Photo: Richard BH
Too many hormones are not good for you (and terrible for children.) Our bodies create the hormones we need and regulate well normally. We should avoid food with lots of hormones and especially artificial hormones.
Which brings us to dairy...
Artificial growth hormones:
recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) or recombinant bovine growth hormone(rBGH). It's hard to keep up with all the terms and protect yourself.. That's partially due to always emerging new technologies and partially due to companies attempt to 'spin' a product. These artificial hormones are endocrine disruptors and are bad news.
To simplify. Cows make the hormones they need (bovine somatotropin) in small amounts. Artificial hormones cause milk production to skyrocket. (read $$$) and cause cows lameness and more importantly mastitis- inflamed udders.
Health Problems in Humans
These hormones cows are shot up with causes milk to be lower in potassium and lactoferrin (anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal.) and reduces casein (amino acids, carbohydrates, calcium and phosphorus.) and the kicker, they pass these hormones on to you.This can increase our cancer risks. Growing children who are inundated with more hormones reach
puberty early, endocrine disruptor's can cause early breast cancer, cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders, learning disabilities, severe attention deficit disorder, cognitive and brain development problems; deformations of the body (including limbs); breast cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid and other cancers, sexual development problems. 1. Are you forming a picture? That dollar extra for organic doesn't seem so expensive now does it?
"Drinking the Koolaid"
Lobbyists have convinced your government to mandate that anyone who produces a product free of artificial hormones to state..."According To the FDA, no significant difference has been shown between milk derived From rbst treated And non-rbst treated cows" (Monsanto was kind enough to donate the researchers to prove this.2.) Still think the FDA is here to protect you? Don't kid yourselves, it's about money not health. Do your research and shop with your dollar.What about the rest of the world?
A European Union report on the animal welfare effects of rbst states that its usage often results in "severe and unnecessary pain, suffering and distress" for cows, "associated with serious mastitis, foot disorders and some reproductive problems"3. They're reporting the true case for your safety and have banned the use of artificial growth hormones for cows. Most of the world has banned it in fact.How can you avoid artificial hormones in dairy?
Imported cheese always hormone free because other countries do not allow their farmers to give their cows growth hormones.Organic dairy cannot come from cows treated with growth hormones.
Know your farmer and how they treat their cows. It affects the milk directly.
Conclusions
Do your homework. Shop wisely. Speak up. Tell the farmers and the government what you want. We want yummy safe cheese!... and maybe some red wine to go with it.sources:
1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor
2.Hansen, Michael, Ph.D.; Halloran, Jean M.; Groth, Edward III, Ph.D.; Lefferts, Lisa Y. (September 1997). "Potential Public Health Impacts Of The Use Of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin In Dairy Production".
3. The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare, European Union. 10 March 1999.
other places for more info:
-http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/radiation-chemicals-and-breast-cancer/bovine-growth-hormone.html