Growing up I was always told to drink my milk so I can grow big and strong, also that milk was a necessary food group to maintain a healthy diet. However, in recent years many people have tried to cut down on the amount of dairy milk they consume. This is for multiple different reasons whether it be for health benefits or ethical beliefs. Instead of purchasing and consuming dairy milk many people have switched to using alternative milk such as coconut milk and almond milk. This has caused a massive decline in the sales of dairy milk. According to data journalist, Niall McCarthy, “Whole milk consumption has plummeted in the United States, falling 40 percent since 1975.”, and this decline has had a huge impact on American dairy farmers. So why are so many people saying no to dairy milk?

One of the biggest reasons why so many people have boycotted dairy milk is because of a fear of growth hormones. Growth hormones are injected into cows to make the cow mature faster and increase milk production. People have a fear of growth hormones because they have been rumored to be linked to certain cancers such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The most well known and controversial hormone found in dairy milk is the bovine growth hormone. According to the American Cancer Society bovine growth hormone, also known as rBGH, is a synthetic hormone that has been banned in countries like Europe and Canada but not the United States. 

The two most common concerns people have about bovine growth hormones are one they increase blood levels in cows and second, they make more susceptible to udder infections. However, these effects have not been linked to having any health effects on those who consume milk from cows who have been given these hormones. The American Cancer Society stated that bovine growth hormone is not active in humans so even they were to absorb them from drinking milk, they wouldn’t expect health effects. The American Cancer Society also noted, “It is not clear that drinking milk produced using rBGH adds to the risk of developing cancer.” Their current stance on bovine growth hormones is “The American Cancer Society (ACS) has no formal position regarding rBGH.”

Ultimately there has not been enough research done that links the growth hormones used in milk and cancer. But if you’re still nervous about the effects growth hormones can have on your health you can always choose organic milk. A study conducted by Emory University was done to compare organic dairy milk to non-organic dairy and they found that organic dairy milk had significantly lower levels of bovine growth hormone. 

The rise of social media has impacted many people’s views on environmental issues and has exposed people to new dieting techniques. As a result of this more and more people have begun to ditch certain food groups for either health or ethical reasons. One item many people have been removing off their shopping list is dairy milk. Many social media influencers and health lifestyle blogs have encouraged people to stop drinking dairy milk because of the health risks and the impact it has on our environment. But is the alternative many people are switching to better?

One of the most popular substitutes for cow’s milk is almond milk. Almond milk sales have seen a huge increase in recent years. According to an article posted by The Nielsen Company, in the year 2016 almond milk has seen a growth in sales “of 250% over the past five years.” This increase in sales of almond milk has led to a decline in sales for dairy milk “by more than $1 billion.”

One of the biggest arguments against dairy milk is that it is unsustainable due to the land and water used to raise cattle. Although dairy milk does have a large environmental impact, almond milk is also not considered to be the most environmentally friendly. Almond milk is produced by first soaking almonds, then grounding them into a pulp and finally straining out all the liquid almond milk, leaving behind almond pulp that is considered to be a useless product. Not only does this end up wasting a ton of product but it also takes a large amount of water to soak and grow the almonds. This process has a huge negative impact on the environment and considered to be one of the biggest contributors to the droughts seen in states that grow almonds, such as California. According to an article posted in the New York Times “producing just 16 almonds requires an estimated 15.3 gallons of water.” 

Another reason many people choose to drink almond milk over dairy milk because they believe it is healthier however that may not be the case. Almond milk does contain lower carolers than dairy milk. Also, nutrients and vitamins that can be found in dairy milk are seen in almonds, however, in lower percentages. One of the biggest differences between dairy milk and almond milk is the lack of protein. According to Meagan Bridges, a nutrition support specialist, “ the protein content from the almonds is strained out of the milk along with the pulp; hence, it contains very little protein – usually only 1 g per 8 oz. cup, compared to 8 g in cow’s milk.”

So next time you’re at the grocery store looking for a dairy milk substitute maybe think twice about choosing almond milk. Some other great options for a dairy milk substitute include oat milk and coconut milk, they have a significantly lower impact on the environment and are delicious as well!  

In our current health-conscious society, people are constantly looking for any product that is said to be the “healthier choice”, and are willing to pay the price for it. This trend has led to the rise of organic foods, which are foods that are produced without the use of conventional pesticides or fertilizers. Organic foods are more expensive than conventional foods since they require more land and attention to be cared for. Many people hear the word “organic” and assume it is the safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly option. However, does “organic” necessarily mean healthier or is it just a way to trick consumers into spending more money in the grocery store?

