Not So Milky Mom

* Milk and the Environment

2008-11-19T14:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight at dinner my husband told me he didn't care about my cause. He equates wanting to reduce milk consumption to hating Santa Claus, and that's just not American. I figure there must be a thousand more people who feel the same way.

This post is dedicated to the environment, Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard and Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD). I won't talk about cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, strokes, autism, attention deficit disorder, obesity, allergies, acne, arthritis or Alzheimer's. I will discuss milk and the environment (which seems to be a more popular topic).

A 2006 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations says that livestock generates more green house gases than driving cars. So the more we eat, the higher the demand and the higher the concentration of gases being produced. This doesn't include the land and water degradation.

Henning Steinfeld, Chief of FAO’s Livestock Information and Policy Branch and senior author of Livestock's Long Shadow - Environmental Issues and Options report said, “Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems. Urgent action is required to remedy the situation.”

Global meet and dairy production is expected to double by 2050 and this will come with a steep environmental price. Livestock (cows and sheep) damage the air, land and water, three resources we can't live without. Currently, livestock accounts for more CO2 (9%), methane (37%), ammonia (64%) and nitrous oxide (65%) emissions than human contributions to green house gasses.

The Natural Resource Defence Council agrees with the FAO that livestock pollution affects public health, especially water. Siting California officials who have identified cows and agriculture as the major source of nitrate pollution in more than 100,000 square miles of polluted groundwater. Livestock damages our water resources; contributing to water pollution, euthropication (water enriched in dissolved nutrients) and the degeneration of coral reefs. The major polluting agents are animal wastes, antibiotics and hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and pesticides.

This lifestyle is not sustainable. We have to make changes, whether they are big or small, and we have to do it now. I understand things won't change over night, but we can't stop trying to do our part. We can set personal goals to cut back beef and dairy by 25%, promise to read the research and educate others.

Dr. Hubbard, you can make a difference for 22,000 plus students in your district by reducing the amount of dairy offered in the school lunch program, selecting products safe from chemicals and hormones, and educating our students about what is a truly healthy diet - More Organic Fruits and Vegetables.

Don't settle for the status quo, remember your hero Dr. Hubbard.

"Never give in – never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”
- Sir Winston Churchill

Resisting Milk, One Sip At a Time

2008-11-18T19:01:00.000-08:00

We are five days into the detox from dairy challenge, and my husband has already gone to the store to purchase milk, butter and ice cream behind my back! I am sure it was comical for the kids to watch me beg him not to eat dairy. I told him that it was important for all of us to try. He replied he would never give up ice cream or cheese, even if his health depended on it. This makes me sad because I know his father died prematurely due to a stroke (one of the many diseases linked to milk products) and I know he was influenced by his father's habits (cheese everyday).

The kids seem to be okay with the idea as long as I provide tasty alternatives. The youngest is drinking protein smoothies for breakfast instead of milk and cereal, and only time he gave into milk products was when another mom took a group of kids to Cold Stone. This is remarkable since this kid loves his milk, milk chocolate, cheese, butter and ice cream. Maybe, he is going to be the catalyst to help his father consume less dairy.

The two oldest don't drink milk, but the love cheese. They have started eating less, but haven't given it up completely. This is to be expected because I didn't start talking about dairy products and related problems until this year. They have a longer history of eating dairy products, so it will probably take them longer to understand what is at stake before they commit.

We are all resisting milk, one sip at a time.

We Were Never Meant to Drink Milk

2008-11-16T23:45:00.000-08:00

Milk was created as a natural nutrient for newborn mammals. It is a maternal lactating secretion available from the mother for a short period of time immediately after birth. No one other mammals, other than humans, drink milk into adulthood. There is a reason for this. It is not a part of a natural diet, otherwise nature would provide it.

In the case of cow's milk, it is meant for baby cows helping them grow from 60 lbs. to 600 lbs in a year. Milk is not just Milk! The milk is uniquely and specifically tailored to the requirements of species of mammal that produces it. Today's milk contains antibiotics, pesticides, chemicals and hormones. Also, ALL cow's milk contains blood.

