Is Milk Healthy for Kids? (Plus 8 Milk Myths, Debunked)
June 21, 2017
Is milk healthy for kids? So many milk myths! I debunk the most common misconceptions about milk and kids, giving you the inside scoop.
Parents ask me all the time: Is milk healthy for my kid? The question stems from confusion about all the plant-based options as well as some common misconceptions about milk.
No doubt, new “milks” on the market make things more confusing. I took a close look at many of the options available in the marketplace and compared them.
As a pediatric nutritionist, I want to address these questions about milk and kids.
8 Common Misconceptions about Milk and Kids
I understand that if you’re not a milk fan or have made another choice, this post may not change your mind, but I do hope it helps you become an informed consumer…whether you prefer to drink cow’s milk or not.
So let’s dive in to these eight common milk myths!
1. Kids Cannot Process Cow’s Milk
Most kids are equipped with lactase enzyme, which helps digest the naturally occurring sugar in milk called lactose.
True, some people have difficulty digesting lactose. Some of my own family members experience this challenge, which is why I stock lactose-free milk in my refrigerator.
Lactose-free milk has been treated with the lactase enzyme, reducing lactose, or “predigesting” it, which eliminates symptoms of lactose intolerance. Or, lactose has been filtered out, as in the case of Fairlife Milk.
All the nutrients in lactose-free milk are the same, including the vitamins, minerals, protein and fat, as what you’d find in regular cow’s milk.
Other kids may have an allergy to the protein component of cow’s milk called casein. Those with a milk allergy cannot consume any dairy products.
Infants under 10 months of age are another group who have a limited ability to digest cow’s milk. Between 8 and 10 months, babies may begin to eat cultured, processed and baked products containing milk such as yogurt, cheese and pancakes, but should not consume liquid milk until they are one year old.
2. Milk Contains Hormones, Interrupting Kids’ Growth
Hormones are naturally present in many foods of plant and animal origin, including milk. Bovine growth hormone (bGH, also called bST) is a peptide hormone present in the cow, helping it produce milk. This hormone is also in cow’s milk in tiny amounts.
Bovine growth hormone is made up of amino acids and when ingested, is processed in the intestinal tract like any other protein source. Experts believe bGH doesn’t survive the acidic environment of the gastrointestinal tract, or the digestive process, and thus has no hormonal activity in humans.
3. Raw Milk is Healthier for Kids
According to the CDC, the consumption of raw milk increases the risk for infection and serious illness. In general, children do not have a fully developed immune system until age 5 or 6, making them particularly susceptible. As such, raw milk is not recommended for children.
All milk intended for direct consumption should be pasteurized. Pasteurization kills potentially harmful bacteria without affecting the taste or nutritional value of milk.
4. Milk is Full of Antibiotics
Milk at the grocery store is antibiotic-free. Like people and other animals, cow’s get sick and need to be treated with antibiotics.
However, strict government standards and protocols for milk production prohibit milk tainted with antibiotics to go to market.
Milk is tested when it is picked up from a dairy farm and again when it arrives at the milk plant. At any point, if milk tests positive for antibiotics, it is discarded.
5. Milk Has a Lot of Sugar
Many people confuse the natural sugar in milk for table sugar. White milk contains a naturally-occurring carbohydrate (a type of sugar) called lactose. It doesn’t have any added sugar.
Chocolate and other flavored milk contains added sugar (sucrose). In the case of chocolate milk, both the natural sugar, lactose, and the added sugar from the chocolate or flavoring are present.
A cup of white milk contains 12 grams of carbohydrate (lactose) while chocolate milk may have an additional 8 to 12 grams of added sugar per cup (sucrose). If you’re worried about sugar, offer your child plain (white) milk.
6. Chocolate Milk is Bad for Kids
Chocolate milk provides the same thirteen nutrients found in white milk. The only difference is the addition of chocolate increases the carbohydrate content (in the form of added sugar) and hence, the calorie content.
I don’t think chocolate milk is bad. I believe it can be a healthy addition to a child’s diet, but with all things, striking a nutritious balance of food is key.
Too much added sugar is no good for any child. I advise families to cut back on sweets, candy and soda (low nutrient foods) before eliminating chocolate milk.
Additionally, chocolate milk has been shown to be an effective recovery food for athletes who participate in intense exercise. Chocolate milk provides a blend of carbohydrate and protein that helps muscles repair and recover.
7. You Can Get Calcium and Vitamin D from Other Foods
That’s true. You don’t need milk, but when you look at the big picture –the calcium and vitamin D provided by one cup of milk– you’re hard-pressed to find another food that mirrors this blend of nutrients in such a convenient, tasty package.
Sure, there are many ways to get calcium on board in your child’s diet (though, less so for vitamin D). Many of the alternative milks have calcium fortification, and some have extra vitamin D added, but they aren’t always packed with protein or other nutrients.
Milk serves up calcium and vitamin D, as well as protein and other nutrients together in a convenient, tasty, nutritious drink. And…no shaking required!
[Helpful Article: How to Choose the Best Kids Yogurt]
8. Milk Causes Early Puberty in Kids
As discussed in Fearless Feeding, girls in particular are entering puberty at a younger age. A girl’s puberty and their overall growth can vary a lot. You need to know what to expect so you stay calm and focused on overall health goals..
Today, the average age of puberty onset is twelve to 12 ½ years, but it can begin anywhere between 8 and 12 years. There is no known reason for the earlier timing, but experts believe it’s tied to genetics, improved nutrition, the prevalence of excess body fat, and differences in ethnicity.
The hormone in cow’s milk, called bovine growth hormone (BGH), or bovine somatotropin (bST), helps the cow produce milk.
Some dairy farmers use synthetic bST (rBST) to produce more milk from their cows. Experts believe digestion kills the biological activity of these hormones, making them unlikely to influence the onset of puberty in children.
Milk Can Be a Healthy Addition to Your Child’s Diet!
From chocolate milk to lactose-free versions, milk is a daily part of my own family’s eating experience. As a professional, I also believe it is one of the easiest and most practical ways children can receive important nutrients during childhood.
Have you heard other milk myths?
Resources:
Jill Castle, MS, RD
I like empowering parents to help their children and teens thrive at every size with realistic advice centered on healthful habits around food, feeding, nutrition and health behaviors. As a pediatric dietitian and author, my goal is to share strategies and realistic advice to help you raise a healthy and happy child through my articles and podcast.