Milk: Good or Bad?
We’re talking about cows’ milk, that is. Many folks view milk as wholesome and healthy. Others, meanwhile, warn us away and say it’s full of hormones or might make you phlegmy. So what’s the deal with milk: does it do your body good or not?
Nutrition Basics
The healthy nutrients in milk speak for themselves — protein, calcium, vitamins A, D, B12 and riboflavin and the mineral potassium. Sure, you can get these nutrients from other foods and beverages, but milk offers them all in one package. Plus, vitamin D, which helps you absorb calcium, is harder to come by in other foods, and recent studies have shown that many people (especially children) aren’t getting enough.
If you’re eating the skim variety (a.k.a. non-fat milk), it contains only 90 calories and 8 grams of protein and provides 30% of your daily calcium and 25% of your daily vitamin D. Of all the milk varieties, whole milk is the highest in fat and calories (146 calories and 8 grams of fat); reduced fat (a.k.a. 2%) and low-fat (a.k.a. 1%) have less. Most health pros recommend that adults and kids older than two stick with skim or 1% to avoid the extra calories, cholesterol and saturated fat.
The Hormone Issue
Many milk naysayers worry most about the unnecessary hormones. Cows naturally produce the hormone bST to stimulate milk production. Some dairy farmers rely on a synthetic form of this hormone, rBST, to boost their cows’ milk generation. Many health and food safety advocates question whether these extra hormones disrupt our own healthy hormone levels and, in turn, might lead to cancer or other medical problems. Some countries have banned farmers from using rbST on their cows, but other agencies, including the World Health Organization, say that rbST is safe. Here in the U.S. it’s still allowed. If you’re worried, the best thing to do is only buy milk that’s rBST-free (it will say on the label) or organic.
Organic or Conventional?
When a milk is labeled organic, it means that the dairy cows spend at least half the year out on pastures (so they can eat plenty of grass) and there’s no use of synthetic hormones (like rbST). Today, 3% of the milk in America is organic, which is on the rise from years past. Most major supermarkets carry some kind of organic milk, but the price tag is often higher.
There’s been a lot of debate lately about whether organic food is any better for you. Some research supports the theory that organic milk contains more nutrients and antioxidants like vitamin A, lutein and omega-3 fats, but there’s nothing conclusive yet.
When shopping for organic, local milk is another option to consider. Many smaller farms may not spend the time and money required to get certified “organic” but do follow organic practices. Local milk can be hard to find sometimes. In Connecticut, where I live, a few small dairy farms have joined forces to provide their milk to large chain grocery stores; check out the Connecticut Farmer’s Cow website. Keep an eye on your dairy case and you might see some more local options. If you do, you can always call them up to ask if they follow organic practices.
What About Raw?
Nearly all the milk sold today (95% to be exact) is pasteurized, which means the milk was quickly heated to just over 160-degrees to kill off any harmful bacteria. Pasteurization also lengthens shelf life and freshness. (TIP: Always check the sell-by dates at the store; many markets push the older milk to the front to sell it before it expires.)
Raw milk, meanwhile, is just that: raw and unpasteurized. Advocates claim that not pasteurizing means better flavor and nutrient quality. There’s strong evidence to show that pasteurization doesn’t actually affect your milk’s protein, vitamin or mineral content, and the FDA and CDC actually warn the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems to avoid raw milk because of the bacteria risk.
Other Milk Concerns
There are countless theories that blame everything from acne to bed-wetting on drinking milk. Here are some of the things I’m asked about most.
Lactose Intolerance: Some people can’t digest the lactose in milk (lactose is a natural sugar) because they don’t have a certain enzyme you need to break it down. If that’s you, look for lactose-free dairy products; they’re available in most stores and contain all the same nutrients as regular milk. You may find that you can tolerate small amounts of dairy without a problem. Since every case is different, be sure to check with your doctor and registered dietitian to make choices that work for you.
Acne: Have you ever heard that drinking milk makes you break out? Well, a few studies have found that it’s possible. Researchers think it’s the hormones in milk that cause flare-ups in people with acne-prone skin, but there’s no solid association yet. If you’re battling acne, you may want to experiment by limiting the dairy you eat to see if there is a benefit (be sure get milk’s nutrients from other sources while you’re at it).