Dr. Robert Kradjian says in The Milk Letter, "Food is not just food, and milk is not just milk. It is not only the proper amount of food but the proper qualitative composition that is critical for the very best in health and growth. Biochemists and physiologists -and rarely medical doctors - are gradually learning that foods contain the crucial elements that allow a particular species to develop its unique specializations."

MILK: Ten Things I Hate About You

2008-11-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

EN REASONS for ZERO DAIRY

1. HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE six times more heart attacks in milk drinkers

Briggs, R. "Myocardial Infarction in Patients Treated with Sippy and other high Milk Diets,", Circulation, 21:538, 1960.
Hartroft, W. "The Incidence of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients Treated with the Sippy Diet" American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 15:205, 1964.

2. DIABETES, AUTISM, SCHIZOPHRENIA milk antibodies in blood
of diabetic children

Dosch, Hans-Michael, "The Possible Link Between Insulin Dependent (Juvenile) Diabetes Mellitus and Dietary Cow Milk" Clin Biochem, Vol 26 pp 307-308 August 1993.
Sun, ZJ, Cade JR, et al "Beta-casomorphin induces Fos-like immunoreactivity in discrete brain regions relevant toschizophrenia and autism" Autism March 1999 vol 3(1) 67-83.
Sun, ZJ, Cade JR "A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism causes behavioral changes in rats" Autism 1999 vol3(1) 85-95.

3. CANCER breast, ovarian, prostate, lung cancer all dairy linked

Westin, Jerome B. "Carcinogens in Israeli Milk: A Study in Regulatory Failure" International Journal of Health Services, Vol 23 No 3 pp. 497-517 Baywood Publishing Co. Inc: 1993.

4. ANTIBIOTIC RESIDUES 30 to 80 different antibiotics cause chronic resistant infections

5. PESTICIDE RESIDUES linked to cancer, chronic fatigue, infertility

6. HORMONE RESIDUES menstrual problems, osteoporosis

Baldini, M, Coni, E. et.al. "Presence and Assessment of Xenobiotic Substances in Milk and Dairy Products" Ann. Ist. Super. Sanita Vol. 26, N. 2 (1990) pp 167-176.
Mepham, TB Public health implication of bovine somatotrophin use in dairying: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Vol 85 Dec1992 pp. 736-739.

7. OSTEOPOROSIS National Dairy Council study shows bone loss caused by milk drinking

Lovendale, M. " The Impact of Dairy Products on Human Health, the Environment, and the National Budget" Advanced Health Journal March 1993 No. 4, Advanced Health Center, Monarch Beach, CA 92629

8. LEUKEMIA VIRUSES 20% of all cows carry leukemia viruses that can infect humans

Ferrer, J. Milk of dairy cows frequently contains a leukemogenic virus Science 213:1014 1981.

9. ALLERGIES, ASTHMA, CHRONIC SINUSITIS

Gerard J.W. Mackenzie J.W.A. Goluboff N. et.al. Cows Milk Allergy: Prevalence and Manifestation in an Unselected Series of Newborns Acta Paediatr Scand. Supplement 234 1973.

10. DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS, CANDIDA OVERGROWTH caused by allergy and antibiotic residues

*Not all research included
**Research Provided by Robert Cohen and Not Milk

Fight Against Milk - Call to Action

2008-11-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

There are many ways to create awareness and one is by investigating different causes. In a past blog I asked people to Vote Yes on Prop 2. Prop 2 was passed in California on Nov. 4, 2008, by a large majority. I think people saw videos like the one below and responded to it.

Here are three painless ways to get involved in things that make a difference to you personally:

The Human Society wants to continue the momentum by writing President-elect Barak Obama in hopes of influencing the type of Secretary of Agriculture that is appointed. It is up to us to take it a step further.
Join Millions Against Monosanto to fight for better controls and labeling of milk and food supplies The Organic Consumer Association reaches millions of people, having them sign a petition directed at Monosanto/Eli Lilly, the maker of the growth hormone being used with cattle, rBGH. We need to demand that Eli Lilly (who just purchased Monosanto for $300 million) stop force-feeding untested and unlabeled genetically engineered foods on consumers and stop using billions of U.S. tax dollars to subsidize genetically engineered crops: cotton, soybeans, corn and canola.
Sign the Food Agenda 2015 Petition to create a global moratorium on genetically engineered foods and crops. Stop factory farming and phase-out industrial agriculture. Convert U.S. agriculture to at least 30% organic by 2015.

