THE HARVARD NURSES STUDY

Harvard Medical School 1980 - 1992

The Harvard Nurses Study was an investigation into osteoporosis and bone loss in women. From 1980 to 1992 the study followed 77,761 women between ages 34 and 59 to determine the relationship between milk consumption and osteoporosis.

"Those who drank three or more glasses of milk per day had no reduction in the risk of hip or arm fractures over the 12-year period, compared to women who drank little or no milk, even after adjustment for weight, menopausal status, smoking, and alcohol use. Fracture rates were higher for those who consumed three or more servings, compared to those who did not drink milk."

Milk adversaries claim that milk is not good for you because of these factors:

The body withdraws calcium from the bones to neutralize the proteins and lactic acids in milk.
Milk consumption does not protect women from osteoporosis, in fact, it may cause it.
Milk protein attacks the immune system.
Cow's milk lacks essential fatty acids that human infants need for neurological development
Babies drinking whole milk in their first two years develop allergies, colic and diabetes.
Cow's milk lacks essential fatty acids that human infants need for neurological development.
Milk causes internal bleeding in children, which contributes to anemia.
Cow's milk contains "antibiotics, pesticides, chemicals, hormones, blood, white cells (pus), and bacteria from mastitis. (udder infection)
Evidence suggests it's the animal fat in milk which triggers the growth of cancer cells.
Various studies found "significant positive correlations" between milk intake and lung and ovarian cancers, leukemia, and Crohn's disease and possibly, lung and prostrate cancers.

NON-DAIRY CALCIUM ALTERNATIVES:

In September of 1998, the ANTIDAIRY Coalition published a column containing a list of plant-based calcium alternatives. They make the following comments:

Human breast milk contains 33 milligrams of calcium per 100-gram portion.
Baby humans do not grow up to become 1,200-pound cows.
Foods are naturally loaded with calcium.
Cows do not drink milk. However, their milk contains large amounts of calcium. They obtain calcium from plant-based foods.
Their bones do not break (Until they meet their ultimate fate on the way to Burger King).

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View References

"STARTLING NEW FACTS ABOUT OSTEOPOROSIS"

Dr Betty Kamen Ph.D

"Americans drink more milk than the people of any other nation. Yet we have the higest incidence of bone problems." Why is this so? Book details