Mucus and Asthma: Some folks blame milk for increasing mucus production in the nose and throat and possibly worsening asthma symptoms. Yes, I’ve heard people complain that they’re nagged with extra phlegm or a cough after eating a lot of cheese or drinking milk. So far, however, there are no research studies that prove the relationship between dairy and mucus or asthma.
The Bottom Line
Cow’s milk can certainly be part of a healthy diet, and all types contain important nutrients like protein, calcium and vitamin D. Most complaints against milk relate to the potential side effects from added hormones. If this concerns you, buy hormone-free or organic milk (which doesn’t contain added hormones either). If you skip milk because you’re lactose intolerant or avoid animal products, make sure to get nutrients like calcium and vitamin D from your other foods.
- More Healthy Eats articles that feature milk:
- Good Eats for Better Bones
- Navigating the Dairy Case
- Alternatives to Cow Milk
Even if we drink organic or "raw" milk, it isn't very natural for humans to drink milk at all. We were made to suckle for a year or two, then stop….hence why 25% of the world's adult population is lactose intolerant (only 11% in the US, because Westerners have learned to tolerate dairy over the centuries).
Consider: one cup of skim milk has about 300 mg of calcium. One cup of cooked spinach contains about the same. I'm by no means anti-dairy. but since I have to live without it I have learned to get my vitamins elsewhere.
I agree with Tamara, and I think it would be interesting to see an article on healthyeats that delves into the issue she raises a bit more. Should humans leave cow milk for baby cows, and seek plant-based forms of calcium, vitamin D, etc?
I've also read that milk protein actually leaches calcium from bones, contrary to what the milk industry would have us believe.
I'm lactose intolerant and among those who claim dairy leads to excess mucus production — I definitely have trouble breathing through my nose after ingesting dairy.
agreed!!
Reading The China Study will put you off milk and other animal proteins.
People have been drinking milk from cows, goats, sheep, etc. for centuries. It's just another thing that humans aquire from these animals. Same as eggs from chickens. I mean, people are entitled to their own opinions, but I find it funny that people say things like, "We shoudln't drink cows milk because we don't drink people milk anymore." If that were the case, then maybe we shouldn't eat chicken eggs anymore. I say this, of course, because as mammals we were once just simple eggs. By eating chicken eggs wouldn't this be some form of "cannibalism" because we're (in a sense) eating ourselves?
This may sound childish or ignorant to some people, but I think it's a valid point. To me, it's rather silly to say things aren't "natural" when there isn't really much evidence to prove it true.
Lots of good clarification here… thanks for sharing with your readers.
One additional point to add on lactose intolerance… as you point out, there are many lactose-free milks on the market, but many people don't realize that two favorite dairy foods are naturally lactose-free or contain beneficial bacteria to help in the digestion–in this case, aged cheeses [like Cheddar] and yogurt, respectively.
These 2 foods contain the same nutrients as fluid milk, but are often better tolerated by folks who may be lactose intolerant. Fortunately, food companies like Cabot Creamery in Vermont have done a great job of reducing the fat in their cheeses, while maintaining great taste… so nutritionally, it's an easy substitution for folks who can't, don't or won't dry milk.
This doesn't go into ULTRA Pasturization which is a big topic with many claims on both sides of the fence. As nice as this summary is, it's just not complete without explaining the pros & cons of Ultra Pasturization
I just read yesterday on AOL that skim milk is too processed and loses the strength of nutrients and that whole milk is better than skim. I'm going to quit reading and do what I want.
totally agree
I think the earlier poster was just pointing out an obvious animal (which we humans are) fact. Babies drink their mother's milk, wean off of it and carry on to eat other things. Humans are not only the only species that continues to drink milk after toddlerhood, but we drink ANOTHER SPECIES mile, ta-boot! Milk is for babies. Oh, and make that milk from their own species is for their own babies. Humans for humans, cows for cows.
That's all the poster was saying.
everyone talks about what is natural. humans have evolved into extremely diversified levels of eating and everyone debates what is "meant to be". if we look at animals in the wild, using the natural selection of things, at the instinctual way animals survive… compare ourselves to these animals. who do we resemble most? how are they living a healthy existence? they can't butter toast. they eat from nature whether they pick it or hunt it. we should start there.