* Detox From Milk

2008-11-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

Today, begins my first real effort to detox my family from milk. It has been an easy journey for me, because I am reading the scientific research and I don't need to be convinced. On the other hand, I am finding a resistance to change in the family. Even my scientist sister-in-law thinks my youngest should be drinking more milk to grow faster. I am sending her a link to my blog and science journals, we'll see what she thinks after that.

So, we (yes, the family) are taking the seven day detox from dairy challenge proposed by Robert Cohen, author of Milk A-Z and the owner of the Not Milk website. No MILK for one week. That part wasn't the hard part to sell. It was the no ICE CREAM! What??? And no CHEESE! You have to be kidding! This is when you start to realize that milk is a staple part of our culture. Dairy products are a billion dollar industry interconnected to the beef industry that spends millions on advertising campaigns, such as the 3 A Day program being taught to school children. These same children are exposed to the Food Pyramid saying dairy is a part of the four food groups.

I understand why people don't want to change, but I feel it is a matter of great concern. I want everyone to have access to all the information. I want everyone to have access to non-genetically modified milk or dairy alternatives without having to make a special request. This is why I am taking the challenge, one step at a time. If what Cohen says is true, in one week I will have some results to report.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) could start the same way, one week diary free at home and school. Provide some information to students and parents about connection between allergies, attention deficit disorder (ADD), autism and milk. Challenge them to try drug free solutions first.

Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, we can be the first school to detox from dairy.

* Boycott rBGH Hormonal Milk

2008-11-12T23:20:00.000-08:00

…in favor of Certified Organic Milk.

This is the change I want to see in Public Schools, starting with Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD).

The dairy industry promotes the use of the drug MONSANTO, rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone)... that directly conflicts with their ad campaigns promoting health. The use of the hormone creates a number of health issues for the dairy cows and the people consuming them as documented by the Cancer Prevention Coalition , Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and Dairy Education Board.

So why, with overwhelming evidence, does the National Dairy Council dismiss the proof and continue to endorse rBGH as safe? How do they get away with it? Advertising a product as healthy that has been linked to cancer, particularly breast and prostate is wrong.

Here's the smoking gun: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of growth hormones in cows based on a study that was confirmed by sources working for Monsanto, the maker of the drug. From the outside, it appears there were conflicts of interests (an ex-employee from Monsanto hired by FDA to approve the product she created). Where's the integrity?

So here's the problem, I want to trust the FDA. I want to believe they have mine and the American people's best interest at heart. But I just can't ignore the evidence that prompted Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan to have banned rBGH, along with American milk and beef imports.

"Monoanto and the FDA have chosen to suppress and manipulate animal health test data in efforts to approve the commercial use of rBGH." - Congressman John Conyers

"The risks of cancer to consumers and particulary their children, especially those enrolled in the Public School Lunch Program, are undisputable." - Dr. Samuel Epstein

READ MORE: What's in Your Milk by Dr. Samuel Epstein. It is a detailed overview of the problems associated with genetically modified milk and the cover up to keep it quite.

* Sex Sells Milk

2008-11-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

The “Got Milk?” campaign uses sex to betray the health interests of all Americans. "The supposedly hip milk mustache is actually a creamy layer of mucus, live bacteria, and pus." (USA TODAY 3/8/2006)

Got Sex? is more like it. Elizabeth Hurley joined the ranks to seductively suggest milk is responsible for her fit body and health appearance. Yet, research from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and many other reliable sources say this isn't true. PCRM petitioned the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban ads promoting milk as a way to loose weight because the overwhelming facts contradict this claim.

Why do we tolerate this deception? In the latest round of "Body by Milk" ads featuring Hayden Panetierra suggest she is leaner because she drinks milk. And the only facts supporting this campaign is research financed by the dairy industry and General Mills, which makes Yoplait products.

