Why eliminate cow's milk?

Cow's milk is omnipresent in our diet, whether it is consumed directly or incorporated into numerous preparations. Long considered an essential food, it now raises questions, both regarding its health effects and its production methods. Let's examine why eliminating cow's milk can be a beneficial option.

1) The main reasons to eliminate cow's milk

a) Health impacts

Cow's milk is often highlighted for its calcium content, but its effect on health is more complex than it seems. Several factors raise questions about its consumption:

• Milk: for the calf or for humans?

A calf must be fed by its mother for several months, until weaning. Cow's milk is naturally adapted to its needs, allowing it to gain dozens of kilos in a few months. It contains specific hormones and nutrients that do not necessarily match the needs of humans.

• Difficult digestion

Many people are lactose intolerant without knowing it. Indeed, lactose is a sugar contained in milk, but our body gradually loses the enzyme needed to digest it (lactase) after childhood. This can cause bloating, digestive pain, or other discomforts.

• Potential health risks

Some studies suggest that casein, a milk protein, could promote inflammation and be involved in certain chronic diseases. Furthermore, excessive consumption of dairy products is sometimes associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and even certain cancers.

b) The ethics of dairy production

Beyond nutritional aspects, the production of cow's milk raises questions of ethics and animal welfare:

• The fate of calves

Calves are separated from their mothers shortly after birth. Females become dairy cows in turn, while males are generally fattened and then slaughtered after a few months for their meat.

• Intensive exploitation of cows

Cows are artificially inseminated to ensure continuous milk production. They then produce up to four times more milk than they would naturally, which leads to physical pain and health problems such as inflammation of the udders (mastitis), uterine infections, and lameness.

• Difficult living conditions

In many farms, cows live in confined spaces and never see daylight. They often undergo a painful operation: they are dehorned so as not to risk injuring the farmers. While a cow could live 15 to 20 years, those raised for dairy production are generally slaughtered after 4 to 5 years, once their yield diminishes.

2) What are the alternatives to cow's milk?

If you wish to eliminate cow's milk, there are now many plant-based alternatives!

a) Plant-based milk

• Almond milk
• Rice milk
• Hazelnut milk
• Coconut milk
• Soy milk

b) Yogurt, cheese, and butter

Cow's milk is also used in certain products; here is what to replace these products with:

• Vegan yogurt (based on soy, coconut milk, rice milk...)

• Vegan cheeses