I agree with Cathie. I am going to drink what I want (Organic Valley Milk- absolutely best flavor around!) and not worry about the experts. Their opinion will change by this afternoon anyway
Pasturization was started to killl the tuberculosis bacterium, not bacteria in general. It was started during the epidemic of TB. Of course it still is a big problem, 2 million people a year die from TB world wide but the CDC is focusing on the flu with very small mortality. (But wait until they start givng flu vaccines.) Anyway, there is another way for lactose intolerant people to drink milk. Acidophillus tablets or milk that has Acidophillus put into it. Seattle had that available in every store, at 2%. New Mexico only sells 1% by one daily, and it is not as effective in 1% milk. Don't you wonder why girls are mensturating younger all the time, now at 8-9 years old. I believe it is the growth hormone given to cows to increase production. This article reads like it was written by the milk industry. Really plays down the Montsano's product injected into cow. Ever seen a cow's utter filled with milk, Now that they get the injection they can barely walk. It is very inhumane. We had no milk shortage that made giving these injections to cows. Keep searching for articles that are more informative.
No matter what you eat or drink, there will be some negative report about what you are consuming. As for me, I do not drink alcohol, coffee, or soda, I only drink water, milk and fruit juice. I believe milk is much better for me than slamming down a few brain-draining beers or gulping toxic sodas…ha!
Gee, I'm amazed that it's this complicated for everyone. Milk is just one of many ways for
some of us, if consumed in moderation, to obtain basic nutrients. You can mix it up with
other foods, etc. This is not new. The author was just trying to give people the up side option
to get a one-stop dose of their daily nutrients.
Ok some of you got the picture here and others are set in there ways. Humans do NOT have enzimes to break down the nutrition in milk after about age 2. IF you are swayed by watching to much TV and want to drink it as the commercials from the dairy counsel suggest go for it, but your NOT doing yourself any favors and chubby ugly milk fattened kids are abundant because parents don't look into real nutriton and think everything on TV is the way to go. Wake up, why in the world would you drink liquid from a animals utter anyway???? It's time for people to get a grip and look past old wives tales on what's needed or good for you.
ditto to Kem and Tamara. I read "Eat to Live" and it changed the way I look at food (the book references the China Study a lot, which I just bought). And to the poster who said that people have been drinking milk from cows, etc. for centuries… that is actually not true. In the past, and as recently as colonial times (if not more recently), milk was mainly used to make food (butter, cheese, etc.), it was not a common beverage. And keep in mind that human evolution has taken millions of years, by the time we domesticated animals, we had evolved to the "version" we are now – meaning that regularly eating animal products started AFTER we had already evolved to thrive on a plant-based diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds (grains). And even then, meat, particularly red meat, was not mass distributed/available until the industrial revolution.____And the reason cows milk has a lot of calcium is because they eat leafy greens – why not go directly to the source ourselves?
judith… i believe that one of the reasons girl's are menstruating younger is simply that children continue to have a higher percentage of body fat at an earlier age. in order for a girl to start menstruation, she must have at least 17 percent body fat. the sooner she reaches that point, the sooner she will mature.
Another point is that the nutrients in milk are often a synthetic form added back after pasteurization. With the high consumption of milk that is propagated towards children, it is not uncommon for kids to experience an overdose of vitamin D with similar symptoms to sunstroke. This info is in "Staying Healthy with Nutrition" by Elson Haas
Kudos to the author for his research and the discussion here. The opinions are as diverse as the ways we can prepare recipes with milk. I'm going to the kitchen for a glass of chocolate milk!!!
Define 'natural'. Is living in highrise buildings 'natural'? How about driving cars or riding buses? Eating cooked food? Wearing clothes? Using computers? Forming governments?
Plenty of things aren't 'natural' for any other animal but us. Doesn't mean it is somehow 'wrong'.
We weren't 'made' to do anything. We just happened to evolve in a certain environment that makes us the way we happen to be.
Just to clarify the logic we, as omnivores, eat protein from animals. Eating chicken eggs is not cannibalism. If we ate our own young, that would be cannibalism. The point that some people are trying to make is that because human's were designed to be weened at a young age, that precludes us from drinking a similar source of protein and nutrients, namely cow's milk. I agree that this is a faulty argument, but just wanted to point out that it doesn't follow that chicken eggs and people are the same thing.
