@ossobuco,
one more -
JRMWMplsNYT Pick
As a practicing physician who does not drink cow's milk and who routinely takes his patients off of cow's milk, I enjoyed your article. I also agree that water is by far the best liquid to drink.
One quibble: I disagree with your assertion that a person doesn't need Calcium and that for bone health they only need to exercise and to get Vitamin D from the sun. This is not true. Approximately 36% of healthy adult Americans are Vitamin D deficient, and that number jumps significantly in the northern states like mine (MN).
In addition, a person with adequate Vitamin D but not enough calcium will still develop Rickets (I see this in my practice).
Thus, if you remove cow's milk from your diet (which I wholeheartedly agree with) you must be very careful to monitor your intake of Vitamin D and Calcium containing foods, or take a multivitamin with Vitamin D and Calcium. (this is what I do, and what I recommend).
There is no product on Earth without side effects. You've shown the possible side effects of cow's milk in your article. But every other product also has them. Rice milk (which I drink), soy milk, almond milk, coconut water, juice, meat, etc. you name it!
Given that, we should not vilify milk, or deny its positives. It IS a great source of Calcium and Vitamin D (if added). It DOES have a lot of great health benefits. But they come with a cost. Removing milk then requires replacement of the lost health benefits of milk.
Good health to you all!
July 8, 2012 at 12:34 p.m.