But it's not Hurley, Panetierra or Jolie’s fault, they are only a few of the many actors and actresses who jumped at the opportunity to pose in one of the most successful ad campaigns of all times. Capturing a “Got Milk?” ad says you have arrived in Hollywood, and the money’s not bad ether.

The irony is that some of the milk poster girls don't drink milk at all. Jolie said while filming Tomb Raider, "I have no sugar now, and I switched to soy milk."

Cancer isn't sexy, and neither is milk without the false advertising.

I make another plea to Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD); let’s be the first to address this issue and take back our health from the National Dairy Council.

* My Milk Hero - Robert Cohen

2008-11-09T22:33:00.000-08:00

On my quest to find the connections between a milky diet and disease, I found my new hero – Robert Cohen the author of MILK A-Z. He’s also the executive director of the Dairy Education Board, a group of doctors, scientists and just plain folks who as one voice want all consumers to know that MILK from cows is NOT nature’s perfect food for humans. Dairy Education Board publishes the website www.notmilk.com.

Cohen's research is amazing. He provides the WHOLE truth about cow’s milk and dairy from the history of the dairy industry propaganda to scientific reasons why American’s should stop drinking milk. This goes double for cheese, ice cream and butter, each is a more concentrated form of milk.

He explains that milk products contain 59 cow hormones, scores of allergens, 49% calories from fat, loads of cholesterol, herbicides, pesticides, dioxins, up to 52 antibiotics, blood, pus, feces, viruses, bacteria… and more! These substances are key factors for obesity, heart disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes, osteoporosis, behavioral problems and many other health related issues that are preventable through a healthy diet that doesn’t include milk products.

Cohen provides a list from A – Z of health issues related to milk consumption. One item caught my eye – Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) - becuase my son's elementary teachers tried to label him with the disorder, suggesting we look into medications for a solution. I resisted the offer and focused on diet.Today, one out of five American children take Ritalin, that’s a staggering number!

Cohen presented scientific proof that milk can be linked to autism and ADD. Florida researcher, Dr. Robert Cade (the inventor of Gatorade) spoke before the United States Department of Agriculture in 2000. He's credited with identifing casein, a milk protein (which turns into the opiate, casomorphine, during digestion) as the possible cause of ADD and autism. Casein represents 80% of cow’s milk protein which is found in blood and urine of autistic and schizophrenic patients (AUTISM, 1999, 3). Other research from “Trends in Neuroscience” and “Aspects of Autism: Biological Research” confirm the links with ADD and autism. This validated my feelings and my son will be moving to a milk-free diet this school year.

Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard the time has come where we respond to these behavioral probelsm by making milk alternatives readily available. Too many kids in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) are taking drugs like Ritalin, when we could help by leading the way to a healthy lifestyle without pharmaceuticals, by providing safe lunches for our students.

* Trust Scientific Research, Don't Drink Milk

2008-11-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

First of all, it’s good to be back in the blogosphere. I took a little break and tried to implement some of the tricks I learned from my research in hopes of moving my family further away from animal products.

I didn’t eat any animal products for one week. It was not that hard. The hard part was convincing my husband that it was a good idea. I had him fooled with vegetarian versions of chili and lasagna, until he complained that his pants were too baggy, and demanded we eat some meat with our next meal. Personally, I felt great and I didn’t mind that my clothes were looser.

Then I did a little back slide. We went to some Halloween parties that had more food than we knew what to do with. Until then, I had managed to steer clear of the category 4 foods (all animal products, alcohol and drugs [of any kind]).

Once I wasn’t presented with the scientific facts on a daily basis, it was easy to forget about the negative affects of dairy and meat. I resumed eating cheese (I love cheese), chocolate and meat.

So I decided more research was in order to get back on track. This is when I found The Milk Letter written by Dr. Robert Kradjian in 1995. Dr. Kradjian is a breast cancer specialist and wrote the best-selling book Breast Cancer.

