In the 'Symptoms - Food - Intake' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about quantity of dairy product consumption:
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Do you consume dairy (milk/cheese/cream) products?
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Your answer |
...indicates |
...and suggests |
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"Never / don't know" |
No dairy product consumption |
A risk factor |
| 2. |
"Once per week or less" |
Dairy product consumption |
A risk factor |
| 3. |
"2-6 times per week" |
Dairy product consumption |
A risk factor |
| 4. |
"Some every day" |
Dairy product consumption |
A risk factor |
| 5. |
"A lot / more than once daily" |
High dairy product consumption |
A risk factor |
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Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below.
Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.
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| Answers |
Condition |
Comment |
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4 |
5 |
Consequences of Poor Diet |
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3 |
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5 |
Crohn's Disease |
Johne's disease is an infection that cows pass on to humans as irritable bowel syndrome. Johne's disease has no cure and costs dairy producers over $1.5 billion each year [Source: USDA]. The bacterium, Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) causing Johne's is not killed by pasteurization and is passed onto consumers in milk, cheese and ice cream. Forty million Americans have irritable bowels and over 500,000 have gone on to develop Crohn's disease.
"Mycobacterium paratuberculosis RNA was found in 100% of Crohn's disease patients, compared with 0% of controls." [Mishina, Proceedings National Academy of Sciences USA: 93: September, 1996]
The bacterium (MAP) does not cause tuberculosis in humans, but there is growing evidence linking it to Crohn's disease. British tests, released in January 2000, showed that Mycobacterium paratuberculosis can survive pasteurization, prompting the USDA to re-examine 1999 tests that showed pasteurization kills it.
August 5th, 2003, London: British scientists have found a link between Crohn's disease and MAP. Professor John Hermon-Taylor and his team at St George's Hospital Medical School in London said they had detected MAP bacteria in 92% of patients with Crohn's disease, but in only 26% of patients in a control group.
"The rate of detection of MAP in individuals with Crohn's disease is highly significant and implicates this pathogen in disease causation," they said in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. They called for Crohn's to be made a reportable disease, for more stringent milk pasteurization, for tests for MAP in dairy herds, and procedures for reducing MAP infection on farms.
Hermon-Taylor said an unexpected finding of the research showed that patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may also be infected with MAP. "In animals, MAP inflames the nerves of the gut," he said. "Recent work from Sweden shows that people with IBS also have inflamed gut nerves. There is a real chance that the MAP bug may be inflaming people's gut nerves and causing IBS." |
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3 |
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5 |
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) |
Johne's disease is an infection that cows pass on to humans as irritable bowel syndrome. Johne's disease has no cure and costs dairy producers over $1.5 billion each year [Source: USDA]. The bacterium, Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) causing Johne's is not killed by pasteurization and is passed onto consumers in milk, cheese and ice cream. |
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4 |
5 |
Inadequate Fiber Intake |
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3 |
4 |
5 |
Iodine Requirement |
Consumers of dairy products generally receive sufficient iodine due to the use of iodine-containing disinfectants for cleaning dairy equipment, which leach into the milk. |
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4 |
5 |
Osteoporosis - Osteopenia |
Excess consumption of dairy products is implicated in osteoporosis. This is due to their high animal fat content, and the lack of CLA in modern dairy products. |
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2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Ovarian Cancer |
(Women only) The International Journal of Cancer (2004 Jun 10; 110;2: pp.271-7) contains one of the largest studies ever (80,326 participants), which links the consumption of milk and dairy products to increased risk of ovarian cancer. The researchers determined that each 11gm increase in daily milk sugar consumption (the amount contained in one glass of milk) resulted in a 20% increase in the risk of serious cancers, with skim milk and low-fat milk containing higher amounts of lactose than whole milk.
In 1999, the American Journal of Epidemiology (Volume 150) reported: "Poor absorption of lactose may more than double the risk of ovarian cancer in women."
The British journal Lancet (1989, Volume 2) reported: "Galactose is linked both to ovarian cancer and infertility... women who consume dairy products on a regular basis have triple the risk of ovarian cancer than other women." |
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Testicular Cancer |
(Men only) In October of 2003, the largest study on diet and testicular cancer ever conducted was published, studying the diets of hundreds of cancer victims. Previously there was little data on dietary risk factors for this dreaded disease. This study found that by far the strongest dietary risk factor associated with testicular cancer was the consumption of cheese. Those men that ate the most cheese were almost 90% more likely to develop cancer of the testicles. The investigators guessed that it may be the hormones in milk and dairy that were to blame. [International Journal of Cancer 106 (2003): p.934] |
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GLOSSARY
Bacteria (Bacterial, Bacterium)
Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.
Cancer
Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.
Crohn's Disease (Crohn's)
Chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia.
Epidemiology
The study of the causes and distribution of disease in human populations.
Gram (gm, gms, Gramme, Grammes, Grams)
A metric unit of weight, there being approximately 28 grams in one ounce.
Hormones (Hormone)
Chemical substances secreted by a variety of body organs that are carried by the bloodstream and usually influence cells some distance from the source of production. Hormones signal certain enzymes to perform their functions and, in this way, regulate such body functions as blood sugar levels, insulin levels, the menstrual cycle, and growth. These can be prescription, over-the-counter, synthetic or natural agents. Examples include adrenal hormones such as corticosteroids and aldosterone; glucagon, growth hormone, insulin, testosterone, estrogens, progestins, progesterone, DHEA, melatonin, and thyroid hormones such as thyroxine and calcitonin.
Iodine
A essential mineral that is an integral part of the thyroid hormones, thyroxin and triiodothyronine which have important metabolic roles and govern basal metabolism. The best known iodine deficiency symptom is goiter. Other iodine deficiency problems are reduced vitality, hypothyroidism, inability to think clearly, low resistance to infection, loss of control of the muscles of the mouth resulting in mouth contortion and drooling, defective teeth, tendency to obesity and cretinism which is a congenital abnormal condition marked by physical stunting and mental deficiency.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
A condition that causes upset intestines for a long period of time. It is very unpleasant to the sufferer but tends to be harmless and usually does not lead to more serious complaints. The symptoms vary from person to person and from day to day. In order to be diagnosed with IBS, a person must have at least three of the following symptoms: pain in the lower abdomen; bloating; constipation; diarrhea or alternating diarrhea and constipation; nausea; loss of appetite; tummy rumbling; flatulence; mucous in stools; indigestion; constant tiredness; frequent urination; low back pain; painful intercourse for women.
Osteoporosis
A disease in which bone tissue becomes porous and brittle. The disease primarily affects postmenopausal women.
RNA
A ribonucleic acid found in plant and animal cells; a complex protein chemical. Important in the coding of genetic information with DNA carrying information from the nucleus of the cell into the cytoplasm.
Testicles (Testicle, Testicular)
Egg-shaped sex glands in the scrotum that secrete male hormones such as testosterone, and produce sperm.
Tuberculosis
Also known as TB, Consumption or "The White Plague", tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually affecting the lungs but possibly also the brain, kidneys and bones. Patients may at first be symptom-free or experience a flu-like illness. In the secondary stage, there might be a slight fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue and various other symptoms, depending on the part of the body affected. Tuberculosis of the lung is usually associated with a dry cough that eventually leads to a productive cough with blood-stained sputum. There might also be chest pain and shortness of breath.
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
Last updated: May 10, 2007
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