Eggs and Milk: Good for you, or bad for you?

[njmac]

First, if the subject of what we eat is any interest to you, read The Omnivore's dilemma. Very interesting read.

Unless you are lactose intolerant, I doubt organic milk is doing you much harm. I hate health claims on food . Its probably not doing as much good to our bodies as the experts claim, its probably not doing as much harm as the anti-milk people claim. Don't base your diet around milk. Drink it if you like it (moderation, of course ) , avoid it if it makes you feel sick.

Instead of worrying about milk, look in your pantry... do you recognize the ingredients on the label? In an extreme case of disgustingness: Kraft Guacamole: Ingredients: WATER, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COCONUT AND SOYBEAN OIL, CORN SYRUP, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE (FROM MILK), FOOD STARCH MODIFIED, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF POTATOES, SALT, AVOCADO, DEFATTED SOY FLOUR, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, TOMATOES, SODIUM CASEINATE, VINEGAR, LACTIC ACID, ONIONS, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, GELATIN, XANTHAN GUM, CAROB BEAN GUM, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, SPICE, WITH SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE AS PRESERVATIVES, GARLIC, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CITRIC ACID, YELLOW 6, YELLOW 5, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, BLUE 1, ARTIFICIAL COLOR.

No other animal has purposely made guacamole from less than 2% avocado

Buy organic milk, don't drink it for your health, drink it because you like it. (Exactly what BlueVelvet said )

 

[AlexH]

Bad for me. I was allergic to eggs as a kid (not anymore), so I never grew accustomed to the taste of eggs. They sort of gross me out.

Milk produces too much mucus for me (yeah, I know kinda gross), so I hate drinking a straight cup of milk.

 

[takao]

No other animal has purposely made guacamole from less than 2% avocado

the 2% refer to potatoes ... though still frightening list. .actually i just looked at the cheap frozen "warm it up it in a pan" dish ("italian vegetable-chicken pan") with all different kinds of stuff in it i still have in the freezer and it has less ingredients than this Kraft guacamole

Buy organic milk, don't drink it for your health, drink it because you like it.

word

(i drink perhaps 2-3 liters a month with my müsli in the morning )

 

[FleurDuMal]

Oh you lucky people that can afford to buy organic.

After reading this thread I have a curious desire to go and read the ingredients of the cheese slices in my fridge.

Anyway, I'm very suspicious of this obsession with 'organic'. I think most of its pushed by the farmers and supermarkets that find the organic label as an excuse to put a huge markup on the products and watch the anxious (mostly middle-class) parents shell out top notes for it. Also, what passes for organic can vary greatly.

The organic argument has got too mixed up in the healthy eating argument. Feeding little Timmy crisps for breakfast, chips for lunch and pizza for dinner, all washed down with gallons of sugar filled fizzy pop is what makes him fat and unhealthy. Putting normal milk as opposed to organic milk on his muesli doesn't mean he's gonna get in trouble at school and grow up obese.

 

[psycoswimmer]

I dislike cheese and milk. The only dairy product I really like is egg whites. Anyway, my dentist told me that milk is bad for your teeth, as it is like glue and will stick.

 

[paddy]

As long as they are both taken in moderation of course they can form part of a healthy diet. Anything taken in excessive amounts is bad for you.

 

[njmac]

Anyway, I'm very suspicious of this obsession with 'organic'. I think most of its pushed by the farmers and supermarkets that find the organic label as an excuse to put a huge markup on the products and watch the anxious (mostly middle-class) parents shell out top notes for it. Also, what passes for organic can vary greatly.

The organic argument has got too mixed up in the healthy eating argument. Feeding little Timmy crisps for breakfast, chips for lunch and pizza for dinner, all washed down with gallons of sugar filled fizzy pop is what makes him fat and unhealthy. Putting normal milk as opposed to organic milk on his muesli doesn't mean he's gonna get in trouble at school and grow up obese.

Absolutely. The only reason I mention organic milk is that in this particular product is fed antibiotics and growth hormones and if you can find a non-organic milk that says on the label: no hormones, no antibiotics - then that is fine.

