Yeah, it's hard to persuade the govt to back a "Give daddy a bj campaign" and the little sods tend to spit anyway.....

Jinx, I think you are talking about this:
http://www.uswellnessmeats.com/Calci..._and_Facts.pdf

{note the link is a non-meat eating supporting site so there may be a bit of biased info on it.}

There is a big dispute between the Vegans and the Meat Eaters concerning the role that proteins play. As you can imagine there is quite a bit of contradicting information on the internet. Generally most agree that high or large amounts of protein of any kind, not only animal, can contribute to calcium loss. That is the part they don't tell you and the emphasis on the "animal" portion is another ploy to discourage meat eating and encourage their own lifestyle. Whatever. Eat right, include lots of veggies and fruits and eat in moderation we should all be healthier. There is no promise you will not die of heart disease or cancer because of it, but you may feel better to the bitter end.

This seems like a fairly balanced article that anyone should be able to understand:

http://www.rd.com/how-to-get-the-cal...icle10686.html

jinx quotesd:
Those who drank more than three eight-ounce servings of milk a day gained the most weight, even after the researchers took into consideration factors such as physical activity, other dietary factors and growth. The association held, even though most of the children were drinking low-fat milk.

"That was surprising," Berkey said. "Apparently this applies to any kind of milk."

More than three glasses. Not any, but More than three glasses. Aren't kids who drink that much likely to be over-consumers in general and therefore likely to be fat? Not necessarily because of the milk. Three glasses is quite a lot. My kids are milk drinkers, but I doubt they manage that much each day. One on the cereal, one when they get home from school and maybe one with dinner.

You didn't mention who funds the group producing this reasearch. soy milk producers, perhaps?

No, I'm talking about high protein levels (from any source) raising the acidity of the body - causing the body to leech calcium from the bones to neutralize it.

The growth hormones, pesticides, dioxins, Igf1, etc. are just extra nasties to consider when choosing a beverage.

[Ar least] One of the studies that found no weight loss difference between its high and low dairy consuming participants was funded by the dairy council - they don't quote that one in their commercials though.

no weight loss difference is not the same as weight gain.... ;)

but still, I imagine most reasearch on milk is funded at least in part by the dairy peeps. I'd be more concerned if they weren't funding any...

Different study - different conclusion.

different sponsors? :p

The first study was performed by Catherine S. Berkey of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. You can google thier bias if you're interested. I did.

I used to know a nurse at Brigham & Women's, that liked... nevermind:blush:

I still submit there is bias on both sides of the issue. There is no doubt that protein plays a role in the loss of calcium from the body. It is much more complicated than a simple "if this, than this". Most researchers are sponsored by someone for their published research regardless of what school they hail from. JMHO.

Moderation, as usual, is probably key. Here's what Dr. Weil says on the topic, and he's a pretty moderate alternative physician:

My mother was a great believer in milk. Till I left her house (at 17) I was required to drink three 12-oz glasses of 2% milk per day -- breakfast, lunch and dinner. I certainly didn't want that much milk, but it was a requirement.

Ditch the excessive soda drinking ( like me- burp) j/k

and ditch the excessive fast food, hotdogs,chips,cookies ect, get more activity in and keep the milk.

Ummmm, I was thinking more tofu or broccoli...

I've always heard that even 1% milk has more fat than we really need; the perception that you've gone all the way down to 1 % is misleading. I found the following chart: