominantly affect women, as men generally digest lactose more effectively.
The researchers conducted a study with 101,000 participants and discovered that drinking 400ml of milk daily, approximately two-thirds of a pint, was associated with a five percent higher risk of coronary heart disease in women.
The risk escalated further with increased milk consumption—12 percent for 600ml daily and 21 percent for 800ml.
Switching to skimmed or semi-skimmed milk doesn’t mitigate the negative effects, as these are independent of milk fat content.
Considering milk is often used in coffee lattes, cereals, hot chocolates, and more, people may be consuming more milk than they realize.
The researchers suggest that replacing some milk in your diet with yogurt could reduce the risk.
In the journal BMC Medicine, Professor Karl Michaëlsson, the study’s author, noted: “A healthy diet is essential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Our analysis supports an association between milk intake higher than 300ml per day and higher rates of ischaemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction [heart attack] specifically, in women, but not in men.
“The higher risk in women was evident irrespective of the fat content of the milk. Replacing non-fermented milk with moderate fermented milk intake could lower the risks.”
Many alternatives to cow’s milk are increasingly accessible.
While it may not be necessary to eliminate cow’s milk entirely, given its nutritional benefits, considering alternative options might be wise.