Oh, also, in support of your argument, milk and eggs are two different things–one is naturally a source of food (for the calf) and one is itself an organism (if it is fertilized of course).
Cheers!
Here here!
Several frozen yogurt chains claim to have live cultures in their prodeuct even tho its frozen. When I contacted Dannon to see if I can freeze their yogurt, they said the culture would be killed. Whats the truth?
Hi Susan – Toby and I did some research into this during our Frozen Yogurt Taste Test.
A poster made the comment that humans have evolved into complex beings. I work in the biotech industry and it's actually not an accurate statement. Humans have evolved, sure, but our DNA is basically the same as it ever was. And our ancestors did not chase cows in order to get their milk, or chase chickens to get their eggs, or even do alot of gardening. They ate what some would call a Paleo diet – meat, fish, fresh vegetables that grew naturally around them and easily attainable fruit. As for the Vitamin D debate, the best form of Vitamin D is sunlight. Unfortunately, we slather so much sunscreen on our children and scare them about how spending time in the sun is bad for them that it's no wonder they don't get enough Vitamin D. It's all about wisdom here. Learning to eat what your body was meant to eat, and teaching our kids about moderation rather than exclusion.
I am now lactose intolerant, but I am not surprised that I am. I can't do cheese or yogurt either. So I get my nutrients in other ways. And it has been no hardship at all, simply a change of mindset.
Wow! A bit off the deep end. You sound fanatical (and nobody likes a fanatic). Milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria, does it matter which bacteria started the practice. It still goes to show pastuerization kills bacteria.
You bring up Acidophillus – good supplement not so crazy, valid point, then you go 'black helicopter'. Milk makes girls start their periods sooner?? Seriously! Way back when girls were married and had babies at 10, 12, and 14 years old. There was no genetic engineering back then.
Going from crazy to worse, you say this was wriiten by the milk industry!! And down plays Montsano!! Are we reading the same article? She dedicated the second topic to the issue. She must have rated pretty important. That she wrote what she did might be as far as she is legally allowed. It disturbs me other countries banned rBST. Why do we know more about Montsano's chemicals because we researched them. It is up to these readers to do the same.
Kudos to the writer for giving us facts and letting us think for ourselves instead of spouting rhetoric and trying to cram it down our throats.
I love the way you presented your point. I am not a vegetarian, but what you say makes me want to read the book and do a bit more research for myself.
Thanks!
I dont agree with the first 3-4 comments on this page, acually, I find milk and important part of our lives, we shouldn't ban dairy, look how far we've come with it? butter, yogurt,cheese,sour and whipped cream, we wouldn't even wouldv'e have SOY milk without milk. I don't know about you but i'm sticking with milk in my cereal.
Humans were biologically not designed with proper enzymes to break down lactose (glucose+galactose) sugars. Furthermore milk has a highly acidic affect on blood pH, leading the body to leach calcium from bones to maintain the neutral ph required for life. This is why osteporosis is so prevalent in the US despite the fact that we drink enormous amounts of milk. Thus obtaining calcium from dairy is counter-productive, yet the lobbying of the dairy industry has entrenched milk as a staple in the "healthy" diet. Americas health problems stem almost purely from the politicization of food in my opinion.
Your point on raw milk leaves out the feature of raw milk that keeps people driving hours to get it: the live enzymes. There are over 60 living enzymes that aid our digestion and immunity in raw milk; all are killed in the pasteurization process. If your raw milk farm has high standards of cleanliness, you're as safe from bacteria as you are eating storebought spinach or peanut butter (ahem), from what I can tell in the news.
Skim milk contains powdered dry milk (not on the label b/c it's an "industry standard") which oxidizes the cholesterol, causing heart disease. Oxidized cholesterol is so unnatural, our bodies hardly know what to do with it. It is a major cause of arterial plaque. Also, homogenization has been pegged as one of the top contributors to heart disease. Often the only way to find organic, non-homogenized milk is to get it raw. Grass-fed milk also has the added benefit of CLA, a very healthy fat found only in grass-fed milk and beef.
It would be great to see an article on the damaging effects of ultra-high-temp pasteurization, which is how almost all organic milk is handled, rendering it less nutritious than its conventional counterparts.
re: Susan on freezing yogurt. I have (often) successfully made homemade yogurt from frozen Dannon plain yogurt, as well as freezing my own homemade to make more. The bacteria are clearly not dead, just dormant.
