Milk is a dairy product that is consumed by a majority of households across the world, including and especially in India. It is believed to be a good source of calcium and other vitamins and minerals.
Milk Consumption Dangerous In The Long Run
Have you ever wondered where the milk is actually sourced? Or whether it is as healthy as it is widely known to be?
Dr. Shrishaila Badami is one of the most renowned health experts and sheds light on the matter:
A majority of people consume milk from imported Jersey cattle due to high availability which is directly related to the high production rate (packaged milk). Even farmers breed these cows due to a lack of awareness and shortage of milk from indigenous or native or ‘desi’ cows.
Jersey cattle are weak and also sensitive to the sun. They may not withstand even mild diseases and may die. Wrong promotion by European countries who exported these cows and Indians imported and the count of cattle belonging to our native breeds, which were much stronger, declined.
Jersey is nothing but a new breed that was created using genes from pigs (because pigs produce more milk as their udders have more teats, and pigs also birth more of their kind at a time) and cows. This also explains the physical build of the Jersey cattle.
In the earlier days, Jersey cattle used to produce roughly about 5 litres of milk but timely inducements of hormones (via injections) such as estrogen and oxytocin, found in women, resulted in notably more milk production. However, it also resulted in hindering the role of male reproductive hormones in boys, turning them infertile. Consuming products and by-products of pigs is also considered unholy or a sin in certain cultures around the world.
On one hand, BCM-7 is a protein found in the Jersey cattle breed which is studied to have increased the number of kids born with Autism throughout Europe, with their mothers having consumed the milk of Jersey cattle.
On the other hand, Milk from desi cattle is rich in vitamin B2, vitamin B3 and vitamin A and is also known to ward off cancers such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer and skin cancer. Ghee prepared naturally using desi milk is full of good fat, highly nutritious and has a very long shelf life and never goes bad. In fact, its nutritional values increase with time and make it more valuable.
The BCM-7 protein found in the milk of the Jersey cattle also causes diabetes in children since birth. The protein is also known to cause many more conditions and diseases including heart diseases, autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome (a notable percentage of the European population suffers from this), Atherosclerosis (vascular disease that affects arteries, Schizophrenia, sudden infant death syndrome, and even cancer, and more.
To safeguard health, this type of milk can be avoided. Although, there are alternatives. Two of them are:
Millet milk
Soak any one or more types of millets in enough water overnight, they would have sprouted by morning. Blend this in a mixer until smooth, strain and serve.
Coconut milk
Extract coconut meat from coconuts, blend in a mixer slowly until smooth, strain and serve. Some people even prepare curd with this type of non-dairy milk. Coconut milk is vastly used in many Asian countries to prepare delicacies and is even turning popular in Western regions.
There are many other alternatives, but these are the indigenous products that are readily available for consumption in India.
Drinks such as herbal decoctions that are more concentrated and thus highly effective can be used to replace milk altogether.
It is never too late to start making healthy choices in lifestyle, which starts with good health. And good health starts with a healthy diet that will benefit one for life. In any case, it is always best to stick to indigenous products whether in diet or otherwise, relevant to where one lives.