Before writing the letter, Dr. Kradjian reviewed research data from 1988 – 1993. He found 2,700 scientific studies, and of that 1,500 related specifically to milk. After reading 500 of the articles, he felt it was his duty as a physician to warn his patients about potential health concerns related to milk and dairy product consumption. None of the articles said milk was an excellent source of nutrition or a ‘perfect food’, free of side effects, as we have been led to believe by all of the dairy industry studies that influence our school lunch programs.

Now I challenge, Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Superintendent Dr. Jeffery Hubbard to read The Milk Letter and open the door to the possibility that we need to make a stand against or at least offer alternatives to milk. Our children’s health depends on it. If we all work together to educate teachers, students and parents we will be the road to a healthier lifestyle.

Cancer Part 2 - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

I thought it was appropriate to dedicate my next cancer blog to breast cancer - October is "Breast Cancer Awareness" month. I checked out the Susan B. Komen website and it lists a number of complementary therapies. A couple that Arnoux recommends for healthy living are flaxseed oil and organic produce. Why does Total Health Mastery suggests these two things and many more? Because your body needs two things for prefect health - all of the essential nutrients and removal of toxins. Arnoux lists more essential nutrients, but I am going to focus on flaxseed and organic produce.

So if you are eating Category 4 foods - the ones that diminish health - (animal products, processed foods, white sugar, white flour and cooked fats) then you are building up an acid environment full of toxins. You need to move up the food categories towards more essential nutrients - minerals and vitamins from fresh fruits and green vegetables, along with omega-3 and omega-6 fats from (you guessed it) FLAXSEED oil. Why? No disease can live in an alkaline environment according to the The pH Miracle by Dr. Robert O. Young.

Let's talk about flaxseed oil first and how it affects women's health. Flaxseed and its derivative flaxseed oil/linseed oil is a rich source essential fatty acids. The lignan constituents of flaxseed/flaxseed oil possesses in vitro anti-oxidant and possible estrogen receptor antagonist properties, prompting theories of efficacy for the treatment of breast cancer. Good news, it's easy to use and have a ton of other great health benefits - laxative, ADHD, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prostate cancer... I throw a tablespoon in the kids oatmeal with fresh blueberries every morning and add a tablespoon to salads and dressings. And I should it's not that expensive and you can begin to feel the difference relatively quick.

Next, let's tackle organic produce. These are Category 2 foods if they are uncooked and Category 3 if cooked, which is much better then Category 4. The more people demand organic and turn away from toxic alternatives, the more the prices will come down. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

"Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.

Remind me why we have to ask for foods without pesticides, bioengineering, toxic sewage or radiation. Both the Cancer Prevention Coalition and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine support eating more fruits and vegetables to reduce our risks of breast cancer. They also clearly link the dairy products and animal products to higher risks of breast cancer. Ideally, the world has a fresh "untainted" food supply and cancer rates are down.

Kids love fruit and vegetables and they will eat them if they are chopped and ready to grab. Or better yet, prepare fresh juice.

Dr. Hubbard and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District - How can you ignore this cry for a better education through better nutrition? You have the power to be the first public school district to demand better -Go Organic, Provide Dairy Alternatives and Fresh Fruit and Vegetables! Be the example we need.

Makeover Your Diet

2008-10-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

For the last two months I have been concentrating on eating better - more raw fruits and vegetables in my small four - six meals a day. I have had good results and it is easy to get the family on board. Everyone loves the fresh fruit and juice in the morning and an afternoon salad. They even love the side dishes for dinner. But here's the problem, if you have been reading what I have been posting, our last meal of the day is looking like the last meal before poor health - DINNER... We eat animal products 5 out of 7 nights. I carefully select the "right" kinds of meat - you know organic, free-range, hormone-free (really?) and whatever else we are suppose to avoid. All of us eat out at least one day a week, and my son eats a school lunch 5 times a week. We appear to be eating healthy, yet if you believe what the doctors are saying this is STEP 1... We need to get to Step 2 eliminating animal products.

So let's examine step 1 with a few things I have learned from Total Health Mastery.

Total Health Mastery: Frames the diet into four categories of food.