Assuming Evolution is indeed the way we became the species we are today, then it is logical to assume that we will continue to evolve and adapt our genetics to best accommodate the nutrients and ecology with which we find ourselves surrounded.
Thanks for all the helpful info on the effects of freezing and heating the bacterial content in yogurt. After reading alot of comments on this site, it never fails to amaze me hoe upset some people get over the subject of food! The people on this site get alot of information, and probably read other sources too. We all make the best decisions we can for ourselves and what makes sense to one, doesnt make sense to another. Why get so nasty with some of the comments?
Two countries that consume the most cow milk is U.S and Asia (all Parts), and why they are the same countries highest in Osteoporosis cases. If I show you the numbers your jaw will drop. We are the only species that drink milk all our lives, and drink another species milk. The most healthiest milk to drink is Almond milk, you can buy at most health food store or you can make it.
Ingredients:
Almonds
Spring Water
Real Vanilla Extract
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
Blend ¼ lb almonds (unsalted)
Add 2 ½ cups spring water
Blend for 5 minutes
Strain – this your milk replacement
*Tip: Add maple syrup if you need to “dress up” the taste.
I am surprised at the lack of scholarship and research in the article posted here. Shame on you FoodNetwork! It appears you have taken your facts from popular literature that has no scientific background. Research from the 1920s forward has consistently linked consumption of milk to several conditions that experts call "lifestyle diseases." Western society, until recently, has had the highest incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis in the world. Well, maybe Sweden has us beat, but not by much. Study after study for at least 60 years has pointed to diet as the single culprit linked to all these conditions. No, milk does not cause all this, but the link between increased milk consumption and osteoporosis has been shown for just as long.
Simply put, humans were not designed to process/digest cow's milk. But if you listen to me, you are doing no better at educating yourself than watching TV. Get a high school textbook on how the nutritional process works. Go to BBC.com and look at their educational site. Go to any library and pick up texts written to report on research. If you need specific titles, several people mentioned the book The China Study, It's a good book. Another is Fells Guide on nutrition, titled Nutrition for Dummies.
As soon as we realize that what we hear on the TV and read in the newspaper is nothing more than a very cursory look at a topic chosen for its headline value, or paid advertising that supports a particular point of view, the sooner we will begin to take charge of our own brains.
Nutrition is a vast and complex subject. The body is a miraculous thing. No wonder easy answers are accepted – the truth is very hard to understand and is changing daily. But since the 1920s studies have all said the same thing. Our meat, carb, and milk diet is killing us in greater and greater numbers. And all the miracle drugs in the world have not been able to slow the climbing death rate. Milk is not the only culprit. But it is one of the three top most dangerous foods.
As with so many other food "issues," moderation is the key. I typically consume 1-2 servings of dairy each day along with 4-5 veggies, including calcium-rich ones and augment with calcium supplements; I know many people, especially young men, who drink a gallon of milk every day. Seems like too much of a good thing to me.
I agree with most of what is being said here, but I haven't seen mention of the fact that cows milk albeit has many good vitamins etc does not digest well in the human stomach. I have done some research on this and found that after a certain age our bodies lose the enzyme required to break down this milk completely resulting in an indigestible sludge that inhibits proper nutrient absorption in the intestine. Does anyone have more on this. I have also turned to goat milk in recent years and yogurts because of the valuable digestive enzymes they provide and ease of digestion. Also a remedy to lactose intolerance.
Well here are the real facts….
yes, the reason for pasturazation was because they thought tb was from cows milk…(never proven)in the year. So we heat up the milk to loose the bad bacteria…and also the good bacteria especially lactaid the enzyme that helps you digest the lactose in the milk…yet we wonder why people are lactose intolerant!!! its simple people. I am one of the lucky ones that actually gets to drink Raw milk. So many people that shop at our dairy are lactose intolerant yet, the real raw milk, yoghurt, butter etc. does not bother them!!! Fancy that. Not only does it taste better it is truely better for you. The real cream comes right to the top!