The organic food industry is worth billions. According to an article posted by Food Business News, sales of organic foods have rose 5.9% in 2018 reaching $47.9 billion, in the United Sates alone. One of the reasons consumers have become more willing to spend the extra cash on products labeled “organic” is because of a belief that they are grown more ethically than conventional foods. However, growing organically requires more land and many organic farmers using a method known as compost, which is a way to give nutrients to plants through irrigation. Compost is considered a “healthier” alternative compared to synthetic fertilizers. However, compost leaves a very high carbon footprint because of methane emissions, whereas synthetic fertilizer leaves a much smaller carbon footprint.

Another perk that attracts consumers to organic products is the idea that they have more nutrients and are better for their health. This mostly stems from the idea that additives like synthetic pesticides are dangerous and can cause negative health side effects. However, in a study conducted by Stanford Medicine  found that there was little significant difference in health benefits between organic and conventional foods. According to Crystal Smith-Spangler, who is an instructor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine, “organic produce had a 30 percent lower risk of pesticide contamination than conventional fruits and vegetables, organic foods are not necessarily 100 percent free of pesticides.” Smith-Spangler said, “the pesticide levels of all foods generally fell within the allowable safety limits.” A few of the common misconceptions about synthetic pesticides is they are toxic and they aren’t tested for consumption. However it would require a large amount of pesticides to be considered poisonous or toxic. When it come to if pesticides are safe to consume, According to the AG Daily, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the pesticides that are used by farmers to protect crops grown for human food and animal feed and  also they set limits on the amount of pesticides allowed to be used in foods sold within the United States. The test administered by the EPA are extensive and include short and long term effects of both humans and animals. Pesticides will not be permitted if they damage DNA, cause cancer, cause organ damage or can potentially cause birth defects. 

So when it comes to buying organically it is not necessarily required in order to eat healthy. If you have the extra money to splurge on organic food then go for it but just making sure you are washing your fruits and vegetables before eating them works just as well. 

Taking a daily vitamin supplement could be quite enticing to the average consumer. Offering benefits such as improved digestion, increased energy, healthy skin, and even disease prevention. Although vitamin companies like to make big claims, do their products live up to their expectations?

According to the John Hopkins Medical Center consumers spend over $12 billion per year on vitamin and mineral supplements, in the United States alone. The high price tag has been justified by users due to the long list of benefits on each colorfully marked package. However, many doctors and health care professionals are skeptical of whether or not taking vitamins supplements can actually help to improve one’s health. Doubts stem from the fact that there has been very little research done to prove the claims vitamin companies make. Some also worry that if vitamins are taken too frequently they can cause symptoms such as nausea, hair loss, and mild nerve damage. Researchers at the John Hopkins Medical Center concluded that multivitamins do not reduce the risk for heart disease, cancer, or cognitive decline. They also stated that a prior study showed that vitamin E and beta-carotene supplements can actually cause harm, especially when taken in high doses. Currently there is not a sufficient amount of research done on vitamin supplement to know if they beneficial or even completely safe to use. Another issue many health care professionals have with the use of vitamin supplements is most are FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved, meaning they are not regulated to be used for medicinal purposes.

Vitamin supplements are often used as a way to get nutrients that one is not getting in their daily diet. But in reality most multivitamins contain vitamins and minerals that are not needed and end up just going through the body to be excreted in the urine. Basically meaning that vitamin users are not receiving any benefits by taking supplements daily. Many health professionals have noticed that supplement supplements are possibly more beneficial psychologically rather psychically, as stated in an article titled Vitamins don’t provide provide health benefits posted on the U.S. News. According to Marion Nestle, nutrition, food studies and public health professor at New York University “Vitamin supplements are powerful placebos,” Nestle says. “People feel better when they take supplements in the belief that taking more vitamins will improve health. Most evidence shows that they do not.” Although taking vitamin supplements may help users feel as though they are better their health in reality, they are not proven to have any benefits. 

Although most supplements won’t do too much harm the best way to get your daily dose of vitamins is by choosing to eat the right foods. Eating a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables is the best way to ensure your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to keep you going. Plus not having to spend money on expensive supplements is proven to benefit your wallet!