Rejuvenating Food (foods that rejuvenate your body)
Maintaining Food (foods that maintain your health)
Diminishing Food (foods that diminish your health)
Destructive Food (foods that destroy your body quickly)

The idea is to improve your diet slowly 50% raw 50% cooked, the 75% and 100% living foods. I like this approach... it is simple and easy to do based on the class and also based on the website suggestions. Ultimately, our family needs to move to Category 1 and 2 foods primarily. Most Americans eat only Cat 4 foods which include animal products - meat, eggs and dairy, highly processed foods - bread, pasta, candy and crackers, drugs and alcohol.

Our food supply is looking bleak. And this is where change happens. Read Arnoux "Free Tools" and Nutrition MD's Makeover your diet... small steps help the environment and your health.

Cancer Part 1 - How it Relates to Dairy

2008-10-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Cancer has become the common disease that effects every family. The Stand Up 2 Cancer campaign brought awareness to the commonality of cancer, yet it did not address the causes. So, in Cancer Part 1, I am going to explore the relationship between dairy and cancer. This will serve as one of the reasons the Newport-Mesa Unified School District should reconsider the way Nutrition Services approach school lunches. Our children's lives are at stake!

According to the World Health Organization, up to 40 percent of all cancers are preventable, and one-third of all cancer deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to nutritional factors, according the American Cancer Society (ACS). If we take this a step further, we find that those who avoided meat, fish, and poultry had dramatically lower rates of prostate, ovarian, and colon cancer compared to meat-eaters.

If you don't believe me, believe the credible sources with intelligent people working toward a better world, such as Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Cancer Prevention Coalition, British Journal of Cancer, Journal of National Cancer Institute and Cancer Research. All of these academic journals and groups have one thing in common - they see a direct link between dairy and animal products and cancer.

If the National Dairy Council would step up and ban genetically modifying our beef and milk supplies we might have a chance to reverse this problem. Canada and the EU have banned the use of hormones, such as the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I).

Stay tuned for Cancer Part 2 - Breast and Prostate.

Yes on Prop 2 - The Power of Advertising

2008-10-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

I did more research on California Prop 2. Although Prop 2 doesn't do everything I wish it would, such as ban the use of hormones or antibiotics, etc. But, it is a positive start.

There are so many disturbing videos and images showing the cruel treatment of our food supply. It made me cry. I am finding it harder to rationalize eating beef, chicken or pork, especially under these circumstances. I am already doing my part by reducing my meat, eggs and dairy intake.

The NO on Prop 2 campaign uses fear tactics to persuade their audiences and misleading names such as Safe California Food... THIS IS WRONG!

Prop 2 may not be perfect, but it does make a difference. Don't you be fooled either, VOTE YES on PROP 2... read the details and make an educated decision. The European Union and many other states have already banned these practices. We have to demand safe food supplies or we will suffer the same fate as the animals - death because of poor health.

Protein Myths

2008-10-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

The other day I was hiking with a friend, and she asked me what I was doing different. I told her about the class I am taking and the small adjustments I have been making to my diet. Then she asked an important question, "Where do you get your protein if you are not eating meat or dairy as often?"

The first session of the Total Health Mastery class spelled out some misconceptions about protein sources. Arnoux pointed to the book, Diet for a New America (pg. 177) by John Robbins who I have mentioned before in other blogs. I did not know that I could get all the protein I need from vegetables and fruit. Spinach is 49% protein! Watermelon is 8%! Apples even possess 2%. Beef is only 27%.

MYTH 1 - animal products and dairy are the best source of protein
MYTH 2 - a vegetarian diet lacks enough protein

There's so much more than this, but you get the idea. Let's educate people on nutrition. Try making simple changes for a month and see you notice a difference.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District you must serve your public -Go Organic, Provide Milk Alternatives and Fresh Fruits and Vegetables! It's up to you Dr. Hubbard!

Join the Revolution Dr. Hubbard

2008-10-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Dr. Hubbard,

California Prop 2 is just a part of the revolution happening today with our food supply. VOTE YES ON PROP 2.

The idea doesn't cover all of the issues, but does demonstrate the growing interest in creating humane safe food sources. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) should be the leader in safe food options in our schools - Go Organic, Provide Milk Alternatives, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetables!

