Our western society, particularly the US and Canada, relies heavily on animals for our primary nutritional needs. Our diets are full of beef, pork, poultry, eggs, cheese and milk. To eliminate animal proteins from our diets is a daunting task. While I am not a practicing vegetarian (yet), I do admire those who have achieved that lifestyle and wholeheartedly endorse the limitation of animal proteins.

So what’s wrong with a diet full of animal proteins? After all, they are a great source of protein and B vitamins that provide energy and build strong bodies. Milk and other dairy products contain high levels of calcium to build strong bones. And the fat they provide is critical for the healthy development of young children. Doctors tell us that we need milk to prevent osteoporosis (although there is significant controversy surrounding this).

But do we really need these foods to provide essential nutrients? There are many varieties of fruits and vegetables that are high in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including calcium. And soybeans (plus tofu, soy milk, etc.) are high in protein. Essential fatty acids are readily available in flax seed, olive, sesame seed and canola oils. So why do we need animals?

We continue to maintain diets full of animal proteins because that is what we have always done. Our taste buds have been trained to prefer meat and dairy over fruits and vegetables. If we can retrain our bodies to enjoy plant food sources, we can eliminate meat and dairy from our diets and reap the benefits of better health.

What are some of the health risks associated with a diet rich in meat and dairy?

· Allergies: hayfever, asthma and dermatitis
· Digestive disturbances: irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, candidasis and colon cancer
· Weight: obesity from the high fat content
· Menopause problems: estrogen dominance and other hormonal imbalances that can lead to HRT and/or hysterectomy, the exacerbation of hot flashes, insomnia, diminished sex drive, irritability, mood swings, etc.

No discussion of animal food sources would be complete without discussing the methods used in commercial ranching. It is very common for animals (primarily cattle, pigs and chickens) to be given excessive amounts of antibiotics (because the living conditions promote illness) and hormones (estrogen to fatten them). The hormones and antibiotics are present in the meat and dairy products we purchase from the grocery store. Is it any wonder that health problems seem to increase exponentially in those whose diets are full of meat and dairy? If you cannot bring yourself to part with meat, then try shopping for meats that are guaranteed to be from grain-fed, free-range animals which have not been given antibiotics or hormones. You may pay a little more for them, but you will save money in the long run with fewer trips to the doctor.

Lastly, it is important to note that the milk we drink was created by God to feed baby cows. It is full of essential nutrients to grow a nice big cow…not a baby human. Nowhere in nature will you find adult animals drinking milk. Only the babies drink milk. Why should humans be any different? Cow’s milk is for baby cows; human milk is for baby humans. Save yourself a multitude of health problems and make the switch to soy or rice milk…or better yet, give it up completely.

Want to know more? Check out these sites:

White Gold
The Perfect Food
Milk: The Other Side of the Story
NoMilk
Dr. Spock on Veganism
Do You Know What is in Your Milk?
Dangers of Hormones
Do You Know What You’re Eating?
Bennett Ranch
Painted Hills

She encourages parents to study all the options before taking anyone's advice on how to care for their own children. In a recent interview, she said, "The greatest thing I can do is to give parents the confidence to discover for themselves what really is best for their children."