New evidence that milk causes cancer? The latest study: often drink milk, the risk of prostate cancer may increase

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 pairing it with other drinks has a unique flavor.

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

According to the research analysis, men who consume only 20.2 grams of dairy products per day have a 26% increased risk of prostate cancer; women who consume more dairy products per day have a 22% increased risk of breast cancer.

Seeing this, some friends may have doubts. This is the research of "foreigners", and it may not be applicable to our people. After all, the eating habits, the types of milk, and the amount of drinking are different.

In fact, there is really a study on "milk causes 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 help you grow taller", "Milk supplements calcium", "Milk is rich in nutrition and you don't have to be afraid to drink too much"... Most people cannot 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 of 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 up 510,000 people in different regions of China for more than 10 years, and a total of 29,277 of them suffered from cancer. They finally found that among Chinese adults, a higher intake of dairy products was associated with liver cancer, female breast cancer and overall cancer risk higher correlation .

Specifically, for each 50-gram increase in daily dairy intake:

• 7% increased overall cancer risk;
• 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 survey, only the intake of some major food groups was collected; for common cancer types, the number of cases is not enough to support the results, etc.

There are not many studies on "milk causes cancer". Does this mean that milk cannot be drunk?

2. Do Chinese drink milk cause cancer? The advantages outweigh the disadvantages

Regarding the consumption of milk, according to statistics, the average per person in Europe and the United States exceeds 300 kilograms per year, while in China it is only 21.7 kilograms, and 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 recommended amount (300 grams per day) in the dietary guidelines for residents.

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

1. Provide high-quality protein

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

2. Protect the heart

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

3. Calcium supplementation

Consuming 300ml of milk is equivalent to consuming more than 300mg of calcium, which is close to 40% of the recommended daily intake of calcium. Moreover, vitamin D, amino acids 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. Prevention of chronic diseases

Drinking milk in moderation can promote the increase of bone density in adults, reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes, and prevent the occurrence of many diseases.

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

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

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)" makes recommendations:

You can drink a glass of milk (200-250 ml) for breakfast every day, and add a glass of yogurt (100-125 ml) for lunch. For children, you can eat 2-3 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 groups, such as

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

What needs to be reminded is that people who are lactose intolerant should not "drink hard".

Although milk is a good thing, for this group of people, hard drinking is not good for the stomach. It is recommended to use yogurt instead of milk. Yogurt is fermented from milk. The lactose component has been decomposed into lactic acid, so eating it is not easy to cause discomfort.

Know how to drink but also know how to choose. There are many drinks labeled "walnut milk", "coconut milk", "milk tea" and "cocoa milk" on the market. These are all modulated milk, which is not the same as milk. For real pure milk, only "raw milk" is listed in the ingredient list, and no additional raw materials are added. Therefore, consumers must learn to distinguish that drinking too much milk-containing drinks is harmful to the body and cannot be used as a substitute for milk.

References:

[1] "Does Chinese Drinking Milk Cause Cancer?" The 10-year follow-up results of 510,000 people are coming." New Perspectives in Medicine. 2022-05-25

[2] Dietary Guidelines "Update" Milk Intake! Four high people should drink enough." Life Times. 2022-05-31、

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

Reprinting is prohibited without the author's permission