Personally, I am interested in this aspect of the campaign:

Improves our health and food safety. We all witnessed the cruel treatment of sick and crippled cows exposed by a Southern California slaughter plant investigation this year, prompting authorities to pull meat off school menus and initiate a nationwide recall. Factory farms put our health at risk—cramming tens of thousands of animals into tiny cages, fostering the spread of diseases that may affect people. YES! on Prop 2 is better for animals—and for us.

www.yesonprop2.com

Let's become the first school district to take the health of our children to the next level. We can be ahead of the trend, making a stand against polluted milk products. Offer something different than milk!

* Dear Newport-Mesa Unified School District

2008-10-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard,

I am starting with you because I believe we share a common goal - create a great learning experience in our district. I read your profile and I found an interesting quote by Winston Churchill "Never give in – never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." This inspires me.

I am one of your families. I have lived in the NMUSD school district for 10 years. I have two juniors at Corona del Mar High School and one seventh grader at Corona del Mar Middle School - all on the same campus. My son buys his lunch every day, and my twin daughters come home for lunch or eat out.

These were my son's choices for lunch September 5, 2008:

2 Mini Cheese Burgers, Superstar Fruit Yogurt, Lunch Pac,
PB Jamwich, Lettuce & Pickles, Catsup, Diced Pears,
Nonfat Chocolate Milk or 1% Nonfat Milk
or
Pizza Hut Mini, Domino's by the Slice, or A Breaded Chicken Burger*

* This is what is available at school, but not listed on the website

This meal is heavy on dairy and animal products, and lacks fresh fruit and vegetables. Lettuce is the only fresh item and that's only if he chose a burger of some sort. Why? You claim to be a part of a Newport for a Healthy California and compliant to the USDA guidelines.

I don't blame you. But I do blame USDA's Visit Team Nutrition for misleading you. I can read from your Nutrition Services website that the NMUSD does care about the obesity epidemic and disease prevention through diet and exercise. We can fix this.

I propose you look at other evidence, such as the a PCRM’s 2008 School Lunch Report Card, specifically the Santa Ana school district and take it one step further - Go Organic and Provide Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Dairy Alternatives!

We can lead the way with innovative ideas and healthier children. I suggest you start with one book I learned about at my Total Health Mastery class - Diet for a New America by John Robbins. I also suggest you look at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine website. This is a great start.

I plan on visiting the Hollandia Dairy (the one we use at CDMHS) and getting a first hand look at the practices they implore. Will they be practices you, our students, teachers, parents and peers would approve?

Subscribe to my blog www.notsomilkymom.blogspot.com and see my case unfold. I promise this is all for the right reasons - the health of our children and future.

I leave you with my favorite quote as I ask you to have the courage to lead NMUSD into a new era of education, that includes a healthy body.

- "If adapt to change, you survive. If you resist change, you die. If you cause change, you lead."

With Best Regards,
Not So Milky Mom

* The Exception to the Rule

2008-10-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

Why do we have to ask for organic milk? Why isn't all milk organic? At what point did it become okay to contaminate the milk with toxins? When did they switch the milk? Did they ask us if we wanted the toxins? And, why don't they list the chemicals or explain on the label that the milk is genetically modified? Why aren't health risks listed on the carton, like alcohol and cigarettes?

U.S. Department of Agriculture "Team Nutrition Call to Action: Healthy School Nutrition Environments" report says 50 percent of total daily caloric intake is consumed at school. Public schools, including Newport-Mesa Unified School District schools, use the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for America to create school lunch programs. These guidelines promote consuming substantial amounts of dairy, while the information is contradictory to scientific evidence provided by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and many other sources.

Milk's selling points are calcium and vitamin D! "Milk and dairy products are not necessary in the diet and can, in fact, be harmful to health. It is best to consume a healthful diet of grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and fortified foods including cereals and juices. These nutrient-dense foods can help you meet your calcium, potassium, riboflavin, and vitamin D requirements with ease—and without health risks" - PCRM.

At the last Total Health Mastery class, Arnoux shared the best advice, "Get your vitamin D from the source, the SUN!" Five to fifteen minutes sun exposure a day is all you need. This is supported by the PCRM report outlining the potential health concerns related to dairy products.