There are farmers who practice farming in a sustaining way and do not label their food "organic" because its marking ploy by large companies who want to cash in. Organic does not mean much... just that the food was made without pesticides. It doesn't mean its healthy or grown in a way that is sustainable.

I think if you go to Walmart, and you buy organic food and paying the 10% premium that they put on organics, then I think your paying too much. If you visit a real artisinal farmer - who is growing his food using farming practices that truly make a unique product (like a dairy farmer turning his raw milk from his healthy, grass-fed cows into an aritisinal cheese or yogurt, you are getting something that is beyond "certified organic") that farmer should be compensated.

We expect all of our food to be cheap - no matter the quality. When a small farmer carves out a niche like organic (no pesticides) and then Walmart says they will start carrying organic (from large factory farms to supply them) and they undercut the little guy.

Link:

As it is, artisanal producers like Joel compete on quality, which, oddly enough, is still a somewhat novel idea when it comes to food. “When someone drives up to the farm in a BMW and asks me why our eggs cost more, well, first I try not to get mad,” said Joel. “Frankly, any city person who doesn’t think I deserve a white-collar salary as a farmer doesn’t deserve my special food. Let them eat E. coli. But I don’t say that. Instead I take him outside and point at his car. ‘Sir, you clearly understand quality and are willing to pay for it. Well, food is no different: You get what you pay for.’

“Why is it that we exempt food, of all things, from that rule? Industrial agriculture, because it depends on standardization, has bombarded us with the message that all pork is pork, all chicken is chicken, eggs eggs, even though we all know that can’t really be true. But it’s downright un-American to suggest that one egg might be nutritionally superior to another.” Joel recited the slogan of his local supermarket chain: “‘We pile it high and sell it cheap.’ What other business would ever sell its products that way?”

 

[iGav]

which is this unthinking assumption that it's good for you, promoted by years of lobbying and advertising by dairy producers who have very deep pockets and wish to protect their markets.

That's a bit like the propaganda coming from the tea lot at the moment isn't it.

But it's no different to any other 'organisation', even the organic industry for example, which continues to preach the virtues of organic food unchecked, even when there's scientific research to suggest that organic food is no more beneficial than other grown food, regardless of it's genesis.

Anything taken in excessive amounts is bad for you.

Indeed, look at water.

Personally I distrust most types of scientific studies into this kind of thing, everything has gone in cycles, one minutes eggs are good for you, then you're told that they'll kill you and then a generation later, they'll save you again.

Butter, chocolate, coffee, fish, meats, milk, nuts, potatos, salt, milk and heaven knows what else have all gone through this 'fad' so to speak, only for scientific opinion to backtrack later.

 

[njmac]

T
But it's no different to any other 'organisation', even the organic industry for example, which continues to preach the virtues of organic food unchecked, even when there's scientific research to suggest that organic food is no more beneficial than other grown food, regardless of it's genesis.

Organic foods may not be more beneficial, but all things being equal - if I offered you a strawberry grown in my garden (without pesticides and enriched the soil with natural fertilizer), picked when it was plump and juicy would you really think that you could just go to the supermarket, pick up a strawberry from Chile and wash the pesticides off and say that my organic stawberry was equal to the other?

Now if your talking about going to walmart, and the pesticide/herbicide grown Strawberries are $1.99 and the Organic Strawberries are $2.20 - I say save .20 cents because they are grown in the EXACT same manner, except one factory doesn't use pesticides.

When you are a true "beyond organic" farmer, you grow crops that complement each other, the nutrients in the soil come from what is planted in the soil, what it is fertilized with, what kind of worms and beneficial insects live in that soil. It DOES make the nutrient content more beneficial... but the studies that try to disprove of the nutritional differences are comparing factory organic to conventional factory.

You are right about one thing: the factory organic is not rotating crops, they are a monoculture. The soil is no more enriched than a conventional crop. The only difference is pesticides.

