Doctor doubts Mother8217;s word on milk

8220;It8217;s a fallacy that milk is a nutritional powerhouse as half the calories you get from it are from animal fat, loaded with cholesterol,8221; says Barnard. 8220;It is not even a good source of calcium because the body8217;s calcium absorption is a low 30 per cent from dairy sources, as compared to a high 52 per cent from plant sources, like broccoli.8221;

Instead of protecting the bones against osteoporosis 8212; a disease marked by overly rapid calcium loss from bones 8212; milk accelerates calcium loss because of high sodium content. 8220;A major Harvard University study found women who had a lot of milk were twice more likely to suffer fractures than women who didn8217;t,8221; he says. Milk has no protective effect on men either.

There8217;s more. And worse. 8220;A new substance, IGFR insulin-like growth factor has been linked with cancer particularly of the prostrate in men and breast in women and the only food that contains IGFR is milk,8221; says Barnard. It8217;s healthier to get calcium from pulses and legumes like lentils, beans and peas and vegetables like broccoli. 8220;Plant sources of calcium have the added advantage of being rich in other nutrients like vitamins and carotene, besides having no cholesterol,8221; he says.

Low in iron, babies bought up on cow milk often end up with iron deficiency. 8220;As much as 31 litres of cow milk is needed to give a baby her daily requirement of iron,8221; Barnard says. Even formula milk, iron-fortified, is a nutritional weakling compared to mother8217;s milk.

8220;Studies have shown children bought up on formula milk score 3-5 IQ points less than those nursed by their mothers,8221; says Barnard. The logic, he points out, is simple: Just as cow8217;s milk is ideal feed for calves, mother8217;s milk is best for babies, though giving them milk exclusively is detrimental to growth.

Enough of the bad. Now, the good. 8220;The healthiest diet compromises four food groups 8212; whole grains wheat, rice, pulses/legumes beans, dals, peas, vegetables and fruits,8221; begins Barnard. All meats fish too should be avoided, as should dairy products, eggs and fried food. 8220;I8217;m not saying fried food shouldn8217;t be eaten at all, but it should be done rarely,8221; says the doctor, who comes from the cattle state of North Dakota. Barnard8217;s fifth book, Foods That Fight Pain Random House will be available in India next month. It deals with foodstuffs that can help those with arthritis and frequent headaches, including migraine.

Cutting down on dairy products alleviates pain in 70 per cent cases, and drinking two glasses of ginger water made by boiling chopped ginger in water helps ease joint pain. 8220;Ginger stops blood cells from causing inflammation of the joints. Even half a teaspoon of powdered ginger taken twice a day with water helps,8221; prescribes Barnard. Also beneficial is rice, especially brown, non-citrus fruits, leafy vegetables, and orange ones like carrots and sweet potatoes.

More details on painless diet can be had at Barnard8217;s public lectures at AIIMS Friday, 4:00 p.m., Geriatric Society of India Friday, 7:30 p.m. and Safdarjang Hospital Saturday, noon.