Personal Trainer Denver CO
What type of milk should you drink?
I attended a seminar by Dr. Joseph J. Singh, DC, a Certified Maximized Living Mentor. What resonated most with me was his discussion about milk. Before then, I had been drinking soy milk, but no more. Dr. Singh explained that there is a chemical in soy milk that mimics estrogen in the body. I knew about this phytoestrogen, but I read that it was not a problem and I didn’t have much concern about it since the Chinese have been using it for centuries and they certainly don’t have any problems reproducing. After the seminar, I got to thinking about it. I considered where I got my information on soy products and there appears to be strong financial incentives on both sides of the argument about the efficacy of soy products.
Who has something to gain from the consumption of soy? Perhaps companies like Monsanto, which produce the genetically modified soybean seeds. Perhaps companies like Cargill Foods or SoyLife, which produce soy-based foods. Or soybean councils in several states and the companies that are constructing factories all over the world to do processing for soy products.
After further research, I’ve concluded that soy has more negatives than positives. Negatives such as containing a large number of dangerous substances, such as phytrates, which block the body’s uptake of essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc. Soybeans also contain potent enzyme-inhibitors which block trypsin and other enzymes which the body needs for protein digestion. As a personal trainer, the last thing I want to recommend is something that inhibits protein digestion. In addition, soybeans also contain hemagglutinin, a clot-promoting substance which causes red blood cells to clump together. These clustered blood cells cannot properly absorb oxygen for distribution to the body’s tissues, and are unable to help in maintaining good cardiac health. Also, a large percentage of soy is genetically modified and it has one of the highest percentages of contamination by pesticides of any food we eat. Then of course is this controversial issue of hormonal imbalance with soy.
It seems that soy may not be the best choice. So, this leaves the question…what type of milk should you drink? In his seminar, Dr Singh ranked the types of milk from best to worst in this order:
1. Rice milk
2. Almond milk
3. Raw milk (unpasteurized)
4. Organic milk
5. Pateurized milk
6. Soy milk
Almond milk has more protein than rice milk, but it also typically has more additives like a lot of cane sugar. This may be why it was ranked lower than rice milk on Dr. Singh’s list. Rice milk ranks much higher on the glycemic index, being derived from rice, which is fairly high glycemic to begin with. Unsweetened almond milk has a very low glycemic index rating of 30. this is great for anyone with concerns of blood sugar levels. Cow’s milk is of course not an option if you’re vegetarian or lactose intolerant. I am neither, but it seems more natural for an animal over the age of two to be off breast milk as humans are the only animals that continue to consume it in mature stages of life.
So there you have it. It comes down to a matter of preference. Right now, I’m on the fence between rice milk and almond milk. How about you?
You can learn more about Dr. Singh at www.MaximizedLivingDrSigh.com .
Hi Mark,
Just wondering about cow milk: I’ve heard that it isn’t really healthy because cow milk is meant for cows, and not humans. Any truth to that?
Hi, Simon! Good to hear from you. This is one of the biggest debates in nutrition, fueled by big money on both sides of the issue. When I look at where the info comes from that I read, at the end of the day, I have to side with cow milk not being so healthy as rice or almond milk, or even goat milk. Money motives considered, the studies and concerns about cow milk are overwhelming; from diabetes, to allergies, to prostate problems, to bioactive hormones, to forms of cancer, to animal rights issues, and the list goes on. The only issue I can see with rice milk is that it’s high glycemic, but so is skim and low fat cow milk. Also, humans are the only animals on earth that drink breast milk of any kind, let alone outside our species, beyond two years of age.
I’m 100% confused , because I thought that the milk is health for the lungs for preventing osteoporisis and for previnting cancer colon , I want to know what type of milk is healthy for the health !! thanks for his paciencie
sincerely Rosa
Hi Mark- I TOTALLY agree with everything you said about Soy-it is the one of the biggest myths-that soy is good, and so many people are incorporating into their diets. Especially in milk form. I have a whole research paper on the dangers of giving soy milk formula to babies. On that note, I would have to go with the Rice Milk. Almond milk never ‘tests’ well in my business for some reason (maybe because of almonds being a highly sensitized food-not sure). I am not very positive about dairy, or cow’s milk either. Causes too much mucus buildup in the body, and since there are so many people who have adversities or allergies to dairy (and probably don’t know it), drinking regular milk may ROB them of their calcium (I think I will do my next newsletter on this subject – it eye-opening!!). I will let you know when I do the newsletter (it’s now linked to my current blog – click on the Newsletter image on the left and it will take you right too it!)
GREAT article!!!!! Loved your response to Simon too!
Thanks for your comment, Rosa. I’ll write my next post in response to this comment as there is much to say about it.
I have never tried Rice Milk, but I do use Almond Milk in my protein shakes and I like it, I’ve never drank it straight however. I’m not a big milk fan, but I do like Organic Milk for some reason, so when I drink it that’s usually what I drink.
Hi,
This also leads me to wonder – is tofu a bad choice as well?
Great recipe. I was into a real disaster now I am gonna reconstruct by eating and training.
Personal Trainer AZ
This is a great blog. Thank you for the very informative post.