New evidence that milk causes cancer? New study: Regular consumption of milk may increase the risk of prostate cancer

A glass of milk every morning is the dietary habit of many people. Milk is rich in calcium and protein nutrients. Drinking it alone or with other drinks has a unique flavor.

But recently, researchers from Loma Linda University in the United States found that drinking milk regularly may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women .

The study analyzed that men who consumed only 20.2 grams of dairy products a day had a 26% increased risk of prostate cancer; women who consumed more dairy products a day had a 22% increased risk of breast cancer.

Seeing this, some friends may have doubts, this is a study of "foreigners", and it may not be applicable to our people. After all, the eating habits, the type and amount of milk are not the same.

In fact, there is really a study on "milk cancer", which is specifically aimed at Chinese people. What is going on? Can Chinese people continue to drink milk in the future?

1. A study of 510,000 people: drinking too much milk may be harmful

"Drinking more milk can grow taller", "Milk supplements calcium", "Milk is nutritious and not afraid to drink more"...Most people can't do without milk in their daily lives.

Some time ago, a joint publication was published by experts from Oxford University, Peking University School of Public Health, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment. Research at BMC Medicine.

The researchers followed 510,000 people in different regions of China for more than 10 years, of whom a total of 29,277 developed cancer, and finally found: Among Chinese adults, higher consumption of dairy products is associated with liver cancer, female breast cancer and overall cancer risk. higher correlation .

Specifically, for each additional 50 grams of daily dairy intake:

• 7% increased overall risk of cancer;
• 12% increased risk of liver cancer;
• Women have a 19% increased risk of breast cancer.

But at the same time, the researchers also said that the study has limitations. For example, in the questionnaire, only the intake of some major food groups was collected; for common cancer types, the number of cases was not enough to support the results.

There are not many studies on "milk cancer". Does this mean that milk can't be drunk?

Second, Chinese drinking milk will cause cancer? The pros outweigh the cons

Regarding the consumption of milk, according to statistics, the average person in Europe and the United States exceeds 300 kilograms per year, while in China only 21.7 kilograms, the difference in milk consumption is more than ten times.

It can be seen that many people in China drink less than one-tenth of the amount of milk recommended by the Residents' Dietary Guidelines (300 grams per day).

Therefore, you don't have to worry too much about "milk cancer". The benefits of drinking milk in moderation on the body far outweigh the disadvantages . As far as Chinese eating habits are concerned, drinking milk regularly can bring these benefits-

1. Provide high-quality protein

Milk is rich in protein, and 300 grams of milk can meet the supply of 9 grams of protein, which is 16.4% of the recommended amount of adult women's merit. In addition, the digestibility of milk protein is as high as more than 90%, which is a high-quality protein required by the human body.

2. Protect the heart

In 2020, a team of academician Gu Dongfeng from the Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, a study involving more than 90,000 people found that compared with people who never drink milk, people who drink 150-300 grams of milk per day have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than people who never drink milk. The risk of death was reduced by 23% and 19%, respectively.

3. Calcium supplement

Consuming 300 ml of milk is equivalent to consuming more than 300 mg of calcium, which is close to 40% of the recommended daily calcium intake target. And the vitamin D, amino acid and other substances in milk can promote the absorption of calcium, and the human body has a very high utilization rate of calcium in milk.

4. Prevent chronic diseases

Drinking milk in moderation can promote the increase of bone density in adults, reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, hypertension and diabetes, and prevent the occurrence of various diseases.

3. The dietary guidelines "update" milk intake, how to drink the healthiest?

Statistics show that China's per capita milk consumption in 2021 is only 14.4 kilograms, or about 40 grams per day. Many Chinese people do not have the habit of drinking milk. How can we make good use of its health value by drinking milk?

The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022) recommends that the recommended intake of milk and dairy products be adjusted from 300 grams per day to 300-500 grams per day .

How can I drink enough 300ml every day? The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022) recommends:

You can drink a glass of milk (200-250 ml) for breakfast every day, and add a cup of yogurt (100-125 ml) for lunch. For children, eat 2 to 3 slices of cheese for breakfast, and drink a bottle of milk or yogurt between classes.

If you don't like the taste of milk, try yogurt, powdered milk, or cheese. The conversion ratio is, 100 grams of milk = 100 grams of yogurt = 12.5 grams of milk powder = 10 grams of cheese .

However, it is recommended to increase the intake for some special populations, such as

• Children aged 2-3: need to consume 500 grams per day;
• Preschool children aged 4-6 years: need to consume 350-500 grams per day;
• School-age children (6~17 years old) and adults (18 years old and above): need to consume not less than g/day;
• Pregnant women (second and third trimesters): 500 grams per day is required.

It should be reminded that people who are lactose intolerant should not "drink hard".

Although milk is a good thing, for such people, drinking it hard is not good for the stomach. It is recommended to replace milk with yogurt. Yogurt is fermented from milk, and the lactose component has been decomposed into lactic acid, which is not easy to cause discomfort.

There are many beverages on the market marked with "walnut milk", "coconut milk", "milk tea", "cocoa milk", etc. These are all modulated milk, not the same as milk. For real pure milk, only "raw milk" is written in the ingredient list, and no additional raw materials are added. Therefore, consumers should learn to distinguish that drinking more milk-containing beverages is harmful to the body and cannot be used as a substitute for milk.

References:

[1] "Does Chinese drink milk cause cancer? The 10-year follow-up results of 510,000 people are here". New Perspectives in Medicine. 2022-05-25

[2] Dietary Guidelines "Update" Milk Intake! People with four highs should drink enough". Life Times. 2022-05-31,

[3] What would happen if you drink milk as water? After reading it, I panic...". Tencent Medical Code. 2021-11-09

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