

Dairy
In the population study “Milk Intake and Risk of Mortality and Fractures in Women and Men,” researchers following more than 100,000 men and women in Sweden for about 20 years found significantly higher rates of bone and hip fractures, heart disease, cancer, and premature death in general for women who drank more milk. Three glasses a day was associated with nearly twice the risk of dying early. Men with higher milk consumption were also recorded having a higher risk of premature death. A meta-analysis of all such cohort studies, however, failed to find a significant relationship between milk and mortality. Findings of a 2015 meta-analysis found that men with high intakes of dairy products—milk, low-fat milk, and cheese, but not nondairy sources of calcium—did appear to increase total prostate cancer risk.
All animal-based foods contain sex steroid hormones, such as estrogen. These hormones naturally found even in organic cow’s milk may play a role in the various associations identified between dairy products and hormone-related conditions, including acne, diminished male reproductive potential, and premature puberty. The hormone content in milk may explain why women who drink it appear to have five times the rate of twin births compared with women who do not drink milk.
When it comes to cancer, leading experts have expressed concern that the hormones in dairy and other growth factors could potentially stimulate the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors. Experimental evidence also suggests that dairy may also promote the conversion of precancerous lesions or mutated cells into invasive cancers in vitro.
Dairy consumption may also play a role in increased risk of asthma, Parkinson’s disease, and elevated blood pressure, among other health concerns such as recurring canker sores.
The information on this page has been compiled from Dr. Greger’s research. Sources for each video listed can be found by going to the video’s page and clicking on the Sources Cited tab. References may also be found at the back of his books.
Popular Videos for Dairy


The Effects of Hormones in Dairy Milk on Cancer
What are the effects of the female sex hormones in milk on men, women, and...
How to Treat Reflux in Children with Diet
Hypersensitivity reactions to dairy products even in those who test negative for cow’s milk allergy.
Is Butter Really Back? What the Science Says
Is butter—and other saturated fats—bad for you or not?
Is Cheese Healthy? Compared to What?
Dairy is compared to other foods for cardiovascular (heart attack and stroke) risk.
Is Cheese Really Bad for You?
What about the recent studies that show cheese has neutral or positive health effects?
How the Dairy Industry Designs Misleading Studies
How the meat and dairy industries design studies showing their products have neutral or even...
Autism and Casein from Cow’s Milk
Casomorphins—breakdown products of casein, a milk protein, with opiate-like activity—may help explain why autism symptoms...
Does Paratuberculosis in Milk Trigger Type 1 Diabetes?
“Fear of consumer reaction” led the U.S. dairy industry to suppress the discovery in retail...
Could Lactose Explain the Milk and Parkinson’s Disease Link?
Neurotoxin contamination of the dairy supply doesn’t explain why the association between Parkinson’s and skim...
Preventing Parkinson’s Disease with Diet
Low levels of neurotoxic chemicals in cheese may explain the connection between dairy product consumption...
Cow’s Milk Casomorphin and Autism
Opiate-like casomorphins liberated from the cow’s milk protein, casein, are accused of participating in the...
Is Milk Good for Our Bones?
The galactose in milk may explain why milk consumption is associated with significantly higher risk...
The Saturated Fat Studies: Buttering Up the Public
Dairy industry campaign to “neutralize the negative image of milkfat among regulators and health professionals...
The Saturated Fat Studies: Set Up to Fail
How might Big Butter design a study (like the Siri-Tarino and Chowdhury meta-analyses) to undermine...
Why Do Vegan Women Have 5x Fewer Twins?
The hormones naturally found in foods of animal origin may help explain why women who...
Dairy Estrogen and Male Fertility
Sex steroid hormones in meat, eggs, and dairy may help explain the link between saturated...
Childhood Constipation and Cow’s Milk
The elimination of all dairy products was found to cure constipation in up to 100%...
Prevent Cancer from Going on TOR
Suppressing the engine-of-aging enzyme TOR (Target of Rapamycin) by reducing intake of leucine–rich animal products,...
Saving Lives by Treating Acne with Diet
Over-activated TOR signaling may help explain the link between acne and subsequent risk for prostate...
Prostate Cancer and Organic Milk vs. Almond Milk
Does the hormonal stimulation of human prostate cancer cells by cow milk in a petri...
Treating Infant Colic by Changing Mom’s Diet
Cow’s milk proteins can pass through breast milk—which may explain why maternal dairy-free diets are...All Videos for Dairy
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The Impacts of Plant-Based Diets on Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer
Why do people who eat more plants get less breast and prostate cancer?
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The Role of Endotoxins in Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Why can a single meal high in saturated fat impair cognition?
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Treating Parkinson’s Disease with Fava Beans (Faba or Broad Beans)
Fava bean sprouts and soy nuts are put to the test for Parkinson’s disease as natural sources of L-dopa.
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Potential Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency Risks on a Vegan Diet
What is the best way to get the nutrients of concern on a plant-based diet?
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Does Dietary Cholesterol (Eggs) Raise Blood Cholesterol?
Even nine out of ten studies funded by the egg industry show that eggs raise cholesterol.
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Do Vegans Have Lower Bone Density and More Fractures?
What are the bone fracture rates of omnivores vs. vegetarians vs. vegans?
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The Purported Benefits of Vitamin K2: Should You Take Supplements?
Our body can make vitamin K2 from the K1 in green leafy vegetables.
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Do Alkaline Diets Help Athletic Performance?
Can reducing acid-forming foods and boosting alkaline-forming foods replicate the performance-enhancing effects of sodium bicarbonate without the adverse effects?
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Antibiotic-Resistant E. coli and UTIs in Vegetarians vs. Meat-Eaters
Tainted chicken may result in more than a million urinary tract infections in American women every year.
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Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) and Cognitive Decline
AGEs may be one explanation for why those who consume meat may have up to three times the risk of developing dementia compared with vegetarians.