 

[FleurDuMal]

We'll never know exactly what's good for us. Nor will we ever know exactly how our food is made unless we grow it ourselves (even then there's question of what is in the soil).

But as we're talking about nutrition, all I want to say is this: Gillian McKeith is a BITCH and a BULLY! She also has a face like a melted Barbie doll.

 

[Blue Velvet]

But it's no different to any other 'organisation', even the organic industry for example, which continues to preach the virtues of organic food unchecked, even when there's scientific research to suggest that organic food is no more beneficial than other grown food, regardless of it's genesis.

I don't buy some organic food because of alleged inherent beneficial properties. I buy it because: it has far less synthetic pesticide residues, produced with better animal welfare, and in some foods it actually tastes better. Also, I've noticed that some organic foods tend to go off far less quickly, particularly bananas, not matter what supermarket I get them from. Maybe something to do with not using ripening gas, I guess.

But I don't buy organic everything; just some things.

 

[njmac]

We'll never know exactly what's good for us. Nor will we ever know exactly how our food is made unless we grow it ourselves (even then there's question of what is in the soil).

But as we're talking about nutrition, all I want to say is this: Gillian McKeith is a BITCH and a BULLY! She also has a face like a melted Barbie doll.

Not only won't we ever know exactly what's good for us... if the label says its good for me, I'm instantly skeptical.

 

[mariahlullaby]

For what it's worth, my mom always said that skim milk was possibly the best possible thing you could drink, because it's not fattening but has all the vitamins + minerals you need.

 

[njmac]

I forgot to mention that I love eggs...

definitely a comfort food for me. Whenever I was sick with a sore throat (as a little kid) my mom would make me soft boiled eggs and serve them to me in an egg cup with little strips of bread and butter to dip in the yolk. My mom is English and she called them "eggs and soldiers" which somehow cheered me up.

And Abstract, you might want to read through this milk thread that, ehem, didn't get hijacked.

 

[spicyapple]

I outgrew the taste for milk once I learned to walk and talk.

I agree with all those who think milk is unnecessary once you reach adulthood. Aside from growth-hormones in milk, you can get all the calcium you need from green leafy vegetables, broccoli and nuts. Vitamin D you can get from sunshine and fish. "Fortified with Vitamin D" labels in milk products suggests it isn't naturally healthy to begin with.

I love eggs, but with everything else, in moderation. The yolk is the tastiest part so I can't see myself limiting egg consumption to the albumin.

 

[lamina]

I forgot to mention that I love eggs...

definitely a comfort food for me. Whenever I was sick with a sore throat (as a little kid) my mom would make me soft boiled eggs and serve them to me in an egg cup with little strips of bread and butter to dip in the yolk. My mom is English and she called them "eggs and soldiers" which somehow cheered me up.

Well, I know what I'm having for lunch.

Tally ho!

 

[zap2]

If it taste good..its good for me


Honestly I'm active enought to eat most things, and stay health. And if I die because I eat to much of something, well I lived how I wanted to. I'm not saying only eat candy, but I'm not going to eat things that "might" be good for you, and stay away from the things I like

Taste>Health

 

[jsw]

A diet high in calcium has been implicated as a potential risk factor for prostate cancer.

That's why I make sure to masturbate every time I drink milk.

I drink a lot of milk for that reason.

Well, actually, I don't so much drink the milk as attempt to build up a prostate cancer immunity in case I do drink milk sometime.

 

[phungy]

I've never thought of milk being 'bad', isn't cheese 'bad' milk? Anyways, I drink Silk Vanilla Soy Milk (yum!) and I rarely eat eggs. I've bought organic eggs once but I couldn't tell the difference

 

[Counterfit]

That's why I make sure to masturbate every time I drink milk.

Guess I'm in the clear then.

 

[Xyl]

Whoever said that 90% of Asians are lactose-intolerant must've made that up?

And regarding the antibiotics and whatever other chemicals are injected into cows...that is the least of your worries. The milk industries in the developed parts of the world are highly regulated, much more regulated than the pesticides that go into your vegetables and fruits and the wax and other lovely coatings that go on them as well to make them look more appetizing.

