Milk

The United States cleaned up the commercial dairy industry 40 or 50 years ago, cutting out the use of the most dangerous insecticides that were known to cause breast cancer, making dairy one of the cleanest food available 1. This improvement in the dairy industry has led to a decrease in breast cancer rates, as seen in Israel, which banned one of these insecticides later than the US, resulting in a subsequent plunge in breast cancer rates 1.

Dairy is a complete macronutrient, containing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and is very balanced regarding blood sugar and inflammation 3. It also contains important hormones such as thyroid, progesterone, and testosterone, which are essential for young animals 3. Additionally, dairy has been shown to have a curative effect on liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, due to its high content of saturated fats 6.

However, dairy is not without its drawbacks. It can contain allergens from cows grazing on pastures with allergenic weeds, which can cause allergic reactions in some individuals 8. Furthermore, dairy is low in iron, and the iron content is not sufficient to meet the needs of individuals, particularly pregnant women, who require more iron due to estrogen exposure 6.

Despite these potential drawbacks, Ray Peat advocates for the consumption of dairy, particularly in its raw and unprocessed form, as it is a more natural and less toxic option compared to other food products 3. He also notes that dairy is often misunderstood and is not the primary cause of lactose intolerance, which is often exaggerated by the medical industry 2.