The myth that cow’s milk, and dairy are essential for a healthy diet, is so ingrained in Western Civilisation, that there are few of us who question the “wisdom” of weaning a child from the breast to a cup of cows milk.  What was it that convinced us that the milk from another animal was equally good for our children, as the milk from their mothers…?

During the peak of British colonisiation, it was policy to establish infant feeding clinics, with the intention of providing health care to native babies. What this meant was, long term breastfeeding was discouraged, routines were encouraged, and the whole process was detrimental to breastfeeding.  It also meant that colonised countries, all of a sudden had a “need” for artifical baby formula, to nourish the native infants, who’d been weaned.

Colonised countries were a new and lucrative export market for western dairy products – and the idea that milk was an essential part of one’s diet, slowly became ingrained.

Considering that humans, are the only species that consume the milk of another animal, I’m led to question what the natural alternative of cow’s milk is, in non dairy farming countries.

Let’s examine a few alternative sources of calcium:

Whole Food Sources Serving Calcium (mg)
Sardines 3 ounces 372
Chinese cabbage cooked 1/2 cup 239
Spinach cooked 1/2 cup 230
Rhubarb cooked 1/2 cup 174
Wild salmon canned with bones 3 ounces 167
Kale cooked 1 cup 122
White beans cooked 1/2 cup 113
Bok choy cooked 1/2 cup 79
Broccoli cooked 1 cup 70
Pinto beans cooked 1/2 cup 45
Red beans cooked 1/2 cup 41

How is it that many countries throughout the world have popluations of healthy children and adults, but don’t rely on dairy farming? And why is it that many asian races, are lactose intolerant – and can’t consume cows milk at all…?

Famous Paedatrician, Dr Spock has now suggested that cow’s milk is for baby cows, and that human babies ought to be breastfed, while older children eat non-dairy alternatives.