Is Milk Necessary for an Effective Weight Loss Plan?

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Is milk a necessary component of a healthy diet when attempting to lose weight? Do we have to drink milk each day to get a sufficient amount of calcium? Will our health suffer if we stop drinking milk?

The answer to these questions is NO. We do not need to drink milk as part of a healthy diet or a healthy weight loss plan in order to obtain a sufficient amount of calcium each day.

Consider the following facts:

1. Americans drink the most milk of any other country in the world, yet they still have the highest rate of osteoporosis.
2. Pasteurization kills off the digestive enzymes in milk. This is the major reason why so many people suffer from lactose intolerance.
3. Pasteurization makes a large portion of the calcium contained in milk insoluble. What does that mean to you? 50% of the calcium contained in milk is unusable by your body. This inability of your body to absorb milk calcium is contributing to the high rate of Osteoporosis.
4. Milk sugar (lactose) converts into sugar your body uses very quickly, leading to blood sugar highs and lows producing an up and down energy roller coaster ride.

How can this be true? Isn’t milk supposed to be good for us? Well, yes and no. Milk, consumed in its natural unpasteurized state, is good for you. If not, it may cause as much harm as good. I realize that the thought of drinking unpasteurized milk is scary. But consider this, organic farmers will ONLY drink unpasteurized milk and they tend to be very healthy.

Cows, Milk and Growth Hormones

Here’s another fact to ponder. Most dairy cows are being super-charged with excessive amounts of steroids and growth hormones to help them produce massive amounts of milk. This, in turn, makes them sick, at which time they are given antibiotics. The growth hormone and antibiotic cocktail gets into their blood stream and eventually into the milk they produce. Question: Who drinks this chemically spiked milk? We do! Well actually, I don’t. It’s time to consider whether you should be drinking it.

Getting enough calcium

The next big question is “If I don’t drink milk how will I get enough calcium into my diet?” As mentioned above, much of the Calcium in milk is not absorbed by the body. More calcium is absorbed from foods such as green leafy vegetables, broccoli, sardines (with bones preferably) and salmon. This makes sense that calcium comes from greens since grass fed cows have lots of calcium in their bodies. Please don’t eat grass to improve your calcium intake as this only works for cows.

Reducing the risk of Osteoporosis

If reducing your risk for Osteoporosis is your goal, do the #1 activity that prevents this debilitating disease from occuring: Exercise! Weight bearing exercise has been shown to be the #1 way to prevent Osteoporosis. Putting small stresses on your bones via strength training helps to build them stronger. No one, and I mean no one, should neglect exercise.

Here are my tips on drinking the right kind of milk and getting a healthy dose of calcium into your body.

1. If you consume milk on a regular basis, try to find raw (unpasteurized) milk.

2. If the thought of raw milk scares you, purchase the next best thing: certified organic milk products. They will be free of antibiotics and hormones.

3. Since most of milk’s calcium is not absorbed by the body, make sure to get your calcium from other sources: leafy green vegetables, broccoli, sardines and salmon.

4. Commit to a strength training routine on a regular basis. Not just to build up your muscles so you look good in the mirror (although this does help) but for your bone’s sake.

Conclusion…

Milk and dairy do not have to be a staple in your diet in order to absorb adequate amounts of calcium and achieve an ideal level of health. You can establish a healthy diet, reach your weight loss goals, and feel great each day without drinking milk.

About the Author:

Isabel De Los Rios is a certified nutritionist and exercise specialist who has already helped over 25,000 people all over the world lose incredible amounts of weight, regain their health and permanently change their lives.

She is the creator of The Diet Solutions Program and the Owner of New Body – Center for Fitness and Nutrition in New Jersey.

Isabel has become the #1 “go to girl” when it comes to Fat Burning Nutrition by several of the most popular fitness professionals around the globe. Isabel’s cutting edge and completely different approach to nutrition is what sets her apart from all the rest.

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