Dairy health risks include cancer (ovarian, prostate, and breast), type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and the development of obesity. The only way to reduce these risks is to increase exercise and the intake of fruits and vegetables - calcium rich plant foods such as kale, broccoli, other leafy green vegetables and beans.

It should be the rule, not the exception that we give our kids the best foods available. More Living Foods Without Toxins!

* Don't Believe the Happy Cow Ads

2008-09-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

Currently, Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) gets it's milk supply from a local California dairy. These are the same "Happy Cows" from the California Milk Advisory Board's deceptive advertising campaign. The slogan "So much grass, so little time" presents California dairies as lush, grassy pastures. Don't believe it!

California cows live in dirt and mud feedlots where they are repeatedly impregnated and shot full of hormones in order to produce unnaturally high amounts of milk, according to John Robbins the only son of the founder of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire. Robbins has dedicated his life to "working for a more compassionate and environmentally responsible world," and that includes exposing the inhumane treatment of California dairy cows. Robbins' website is full of disturbing facts about dairy.

PETA has also taken notice of the false advertising and has launched a "You Decide" Unhappy Cows campaign to support their lawsuit against the California Milk Advisory Board. In the video, you can witness first hand the life of misery and difficulty California cows experience in their confined and crowded spaces.

Watch and You Decide

Visit these sites for more information www.peta.org, www.unhappycows.com and www.foodrevolution.org.

* Shame on the National Dairy Council

2008-09-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Attn: Gregory D. Miller, PhD, FACN, executive vice president of science and research for the NDC

Dear Dr. Miller,

After returning home from visiting my sick grandfather, I became interested in my family medical history. The illnesses ranged from many types of cancer to diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. A pattern of unhealthy eating habits emerged as one common denominator, after all I am from the South.

I began my quest for better eating habits by removing white rice, refined sugar, potatoes, wheat products and processed foods. Until now, I had always considered myself healthy; exercising 3 -5 times a week and eating a balanced diet. I started reading more books, researching diseases on the Internet and talking to others about their experiences.

Last year, my friend started taking the Total Health Mastery class created by Arnoux Goran. Her revelations and results were unbelievable. I followed her lead and enrolled in the class. I wanted to learn more about how to prevent those family illnesses from attacking my family and possibly lose a little weight.

It was in Arnoux’s class, I learned about the National Dairy Council’s unchallenged role in American health and nutrition education, dating back to 1915. Further research highlighted the misleading advertising campaigns and conflicts of interest.

I am an advertising student at Chapman University, and I particularly take offense to the false claims represented in your advertising. The "Got Milk?" campaign was brilliant. It worked. Celebrities clamored to be featured in the ads; it was a sign of success. The ad suggested that milk builds strong bones, although researchers, such as the Cancer Prevention Coalition and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine claim the contrary.

Shame on the National Dairy Council, you spend tens of millions of dollars to make the American public believe that osteoporosis can be prevented by drinking more milk and eating more dairy products. The only research that suggests dairy product consumption is good has been paid for by the National Dairy Council.

In John Robbins’ A Diet for a New America, he points out that world health statistics show osteoporosis is most common in countries where dairy products are consumed in the largest quantities – the United States, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. This isn’t new information, yet it is missing from your materials. I was appalled when I learned this.

On September 5, 2008, the NDC issued a press release announcing its $250 million investment into the "3-A-Day Dairy", a partnership with the National Football League’s "NFL Play 60" campaign. The partnership aims at poor nutrition and exercise. Which sounds admirable, but the NDC is telling the same old story without all of the facts.

Over the next three months, I am going to use this blog to make my case to the local school board. I think the board should reevaluate the NDC education materials and either switch to an organic, hormone-free milk supply or replace milk completely with almond milk.

I am not asking you to stop selling milk or beef. I asking for safe dairy products and all the facts needed to make educated choices.I think you are in a position of responsibility and can make a real difference. I appeal to your conscience - Update the health and nutrition education materials and be a part of a new nutrition paradigm that will make America healthier.

With Best Regards,

Not So Milky Mom