In this life we all need to realize that even with all the diet craizes out there we are not getting skinny!!! Maybe we need to rethink our process by eating naturally. The food that God gave us!!! WE are supposed to eat meat, veggies, and yes even milk. WE need the fat in milk and in meat to survive if you cut it out completely you will become very very ill and perhaps die. Did you ever wonder why and when we really started to get heart disease? Your Great Grandma/Grandpa didn’t have it and if they did they were one of the few. 1/2 the states in the US it is legal to sell raw milk! I wish it would be legal in every state. Once people tried it and realized how much better it is for them then they would know the truth! Please contact your senator to get the Raw milk approved.
Another way I see it is…(well I don’t understand)
WE are able to buy alcohol, cigarettes and other items that are bad for us and are proven to be.. yet we can not buy milk that is super healthy for us!!????!!!??? Why?
Even if you do not want to believe that raw milk is better for you at least give us a chance to buy it! you can have your crappy pasturized store milk with formaldehyde and hormones in it! But let me have my real raw dairy milk.
I could go on for days about this!! but check out http://www.rawmilk.com and do what is best for you drinking and enjoying real raw milk from a dairy you trust. you will be amazed just like I was. oh and one more interesting thing from a personal experience…I have been really sick for about 5 years or so (every month I would come down with something) not just little colds either…in the hospital!! (I am only 27) I started drinking raw milk daily as of May of 2009 (I only changed my diet of milk and fat/I only used rendered fat that I make my self) I have not been sick since!!! AMAZING POWERFUL RAW MILK I OWE IT TO YOU!!!
We cant just go to the source…people are forgetting that a cow has 4 stomachs! we don't!! It is not so that it holds more food, the stomachs were designed to diguest the food in order to make milk/calcium. And the reason for cheese, butter was because it was a way to keep it fresh they couldn't always have milk on hand because they did not have refrigeration like we do today.
I have two milk cows that I milk twice every day, I know what they eat so I know what is in their milk. If you are concerned about what is in your milk find a local farmer who has milk for sale. I am 43 and have not missed a day of work for illness in 25 years and my cholesterol is lower than anyone I work with so whole milk and butter are not bad for you as a sensible part of your diet.
hmm, so we shouldn't eat meat? we are not cows so we shouldn't eat cows? haven't you seen kittens drinking from pigs when they lose their Moms? The breakdown is similar. Humans all over the world have been drinking and eating cows, sheep and goat milk and milk products for thousands of years. The civilisations that did not have the same access did not evolve to digest lactose. It is extremely challenging to meet your calcium needs without milk (soy/ cows/ rice or otherwise). Sure, have a cup of almonds to meet 30% of needs (and 500kcals that goes with it!). Remember too soy, almond, rice milk are waaay more processed than cows milk.
yes, but as a lover of cheese and milk, i drink organic milk, and am very picky about not eating any non organic cheese,because i'm afraid of the hormone issue. i'm asssuming this still can be found in cheese, since cheese is made from milk? Yes? So, wouldn't I need to continue to only look for and injest organic cheese, in order not to have Rbt in my cheese?
I have a friend who doesn’t eat anything White. I believe God gave us a variety of things to enjoy eating. Not overeating. I love milk!
I m 13 and have stopped drinking milk- in fact my whole family has, due to our doctor who told us the truth about milk…how bad it is..bla bla bla
TRUE STORY: My mother's friend suffered from cancer a couple of years ago, when she first was told her doctor said, that she should stop drinking milk. He said, that some bacteria in milk feed some cells people have when cancer, and that they just make everything worse. She stopped drinking milk…not much later she was going to get operated adn the y discovered that it was COMPLETELY gone…however they HAD to operate her just in case. They found NOTHING…
IF she would've continued drinking milk..she would have ended in a surelly different way.
My other moms friend also has cancer…for about 2 or 3 years now…my mom told her to stop drinking milk..just in case.
I dont like milk anyway so it was not hard for me to stop drinking milk.
About your post it seems biased at best and here’s why. You mention how milk is the total vitamin package in that it contains calcium, iron, b, d, riboflavin, etc. In on food source but fail to mention all of these vitamins and nutrients are synthetic and do not occur naturally in milk. (I.e. Milk has no iron vitamin D or B and must enriched and fortified in order for it to be of nutritional value).
I am not a vegan or vegeterian but can without equivocation say; milk is detrimental to human well being. If fact the case really has to be made for why it is even considered part of a human diet or healthy at all.