And as an example, if you follow the news in developing countries (such as China), the things they do to produce (as in fruits/vegetables) are so extreme there, you would have already starved to death if you lived there - and even with that, people in China aren't dying in massive droves from eating that stuff. So guess what...whatever the "negative" effects that everyone claims there to be, maybe it'll shed an unnoticeable small amount of your life. Sometimes you need to start asking is it worth all that hassle (eg. "Measuring your every bite") to live 2 minutes longer? Probably not.


Edit: Personal opinion: I find that organic eggs are soooooooo much better....and the yolks are more of an orange instead of a pale yellow.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Whoever said that 90% of Asians are lactose-intolerant must've made that up?

Why? Because you can't believe it?

For example, 90 percent of Asians, 70 percent of blacks and Native Americans, and 50 percent of Hispanics are lactose-intolerant, compared to only about 15 percent of people of Northern European descent.

That's the Harvard School of Public Health. Not making things up... care to refute that? While we're about it, Wikipedia puts it even higher for Chinese, Thais, South-East Asians and Native Americans at 100%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance

Lactose and Lactase, Norman Kretchmer, Scientific American, October, 1972

 

[Xyl]

Why? Because you can't believe it?

Fair enough. But maybe someone needs to define lactose-intolerant. Maybe it just means "This person can consume 1% less than the average" (Ok, I just made that up but you get my point).

The reason I didn't believe you, is because I am asian (Chinese too), and I have a huge family which probably is about 100 people (3 generations from both sides). And then, because of that, I also know many asians outside my family. And I agree - the number of asians that are lactose-intolerant is much higher - but nowhere near 90%. However, I can only think of less than 3 people from my family that actually has to watch the amount of dairy products they need to consume.

So, maybe "lactose-intolerant" needs to be defined, and if it's really "this person can consume 1% less than the average", then it's just about studies making astounding stats, because this person that is so-called "lactose-intolerant" makes no lifestyle changes because of it.


Edit: I didn't see the part about 100% for the Chinese...which is even funnier. I drink 1-2 glasses of milk a day now, and when I was in my childhood, I drank 3-4 glasses a day. How am I lactose-intolerant? Like I said, maybe I am, but if I didn't have to have any lifestyle changes because of it...the stat is pretty much just that, a stat.

 

[bousozoku]

I take a typically boring laymans view of it all. Everything is good in moderation.

Anyway, I'm just about to have some scrambled eggs now - complete with butter, salt and milk, so screw you lot

Yes, we can eat almost any typical food, as long as we don't overeat.

I don't see the eggs or milk as bad because the body can use what's inside but we need to exercise, too. 100 years ago, people in the west ate heavy breakfasts but they worked much harder. A lot of people still eat somewhat heavy food, but the typical office worker doesn't do nearly as much physical activity to take care of the bad.

Anyway, scrambled eggs done right are so good but I can only eat them every few months. If it weren't for chocolate milk and cream-based soups, I probably wouldn't get much milk in my diet because I eat mostly Asian foods.

Lactose-intolerant Asians? I've never met an adult Asian who was lactose-intolerant but babies frequently seem to be.

I dislike cheese and milk. The only dairy product I really like is egg whites. Anyway, my dentist told me that milk is bad for your teeth, as it is like glue and will stick.

He didn't give you a toothbrush and tell you how to brush your teeth? You eat and it dirties your mouth. You brush (and floss, if you like) and it cleans your mouth. It's simple.

 

[gauchogolfer]

The reason I didn't believe you, is because I am asian (Chinese too), and I have a huge family which probably is about 100 people (3 generations from both sides). And then, because of that, I also know many asians outside my family.

Just curious, but how many people in your family were born and raised in the US? I believe that quite a bit of the cause of lactose intolerance stems from not being exposed to it as a child, then having reactions later in adult life. Given that milk is much more commonly consumed in the US than China (or so I believe), I'd think this could be an explanation for your differing experience.