Dairy and Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer and Milk

Prostate cancer is now the single most common cancer among men in the United States and is on the rise in almost every country in the world as they adopt a more meat and dairy centered diet.[4] Does drinking cow milk really increase a man's risk for developing this killer cancer, though? Yes, according to a meta-analysis of 11 independent studies published summer 2004. Milk-drinking men seem to have about a 70% greater chance of developing cancer of the prostate. In fact the case against milk is so strong and consistent that even if 50 new studies came out all failing to show any link between milk and prostate cancer, the balance of evidence would still indict milk as a significant cancer risk factor.[5]

Although the butterfat in dairy may play a role, the researchers blame the hormones in milk as the likely culprit. "Because commercial milk is mainly produced by pregnant cows in developed countries," the researchers claim, "it contains considerable amounts of estrogen." Combined with other growth hormones in the milk designed to make a calf gain 100 pounds in 50 days,[6] cow milk may promote the growth of hormone-sensitive cancers.

Milk is for babies.

[4] European Journal of Cancer 37(2001):S4
[5] Nutrition and Cancer 48(2004):22
[6] NorthEast DairyBusiness August 2002:24