Whitewash: The Disturbing Truth about Cow’s Milk and Your Health

farhana — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Joseph Keon’s Whitewash aims to provide enlightenment on the industrialization of dairy farms: a place where happy cows no longer exist. Keon, a wellness consultant, nutritionist and fitness expert examines the production of milk while emphasizing the negative impact it has on the health of American consumers. It also helps that John Robbins, the son of the founder and owner of Baskin-Robbins ice cream company provides endorsement in the foreword of the book.

Keon builds on the fact that bone fractures and osteoporosis rates remain higher in countries with a higher intake of calcium (like the United States) and attributes this to the inability to retain the nutrient. However, he also explores a host of other potential illnesses that milk contributes to including acne, allergies (lactose intolerance) and heart disease. However, at times his scientific truth appears to be stretched as he demonizes cow’s milk to also contribute to Crohn’s disease, cancer, and infertility, not recognizing other potential factors. He also discusses obesity and the forty billion dollar diet industry.

However, one cannot help but feel that he may be part of that industry as well as he spends a chapter endorsing veganism. At times, there is simply not enough scientific evidence to place a significant proportion of the blame on the dairy industry. It is also never considered that there may be other components of milk that are causing this reaction in humans. Unless of course you consider the poisons present in America’s favorite source of calcium.

Whitewash points out the obvious existence of pesticides and natural growth hormones in milk (it is meant for baby calves, after all). However, Keon goes a step further and discusses the existence of rabies in unpasteurized milk, a onetime incident of flame retardant being mixed in with cow’s feed and other chemicals present in milk. These brief incidents in his book only weaken his overall argument as it seems a bit overreaching since it cannot be a basis for each gallon of milk in every freezer section across America. It can be agreed though that our health, physical inactivity and overall exposure to drugs (and chemicals) can be attributed to the price that we pay for living in a modern society in comparison to the rest of the world.

Essentially, a deep analysis of other imperfect industries (for instance, chicken, livestock, and the consumption of eggs) would potentially produce similar results. Keon has demonized cow’s milk similarly to the blame placed on high fructose corn syrup and the corn industry that was initially one of the scapegoats for the obesity epidemic facing America. Additionally, the alternatives Keon provides to dairy are essentially idealistic as the consumers of cow’s milk would now be relegated to investing more money into alternatives to get vitamins A, D, K and calcium which may not be feasible. International alternatives are also not provided. If cow’s milk in the United States is so detrimental to our health, does that mean that imported powdered milk can be a replacement? This is highly unlikely since so much emphasis was placed on the fat content of the milk itself.

Whitewash may not set the ardent milk consumer straight, but it will allow us to take a second look at the fat content. However, the average low/medium income family will not be rushing out any time soon to pay higher prices for calcium alternatives. Perhaps further insight on the dairy industry itself would sway the average milk drinker into sympathizing for the unhappy cows across America.

Written by: Aneesa A. Baboolal, March 27th 2011

Greens Plus Protein Bars

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:25:00 +0000

By GREENS+

Snacking is inevitable. I regularly snarf all varieties of energy bars, even though I am not climbing mountains, lofting from ski jumps, or training for triathlons. I schlepp groceries and books and stomp down city sidewalks, but do not exert myself on Himalayan Peaks or the Appalachian Trail. However, my energy bar consumption trailed off once I heard a physician 'tsk' that most contained so many chemical ingredients and were so high sugar that he'd prefer that his patients consume a vitamin pill and chocolate bar.

I was happy to comply, but have since discovered GREENS+ products, endorsed by athletes and activists, doctors and distributors, and also the recipient of nine international awards. Items include not only energy and protein bars, but mixable powders and concoctions such as Greens Plus, Fiber Greens, Protein Greens, Pro-Relief, Jungle Greens, Coral Calcium, Thermo Greens, Immune Guard, and Omega Chia. Products are hand-mixed at facilities in compliance with Natural Products Association and GMP-certification standards. The protein bars contain no salt, refined sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated oil, synthetic sweeteners, preservatives, or genetically-modified plant products. They're light enough to not feel overly decadent, and tasty enough to qualify as 'treats.'

If you're more inclined to get your daily dose of good-for-you potions in the morning, there are Superfood and Greensicle supplements, as well as 'Wild Berry Burst' powders to take stirred into water or your favorite juice. I tend to associate 'Chia' with the infomercial standard 'Chia Pets,'* but apparently there is a plant, Salvia hispanica, also called Chia, a whole food source of Omega3. A Central American mint used for millenia, GREENS+ offers chia seeds for a nutritious energy boost. Use the coupon code 'YUMMY' for a five dollar discount on online orders. Next, to try their chocolate-covered peanut butter bars...

_ * I have not been tempted to purchase a Chia Pet, and am now even less so since they have released a Chia Obama. While I attempt to be a first amendment purist, that does not mean that I have to support what I consider to be a fairly obviously racist product. Yes, comedy is inherently tasteless and incorrect, i.e., Eddie Murphy's Buckwheat portrayals, but would we tolerate a depiction of the President as the same character? Or, do they offer any Chia Pet versions of Caucasian officials? Until they offer a Chia Washington and Chia Lincoln, let me know if this merits a Chia Boycott._

Written by: Erika Mikkalo, October 12th 2009